De Leeuw van Vlaanderen - © Kurt Van der Elst
De Leeuw van Vlaanderen - © Kurt Van der Elst
De Leeuw van Vlaanderen - © Kurt Van der Elst
De Leeuw van Vlaanderen - © Kurt Van der Elst
De Leeuw van Vlaanderen - © Kurt Van der Elst

De Leeuw van Vlaanderen / The Lion of Flanders

De Leeuw van Vlaanderen is an extremely intense hour of musical theatre, without boredom or weak moments, hopping from art and popular culture, from repugnance and amazement, between protest and acceptance. And had we already told you that the new Flemish lion has long dreadlocks? De Standaard

 

The trilogy of De Leeuw van Vlaanderen (The Lion of Flanders) - Onze Lieve Vrouw van Vlaanderen (Our Lady of Flanders) - Broeders van Liefde (Brothers  of Love) departs from autobiographic material from the childhood of Chokri and Zouzou Ben Chikha. The first part De Leeuw van Vlaanderen is about the relationship gone bad between a son growing up in Flanders and his Tunisian father. The source of inspiration was the novel 'De Leeuw van Vlaanderen' by Hendrik Conscience. This production involves a triple battle: the battle between the Flemings and the French, as is written in the novel by Hendrik Conscience, the battle between Chokri's father and the Flemings and the personal battle between Chokri and his father Habib.

The production seeks out the area of tension between Flemish songs and Arabic sounds and movements. A monologue turns into a pop concert. The spectator casts a glance into the living room of a Tunisian family that also listens to Will Tura.

Credits

TEXT Sam Bogaert & Union Suspecte DIRECTION Chokri Ben Chikha
 DIRECTION ASSISTANCE Khalid Benaouisse
 MUSIC Zouzou Ben Chikha en Rudi Genbrugge
 TEXTUAL INTERPRETATION Suzanne Saerens
 KOSTUUMS An De Mol
 DECOR Luc Goedertier LIGHT DESIGN Dennis Diels
 WITH Chokri Ben Chikha, Zouzou Ben Chikha en Rudi Genbrugge
 PRODUCTION Union Suspecte
 COPRODUCTION Publiekstheater