Thomas Verstraeten - Seefhoek Series

Seefhoek Series

After my Familiestraat project I returned to the Seefhoek with an ode to this extremely diverse district in the northern part of Antwerp. Seefhoek Series was an attempt to penetrate the soul of an urban district. It was a meditation on a vibrant but marginalized neighbourhood. Seefhoek Series was a seven-part location project. In each episode, I examined a different aspect of my neighbourhood, only to lift it out of its ordinary context, turn it around, take it apart, enlarge it, isolate it, and then finally reintroduce it into that same urban context. Seefhoek Series was like a relay race, where one project led to the next.

A forgotten football square where young street players footballed their way toward stardom in front of cameras. A performance in which local residents transformed the urban district into a moving soundscape. An installation in the nearby Park Spoor Noord. A collection of food stalls spread out across the city. A happening on the Stuivenbergplein, where throwing and picking up rubbish became an aesthetic event. The merry-go-round came to an end on the stage of the Bourla Theatre, where the preacher from the Astridplein preached salvation. Urbi et Orbi. For the city and the world.

1. 21st Century Portrait
Street football on the Jos Verhelstplein, live on ATV

A street football game was presented as if it was a highly important match. Stadium light illuminated the small, concrete square. The action was filmed for TV. The editing and footage, with drone shots, Steadicam and slow-motion shots, were no different from a professionally filmed match. Two football commentators from the Koolcast Sport podcast professionally commented upon and analyzed the game.

2023, performance © Wannes Cré

Thomas Verstraeten responds to these changes in public space in his own way. Not, to use the terms of Peter Sloterdijk, in a militarising but a socialising way. Not critical and pointing up tensions and conflict, but community-building, however small and temporary.

— Erwin Jans

2. Bloedworst en Fladder
Caravan of nomadic food stands

A while ago, there was a small red Surinamese food stand on the De Coninckplein. You could get Surinamese bloedworst (blood sausage) and fladder (tripe) there. The makeshift little kiosk was copied and grew into a chain of 20 identical stands that popped up in unexpected places in the cityscape, advancing like a caravan from De Coninckplein to the Bourla. These little eateries became a Seefhoek export product and grew into a multinational on the urban level

2023, performance © Wannes Cré

3. Looking for Harmony
Live DJ set moves along the Seefhoek district

Two hundred local residents walked, bicycled or drove by car along a designated route through the Seefhoek. Everyone carried a small, portable loudspeaker that played their favourite song. The Seefhoek was transformed into a live DJ set, an eclectic soundscape representing the diversely populated district.

2023, performance © Wannes Cré

Like a seismologist, Thomas Verstraeten picks up what is vibrating below the surface of the city, rewires that network aboveground and turns it on. As a result, what we habitually are indifferent to in our surroundings – whether that be strangers, practices, or places – takes on new significance.

— Liesbeth De Clercq

4. Met de krik ketsen
World tour of cricket in Park Spoor Noord

In Park Spoor Noord, youngsters from the Afghan community play cricket, a sport introduced to England by Flemish weavers in the 17th century. For Seefhoek Series a cricket match was transformed into a theatrical event, with dramatic lighting, a mesmerizing soundscape, choreographic patterns of movement and a large painted backdrop gently gliding by, taking a journey around the world.

2023, performance © Wannes Cré

5. Speaker's Corner
Public gathering on the Schoolplak, about the beauty of the Seefhoek

Local residents sought answers to the question: 'What do you feel is the beauty of the Seefhoek?' Using their own photos, they revealed the hidden sides of this unpredictable neighbourhood.

2023, performance © Wannes Cré

6. Urbi et Orbi
A preacher preaches salvation on the Bourla stage

A public square in Antwerp, the Astridplein, was replicated in perspective on the stage of the Bourla Theatre. The preacher stood in the middle of the square. Usually, the city itself is his theatre; for the performance he delivered a monologue based on his sermons on a reel stage.

7. Myth of Sisyphus
Rubbish choreography on the Stuivenbergplein

Two hundred local residents walked across the Stuivenbergplein in a single line. They threw a huge abstract drawing onto the ground, made of rubbish assorted by colour. Then the group, garbed in the fluorescent attire of the sanitation department, picked up all the rubbish again. The movement repeated itself. The throwing and picking up of rubbish almost became a dance, like the ebb and flow of the tide.

