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Jonathan (test event)

Bruno Vanden Broecke & Valentijn Dhaenens / KVS
Wed 28.04.2021 - Sat 08.05.2021
28.04.2021
-
08.05.2021

With this test week, KVS wants to partake in ground-breaking new research with full transparency and in collaboration with government, virologists and various professional partners. Each performance will take place under strict regulations and will respect the relevant protocols in order to guarantee the safety of our audience. This way, KVS wants to fulfil a public need for safely organised events.

How we’ve missed you! After months without performances, we look forward to welcoming you back to our KVS BOL. All without any effect on the theoretical risk of infection.
 
With support from Brussels, we will be organising test events from 28 April. This means that a seated audience will be able to enjoy a marvellous theatre performance by Bruno Vanden Broecke and Valentijn Dhaenens in a controlled environment, wearing surgical face masks provided by us, after a negative rapid test.

Why are we doing this? KVS wishes to measure the air quality in the theater, with a live audience present, in order to reveal the theoretical risk of contamination during a theater performance. If this turns out to be very low, then we have an argument to allow theater performances to resume quickly without prior corona rapid tests, and without too strict audience restrictions. Audience testing prior to a performance is certainly not the new normal.

By volunteering to take part in this test event, you will be helping us and the entire cultural sector to reopen quickly and safely to the wider audience. After registering, you choose a time slot for your rapid test; the performance itself starts at 8pm sharp. What does your participation encompass? Read all about it here.

About the performance

Jonathan is the name of a palliative care robot developed by an Artificial Intelligence team. When the spread of Covid-19 necessitates a lockdown of care homes, the team decide to expedite Jonathan’s release. This means that some of the elderly are able to receive the right care without fear of contracting the virus.  

The performance takes place in KVS BOL, the site of clashes between love and forgiveness, destruction and renewal. But something magical happens too: the passing of Claudine, mother, part of the species Homo Sapiens and stricken by Covid-19, signals the birth of Jonathan, her dedicated, artificially intelligent carer.

Welcoming you into this someone’s land are two KVS faces: Bruno Vanden Broecke and Valentijn Dhaenens. Twenty years ago they gave life to their company, SkaGeN; now they join forces once more to create this brand new piece, in which they also perform. 

Emotion at the very forefront

Bruno Vanden Broecke and Valentijn Dhaenens are creating Jonathan, a play about the wonders of technology and the future awaiting all of us. We asked Bruno Vanden Broecke all about the new production.
Interview

Credits

TEKST & SPEL / TEXTE & JEU / TEXT & PLAY Bruno Vanden Broecke & Valentijn Dhaenens STEM VAN CLAUDINE / LA VOIX DE CLAUDINE / VOICE OF CLAUDINE Gilda De Bal GELUID / SON / SOUND Bram Moriau LICHT / LUMIÈRES / LIGHTING Geert Drobé KOSTUUM / COSTUME Heidi Ehrhart VERTALING / TRADUCTION / TRANSLATION Anne Vanderschueren (FR), Trevor Perri (EN) BOVENTITELING / SURTITRAGE / SURTITLING Inge Floré PRODUCTIELEIDING / DIRECTEUR DE PRODUCTION / PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Lieven Symaeys SPREIDING & TOURMANAGEMENT / DISTRIBUTION & DIRECTRICE DE TOURNÉE / DISTRIBUTION & TOUR DIRECTION Saskia Liénard PRODUCTIE / PRODUCTION KVS MET DANK AAN / MERCI À / THANKS TO Jonathan Berte, Lut Boets, Peter De Graef, Janne Desmet, Paul Van Hove, Bart Voet, Hazel Dhaenens, Bas Vanden Broecke, Jan Eelen, Sanne Nuyens, Evie Lefebvre, Michael De Cock, Lieven Scheire, Het Geluidshuis & Raven Ruëll