Laura Neyskens & Raphaël Vandeweyer - GAZE

How do stories shape us and the roles we play? In the attractive game of watching and being watched, should we resist stereotypes? What if the moth cannot resist the temptation of the flame?

Three women are displayed in a giant terrarium. Trapped in a world where watching and being watched are the yardstick, they explore what role their bodies can (still) play, will and are allowed to play in their quest for recognition.

GAZE is an overconfident ode to original sin and goes on the attack against the hypocrisy of virtue. Together with dramatist Raphaël Vandeweyer, choreographer Laura Neyskens goes in search of what power our bodies possess. In a visual, anarchic and poetic way, they investigate how dominant narratives shape our bodies and what impact this has in a world where, above all, we want (to be) seen.

After a preliminary investigation in summer 2024, this residency is part of the creation period of this performance. Together with the full artistic team, we will work towards an interim show moment. The project is being created as part of Inter:Action, Action Zoo Humain's new maker trajectory, and will premiere at NEXT Festival in Menen on 27 November.

CREDITS

CONCEPT/DIRECTION Laura Neyskens, Raphaël Vandeweyer | CHOREOGRAPHY Laura Neyskens | DRAMATURGY Raphaël Vandeweyer | FROM & WITH Audrey Apers, Zoë Chungong, Izah Hankammer | MUSIC Koben Sprengers | SCENOGRAPHY Giovani Vanhoenacker | EXECUTION DECOR GramCNC | LIGHT DESIGN & TECHNICAL COORDINATION Luc Schaltin | COACHING Hildegard De Vuyst, Chokri Ben Chikha | PRODUCTION Inter: Action (Action Zoo Humain) & laGeste | IN COOPERATION WITH Maghenta, NEXT Festival, CC De Steiger Menen | RESIDENCY STUK, De Grote Post | WITH THE SUPPORT OF the City of Ghent, the Flemish Government and the Tax Shelter of the Belgian Federal Government

Laura Neyskens (Ghent, 1985) started her professional career as an 11-year-old in a theatre production by Arne Sierens and Alain Platel (1996). She continues her path as a dancer with Platel's contemporary dance company Les Ballets C de la B (1998). There, she meets Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, resulting in a long-term collaboration (2000-2019). In between, she performs in productions by Guy Cassiers, Olympique Dramatique, Lisi Estara and Koari Ito, among others. Since 2017, Laura has been working regularly with Chokri Ben Chikha. Within his company Action Zoo Humain, she collaborates on several projects and productions (2017-2023) as choreographer, assistant director, coach and rehearsal director. She is currently taking steps to develop her own signature as a dance theatre maker alongside her work as a performing choreographer.

Raphaël Vandeweyer (Diest, 1991) obtained his master's degree in Theatre Studies (dramaturgy) from Utrecht University and his bachelor's degree in Cultural Studies from Maastricht University. After working for various cultural organisations in Brussels, Raphaël worked for a long time as a dramaturge at Action Zoo Humain . Currently, Raphaël works as a freelance dramaturge, writer and communication consultant for various artists and companies. Among others, he worked with Muziektheater Transparant, Damaged Goods, artists' collective Het Verbond (NL) and youth theatres Tint and fABULEUS and with artists such as Chokri Ben Chikha, Maxime Waladi, Renée Goethijn, Jelle Stiphout, Jan Sobrie and Wouter Deltour.