Credits

Concept and direction: Thomas Verstraeten
Dramaturgy: Simon Baetens
Production Management: Kristien Borgers, Tanja Vrancken
Technical Production Management: Diederik Suykens, Maarten Meeussen
Production assistant: Yuni Mahieu, Adel Setta
Intern: Eline Kesselaar
Sound design: Senjan Jansen
Costume workshop: Monique Van Hassel, Kathleen Van Mechelen, Katarzyna Mielczarek, Tanya Maldonado
Technical crew: Henk Vandecaveye, Kris Depuydt, Pim Janssen, Filip Van Berendoncks, Raf Joossens, Brian Doms, Eva Dermul, Lies van Loock, Paul van Caudenberg, Ward Van Den Bossche, Jeroen Kenens, Dominick Geentjens, Ken Hioco, Douwe van Hassel
Scenery workshop: Niels Antonissen, Patrick Jacobs, Friedemann Koch, Chris Reijnen, Senne Suls, Jasper Janssen, Noah Dockx, Bob (Patrick) Van Tricht, Laurance Swerts, Marjan Verachtert
Group guides: Rowena Vanden Berghe, Vincent Francken, Kasper Van Laer, Johannes Lievens, Amelia Malfait, Rudi Mahieu, Noa Ivana, Anke Verschuren, Kristel Soekias, Elise Bouwels, Astrid Vingerhoets, Nathan Christiaensen, Mil Sinaeve, Francis Geertaert, Jo Verstraeten, Eline Kesselaar, Inge Bulens, Joris Goorden, Greet Verbruggen, Hashem Louai, Tanja Van Raemdonck, Alvaro Pereira, Amanda Tonen, Hannes Van Borm, Sven De Wit, Frederiek Van Doorn
Production: Toneelhuis, Thomas Verstraeten
Co-production: DE SINGEL, Het Oude Badhuis
With the support of: Evenementenloket Stad Antwerpen, Kringwinkel verhuur, Het Oude Badhuis, Blikfabriek, FlyAway TV, stadsreiniging Stad Antwerpen, ATV, Bijzondere opdrachten en Feestmateriaal Stad Antwerpen, Stageco

21ST CENTURY PORTRAIT
TV Director broadcasting ATV: Bruno Billic
Broadcasting: FlyAway TV
Football commentator: Koolcast Sport: Andy Kisema, Alexandre Mestag, Brian Soares Duarte
Players: Henoc Malenga, Mounir Aberkane, Yassine Razzouki, Taoufik el Marchouhi, Rayan Arbi, Nasserdin Boulafdal, Younes Boutjaste, Ali Chabli, Oumarou Bari, Quinten Wauters, Soulaimane Yachou, Anas Kahal
Stewards: in collaboration with SAAMO: Houcine Bouchikhi, Benni Van den Noortgate, Mario Vereecken, Peter Nijns, Ahmed Aissati, Ibrahim Ghanmi, Abdlouahid Benaisa
In collaboration with: KRAS and City Pirates

BLOEDWORST AND FLADDER
Catering: Helen Veldbloem, Christophe Floré, Elza Dequeecker, Kristel Soekias, Ann Schoeters
With: Jennifer Van Genderen, Spier Chanté, Roy Veldbloem, Tarab Adam, Bekkaoui Harroen, Zahri Lotaz, Mostapha Bena, Muroycha Veldbloem, Menos Malijn, Sergio Korshom, Soesma Khedoe, Diya Frosemitio, Marijem Amataime, Felix Halfhide, Wedya Dermowidjojo, Orlando Steirebach, Ramona Van Hetten, Dorothy Van hetten, Jeulz Van Hetten, Marlon Frosemito, Sirram Frosemito, Yiyan Frosemito, Uhmish Frosemito, Jushin Devluyt, Dondijiego Dokman, Mohsine Ben El Mostapha, Omar Barry, Haroun Bekkaoui, Adam Aarab, Mootaz Zahri

