We Are The Lucky Ones

Music theatre, Ruhrbühnen for Democracy

4.9.-7.9.2025

, Jahrhunderthalle Bochum

A portrait of a generation - moving, tender, funny and of great depth.

Somebody remembers a first kiss. Another talks about loss. A third says just one sentence - and yet it echoes a whole life.

We Are The Lucky Ones is a touching mosaic of real stories, dreams and memories. Based on interviews with people born in Europe between 1940 and 1949, an emotional chronicle is created - between hope and disappointment, gain and loss, tenderness and anger. Philip Venables' music lends these voices a playful intensity. It penetrates what is said, opens up spaces for the unsaid - and brings to life what words cannot grasp. Between orchestral outbursts and intimate moments, an invitation is created to review one's own history.

The focus is on the authenticity of the narrative. The singers lend their voices to the memories, manoeuvre collective crises and universal moments of happiness, playing everyone and yet no one.

We Are The Lucky Ones is an invitation to listen - and to think further. What do we leave behind? What responsibility do we bear?

We Are The Lucky Ones is part the democracy campaign of the RuhrBühnen network.

Co-produced and co-commissioned by Dutch National Opera and Ruhrtriennale. By permission of Opera Edition Ltd.

Press reviews

“We Are the Lucky Ones gives voice to a generation. […] What emerges is a portrait of a generation told with compassion, wisdom and artfulness. […] the creators of We Are the Lucky Ones push the boundaries of opera.” – The New York Times, 17 March 2025

“A harrowing, tender, funny, non-judgmental living portrait of a generation. […] Venables has created a huge-hearted score [...] that is entirely his own” – Bachtrack, 22 March 2025

“A sound that alternates between music of memory, wild outbursts and lyrical moments. ” – TAZ, 26 March 2025

Cast

Composition
- Philip Venables
Libretto
- Nina Segal,
- Ted Huffman
Conductor
- Bassem Akiki
Direction
- Ted Huffman
Set Design
- Ted Huffman
Costume Design
- Ted Huffman,
- Sonoko Kamimura
Lighting Design
- Bertrand Couderc
Movement
- Pim Veulings
Video Design
- Nadja Sofie Eller,
- Tobias Staab
Dramaturgy
- Nina Segal,
- Laura Roling
ONE
- Claron McFadden
TWO
- Sophia Burgos
THREE
- Nina van Essen
FOUR
- Helena Rasker
FIVE
- Steven van der Linden
SIX
- Frederick Ballentine
SEVEN
- Michael Wilmering
EIGHT
- Alex Rosen
Orchestra
- Bochumer Symphoniker

Further supporters

We Are The Lucky Ones is supported by the Performing Arts Fund NL.

Visit

Language

English with German and English surtitles
Run time

ca. 1 h 40 min.
Age guidance

Recommended from 12 years
Introduction

An introduction will take place in the upper foyer of the Jahrhunderthalle Bochum 45 minutes before the start of each event.
Bring your friends!

Bring Your Friends: For the performance on 7 September, you will receive up to three additional tickets with a 50% discount for each full-price ticket.