Rebel Rebel

Music theatre

5.9.-4.9.2026

Jahrhunderthalle Bochum

Music theater about love against violence - with songs by David Bowie

For Ruhrtriennale, Ivo Van Hove creates a new music theatre with songs by David Bowie. Rebel Rebel, named after one of his most famous songs, plays in a deteriorating society, gangs of violent youths are terrorising the cities. Relationships of whatever sort are banned. Alienation and isolation are enforced by law. A young couple resists and creates a utopia of their own – people are stronger than any repressive regime. Because they love each other, they can prevail. Bowie's music thus becomes the soundtrack to a society on the brink.

With Lazarus, David Bowie realized his dream of creating a musical – together with Ivo Van Hove, whom he had entrusted with directing the piece. Ten years later, Ivo Van Hove returns to Bowie’s musical cosmos with Rebel Rebel.

Henry Hey, the music director, worked with Bowie on his album The Next Day and Lazarus, the musical. The multi-award-winning choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui takes on the challenge of translating violence, resistance and love into dance.

Produced by Ruhrtriennale in collaboration with Seaview and Eastman

Rebel Rebel, director: Ivo Van Hove. Ari Notartomaso, Diego Rodriguez (f.l.t.r.) © Jan Versweyveld, Ruhrtriennale 2026
Rebel Rebel, director: Ivo Van Hove. Ari Notartomaso, Diego Rodriguez, Daniel Donskoy (f.l.t.r.) © Jan Versweyveld, Ruhrtriennale 2026
Rebel Rebel, director: Ivo Van Hove. Daniel Donskoy © Jan Versweyveld, Ruhrtriennale 2026
Rebel Rebel, direcor: Ivo Van Hove. Daniel Donskoy (oben), Diego Rodriguez © Jan Versweyveld, Ruhrtriennale 2026
Rebel Rebel, director: Ivo Van Hove. Daniel Donskoy, Diego Rodriguez, Ari Notartomaso (center) © Jan Versweyveld, Ruhrtriennale 2026
Rebel Rebel, director: Ivo Van Hove. Diego Rodriguez, Ari Notartomaso (centre) © Jan Versweyveld, Ruhrtriennale 2026
Rebel Rebel, director: Ivo Van Hove. Diego Rodriguez, Ari Notartomaso © Jan Versweyveld, Ruhrtriennale 2026
Rebel Rebel, director: Ivo Van Hove. Diego Rodriguez, Ari Notartomaso, Daniel Donskoy (f.l.t.r.) © Jan Versweyveld, Ruhrtriennale 2026

Cast

Conceived and directed by
- Ivo Van Hove
Musical Director, Arrangements
- Henry Hey
Choreography
- Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui
Set Design, Lighting Design
- Jan Versweyveld
Video Design
- Christopher Ash
Costume Design
- An D'Huys
Sound Design
- Spatial*Junction, Erwin Sterk & Dennis Slot
Associate Set Design
- Bart Van Merode
Associate Lighting Design
- Dennis van Scheppingen
With
- Diego Rodriguez (Boy),
- Ari Notartomaso (Girl),
- Daniel Donskoy (Gang Leader)
Dance
- Maryna Kushchova (Ashotivna),
- Matt Antonucci,
- Jade Bayonne,
- Zoe Hollinshead,
- Matys Kaïbo,
- Kazutomi "Tsuki" Kozuki,
- Mason Kelly,
- Nathalia Meneses Gonzalez,
- Helena Olmedo Duynslaeger,
- Nelson Parrish Earl,
- Patrick Williams Seebacher (TwoFace)
Band
- Henry Hey (Keys 1),
- Christian Frentzen (Keys 2),
- Erez Frank (Base),
- Lennart Delissen (Guitar 1),
- Scheroan Zibari (Guitar 2),
- Chris Farr (Drums),
- Marc Doffey (Saxophone)
Backing Vocals
- Everett Bradley,
- Lucy Woodward
Assistant Director
- Marcus Shields
Assistant Choreographers
- Kevin Vivès,
- Stephan Laks
Assistant Costume Design
- Belza Beausoleil
Stage Management
- Mattia Meier
Production Manager Ruhrtriennale
- Stefanie Hiltl
Assistant Artistic Production Manager Ruhrtriennale
- Annalena Köhne
Technical Project Manager Ruhrtriennale
- Georg Bugiel
Technician
- Harald Adams,
- Konrad Anger,
- Remigius Bartnik,
- Melanie Bluhm,
- Schirin Boudny,
- Willi Brune,
- Yannick De Wit,
- Willi Eidam,
- Carsten Funke,
- Desirée García López,
- Bruno Grotsch,
- Leif Hetfeld,
- Stefan Intemann,
- Severino Jurischka,
- Andreas Korogonas,
- Frank Kostadimas,
- Torben Krol,
- Heiner Kunkel,
- Federica Menegatti,
- Gerd Mikuscheit,
- Philipp Möhler,
- Len Pichler,
- Fernando Quartana,
- Stefan Rausch,
- Janine Reich,
- Uwe Renken,
- Stephan Schneppel,
- Ralph Schwarzenauer,
- Roman Sroka,
- Quirijn van der Baan,
- Stephanie von Porbeck
Dressing and Costume Team Ruhrtriennale
- Sabine Höhfeld,
- Chantal Baumann,
- Paula de la Haye,
- Natalie Soroko
Hair and Makeup Team Ruhrtriennale
- Pia Norberg,
- Heike Kehrwisch,
- Lena Luft,
- Melanie Schulte-Holtey