de
© Katja Illner, Ruhrtriennale 2024

Unlocking Paradise

ROMANO THAN, ORPHEUS XXI, THE REMAINS, TOMASZ PRASQUAL, IVO VAN HOVE

World Premiere

Communities, Theatre
7.9.-8.9.2024
PACT Zollverein

Community piece directed by Ivo Van Hove

Paradise – fulfilled, a utopia or a construct? In Unlocking Paradise a Rom:nja dance company, an international choir with roots in the Middle East and a  transgenerational theatre group enter into a dialogue. Accompanied by one actor and two musicians, they tell their story (or stories). Personal biographies, notions of paradise and poetic texts are interwoven in a polyphonic fabric. Experiences, memories, dreams and desires are considered alongside each other on equal terms, offering glimpses into people’s lives. This associative piece of theatre, devised by Tomasz Prasqual and directed by Ivo Van Hove, presents the Ruhr region in its diversity. It creates space for more thorough intercultural dialogue and enables little utopias to be created that can provide light and hope in dark times. Not in theory, but in practice, by acting together and developing.

Produced by Ruhrtriennale. With friendly support by Vokalmusikzentrums NRW.

  • A group of people sit close together on the floor on a stage in yellow light.
    Unlocking Paradise, director: Ivo Van Hove. Performers from "Orpheus XXI" & "The Remains" © Katja Illner, Ruhrtriennale 2024
  • A group of people stand in a row on a stage.
    Unlocking Paradise, directed by Ivo Van Hove. Performers from ‘Orpheus XXI’ and ‘The Remains’ © Katja Illner, Ruhrtriennale 2024
  • A group of people enter through a brightly lit door, in the foreground are 2 musicians with accordion and saxophone.
    Unlocking Paradise, director: Ivo Van Hove. Performers from ‘Orpheus XXI’ and ‘The Remains’, Maren Lueg (saxophone, Nay flute), Firas Kayali Rifai (accordion) © Katja Illner, Ruhrtriennale 2024
  • A person in a pompous dress stands in the centre, people form a circle around her.
    Unlocking Paradise, directed by Ivo Van Hove. Centre: ‘Romano Than e.V.’. In the circle: ‘Orpheus XXI’, ‘The Remains’ © Katja Illner, Ruhrtriennale 2024
  • People sit on a stage with their backs to the audience and look at a larger-than-life projection of a person on the wall.
    Unlocking Paradise, director: Ivo Van Hove. „Romano Than e.V.“, "Orpheus XXI‘, “The Remains“ © Katja Illner, Ruhrtriennale 2024
  • People sit in 2 long rows of chairs on a blue-lit stage. The words ‘New Paradise’ are projected onto the wall in the background.
    Unlocking Paradise, director: Ivo Van Hove. "Orpheus XXI", "The Remains", Maren Lueg (Nay flute), Firas Kayali Rifai (accordion) © Katja Illner, Ruhrtriennale 2024
  • A person stands in the foreground on a stage and looks at several objects lying in a circle on the floor.
    Unlocking Paradise, director: Ivo Van Hove. Centre: Harriet Kracht © Katja Illner, Ruhrtriennale 2024
  • People dance on a stage, other people sit in the background.
    Unlocking Paradise, director: Ivo Van Hove. In front: ‘Romano Than e.V.’, in the background ‘Orpheus XXI’ & ‘The Remains’ © Katja Illner, Ruhrtriennale 2024

Cast

  • Direction
    • Ivo Van Hove
  • Concept and Dramaturgy
    • Tomasz Prasqual
  • Co-Concept and Choreographic Support
    • Jelena Ivanovic
  • Stage Design, Light Design and Videodesign
    • Bart Van Merode
  • Associate Light Design
    • Dennis van Scheppingen
  • Costume Design
    • Gesa Gröning
  • Artistic direction "The Remains" - transgenerational theatre group
    • Miriam Michel
  • Musical direction Orpheus XXI
    • Rebal Alkhodari
  • Direction and Choreography Romano Than e.V.
    • Elena Preduca
  • With
    • Harriet Kracht (Actress) ,
    • Maren Lueg (Saxophon, Nay Flute) ,
    • Firas Kayali Rifai (Accordion) ,
    • Romano Than ,
    • Orpheus XXI ,
    • "The Remains" - transgenerationale Theatergruppe
  • Assistant Director
    • Marijke Malitius
  • Stage Management
    • Jens Fischer
  • Production Manager Ruhrtriennale
    • Alina Mathiak
  • Technical Project Manager Ruhrtriennale
    • Helmut Schandl
  • Technician
    • Gerd Jordan ,
    • Ralf Mittag ,
    • Daniel Neffgen ,
    • Simon Pelzer ,
    • Adam Petrenko ,
    • Len Pichler ,
    • Marcel Reidock
  • Dressing, collaboration costumes
    • Asena Yesim Lappas

Visit

  • Language

    In German and Arabic.

  • Supporters

    With the kind support of RAG-Stiftung. Funded by the Stiftung Mercator

  • Run time

    ca. 50 min.

  • Note

    Strobe lighting, fog and loud music are used during the event. Earplugs will be handed out in the foyer.

  • Programme

    Further information about the production can be found in the programme flyer. It is also available in printed form at the performances on site.

Directions and arrival

PACT Zollverein
Bullmannaue 20a
45327 Essen

  • Public transport and KombiTicket
  • Directions
  • Travelling by bike

    • Accessibility at the venue

  • Access
  • Accessible toilets
  • Accessible parking
    • Dates and Tickets

    You might also be interested in these productions
    Dance

    FUTUR PROCHE

    JAN MARTENS, GOŚKA ISPHORDING, OPERA BALLET VLAANDEREN
    Info Tickets
    Installation

    Landscapes of an Ongoing Past

    MARTA DYACHENKO, JANA GUNSTHEIMER, NIKITA KADAN, ZHANNA KADYROVA, NINO KVRIVISHVILI, FEDIR TETIANYCH, DRIANT ZENELI, ULI GOLUB, YURI YEFANOV
    Info Tickets
    Festival Centre

    Do-It-Yourself Saturdays

    Info Tickets

    Kultur Ruhr GmbH
    Ruhrtriennale
    Gerard-Mortier-Platz 1
    44793 Bochum

    T +49 (0) 234 97 48 33 00
    F +49 (0) 234 97 48 33 39
    info@ruhrtriennale.de

    Tickets and Informations
    Mon–Fri 8 a.m.-8 p.m. / Sat 9 a.m.–6 p.m. / Sun 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
    T +49 (0) 221 28 02 10

    Associates and Public Sector Supporters: