Chaos — making sense of an ending

2023

In Chaos – making sense of an ending, biologist and actor Thomas Ryckewaert tries to make sense of the events from recent years: the untimely passing of his father, the lockdown, ecological disasters and a growing defeatism. With the help of mathematics, ecology, science fiction, diary entries and Playstation games, Thomas faces his demons.

In Chaos, the boundaries between the intimate and the global, between our interior and exterior world, between reality and madness, are disappearing. Can scientific models offer solace on a confusing and unpredictable planet? Can you simultaneously grieve for a loved one and for the end of the world? Is there poetry in theory? And what about theater?

“A mental rollercoaster through the landscape of our mortality.” – Pieter T’Jonck in Pzazz.

03.02.23  

deSingel, Antwerpen (BE)

04.02.23  

deSingel, Antwerpen (BE)

14.03.24  

VierNulVier, Gent (BE)

15.03.24  

VierNulVier, Gent (BE)

16.03.24  

VierNulVier, Gent (BE)

28.03.24  

De Warande, Turnhout (BE)

17.04.24  

KAAP, Brugge (BE)

14.11.24  

C-Mine, Genk (BE)

Direction, text, performance Thomas Ryckewaert

With an excerpt from ‘Hamlet’ by William Shakespeare

Voices Abigail Abraham, Gene Bervoets

Dramaturgy Kristof Van Baarle

Scenography Erki De Vries

Light Luc Schaltin

Sound Marijn Ottenhof

Video Kurt D’Haeseleer

Costumes Andrea Kränzlin

Performance advice Oscar Van Rompay

Technical management Lucas Van de Voorde

Assistent director Sibran Sampers

Production management Valerie De Visscher, Robin Appels

Production Platform 0090

Coproduction deSingel International Arts Centre, Viernulvier, C-TAKT, Het Laatste Bedrijf

This show was made possible with the support of the Tax Shelter measure from the Belgian Federal Government, Gallop Tax Shelter and the Flemish Government

Thanks to the Royal Museum for Central Africa, especially Emmanuel Vreven for the ichthyological advice and Luis Moreira da Costa for the stock picture of the Afronandus sheljuzhkoi specimen caught in the Mé (Ivory Coast, West-Africa) on August 8th, 2000.

Press

 

deSingel: A minute with Thomas Ryckewaert

Klara Espresso (DUTCH): Ligt de Apocalyps op ons te wachten?

De Morgen (DUTCH): Ik zoek troost en betekenis in wetenschap.

deSingel/Kristof van Baarle in gesprek met Thomas Ryckewaert (DUTCH): Troost tussen kunst en wetenschap.

Review Pieter T’Jonck (pzazz).

Review Jasper Delva (etcetera).

Ryckewaert wrote an essay for the performance art magazine Etcetera in preparation for the show (DUTCH).