LOOKING FOR HARMONY
With: Mohamed Aarab, Mussa Adem Abdulkerim, Christo Aganostu, Oumar Agou, Faisal Alsous, Oriana Alsous, Violette Alsous, Shreen Alsous, Tyrese Angela, Peter Apers, Alvina Avagyan, Sebastian Kuypers, Nisran Israelyan, Shafi Bakhtyar, Oumar Barry, Naoual Benhdach, Amira Jellouli, Zakaria Jellouli, Soraya Benshir, Lina Benhdach, Loopmane Bensaid, The Bing, Kwint Boonen, Veerle Boesmans, John Bogaerts, Anne Ceuppens, Anthony Chibuye, Daniela-Georgiana Ciornei, Joke Beadle, Luc Claes, Evelyn Cleynen, Balwin Cruz, Shin Cruz, Cristine Cruz, Angelica Cruz, Princess Cruz, Roger D’Hondt, Mika D’hooghe, Erik Daems, Sandy De Backer, Francois De Heel, Siege Dehing, Sanne Debeukelaere, Dries Van Uytvanck, Baptist Van Uytvanck, Alfa Degeity, Barbara Dirkx, Tamila Dzejtova, Wissam El Ahmad, Agnes Kalagorish, Louiza El Farissi, Zakaria El Khadiri, Mohsine, Ben El Mostapha, Thierry Frencken, Kanoknuch Geerinck, Sven Geerinck, Alice Geerinck, Tiana Goyvaerts, Evelyne Gross, Melissa Heirman, Saartje Hendrickx, Kevin Van Droogenbroeck, Louis Hendrickx, Henri Huygens, Marla Rijkenberg Kayatoe, Modest Indeherberge, Nikee Isimail, Carmen Terrea De Carvalo, Guy Jacobs, Bart Janssens, Kristien Kareman, Sabriye Somaya, Abdul Kargbo, Bakre Karkosh, Yrina Karyshak, Rachida Kilouli, Amira Kilouli, Yves Indeherberge, Nabil Kilouli, Flory Lauwers, John Lauwers, Rita Lauwers, Maria Leysen, Romy Van Damme, Daniel Leysen, Lief Robeyns, Hilde Lion, Connie Maes, Osman Mahamud, Ligam Mahyntam, José Mattheeussen, Katelijne Maus, Alexander Mcintosh, Petronia Milkenbeek, Ronny Van Santvoort, Deborah Simba, Tabitah Simba, Sahibzada Moh Tamim, Mitra Moh Tamim, Bushra Moh Tamim, Omar Moh Tamim, Yusra Moh Tamim, Monieb Mughal, Maria Mughal, Azham Mughal, Isa Mughal, kind Mughal, Niki Poppelaars, Ann Renckens, Lies Stuer, Solanda Resabala Menendez, Nomi Schraepen, Paul Schrijvers, Hanne Serrien, Brit Stessel, Stefanie Skoulos, Anna Touré, Cristina Mozocleanu, Cristian Traure, Karin Trouillard, Ann Van Boven, Ingrid Van Aarsen, Katty Van Beeck, Nathalie van Damme, Féline Soete, Carine Van de Walle, Benni Van den Noortgate, Sonja Tuerlinckx, Wouter Van Mol, Myriam Van der Borght, Beata Zale, Pierre (dj) Van Mossevelde, Linda Van Opstal, Karin Van Opstal, Liesbeth Van Raemdonck, Ilja Van Damme, Aiko Van Damme, Ingrid Assenbroek, Laura Vander Kerken, Kevin Velasco, Alexander Velasco, Zuleyka Velasco, Ryan Velasco, Adnan Velasco, Dalila Velasco, Noelia Alejandra Morocho, Ryan Wassabi, Lieve Verberckmoes, Adnan Wassabi, Dalila Wassabi, Karin Hidalgo, Eli Vissers, Françoise Verbeeck, Michiel Vermeiren, Naji Abdulrahman, Elke Van Orlé, Leon Vermeiren, Livia Vermeiren, Bart Vrints, Maria Villanueva, Bert Vissers, Yannick Bochem, Tilda Vissers, Hilde Bastiaens, Besna Yaramis, Jokke Fonteynseidel, Mustafa Yologlu, Alexander Zamora Vera, Sophie Bausart, Elsbeth Neyens, Lena Pimenov, Kofi Awuah, Oscar Waldukat, Jan Van Kereckhoven Griet Janssens, Jef Renteurs, Aziz Jeffali, Jan Hanesn, Louis Hendrickx, Terry Stanley, Seynabou Ndour, Kamiel Bontinck, Nette Dierckx, Inge Buelens, El Hasnaoy Najat, Pedro Castro, Nataliia Klymko, Al-Sadi Thabit, Teddy Dimitrova, Solomon Welday Gebreslasie, Ibrahim Ali Saad, Driss Bellaragui, Hassan Mohamud Bashir, Salem Almassri, Bouziana Soumia, Hend Eltaher, Hamida Salmin, Adil Goulahsen, Lisette Waas, Omik Dhavan, Alsabri Boushra, Teame Andegergish Atsimay, Hussein Alkotbah, Arusyak Arzumanyan

MET DE KRIK KETSEN
With: Samsoor Shirzad, Qudrat Kuumar, Shafi Khomani Khail, Wahab, Shinwazi, Zobair Katokhil, Maqsood Faqiri, Omar Razeqi, Bilal Riziqi, Waqif Shiuvari: Marwais Mamoud, Samim Kathokil, Sadaqat Mamoud, Safi Enayat, Naveed Rahimi, Sadat Muytaba, Mohammad Pirakhil, Raihan Razeqi, Yida Rahimi, Adnan Solizai, Arir Rahman, Mohammad Agha
In collaboration with: Kras

SPEAKERS’ CORNER
With: Mostafa Yologlu, Abdelhakim, Gerda Luyten, Beno Schraepen, Anna Touré, Ilse Rossou, Felix Halfhide, Rachida Kilouli
Experts: Nyira Hens, Bart van Nuffelen

URBI ET ORBI
Preacher: Ernest Xulu
With: Richmond Kwaku Acheampong, Shafi Bakhtyar, Naoual Benhdach, Tim Berghmans, Achiel Boesmans, Daniela-Georgiana Ciornei, Leen Coosemans, Roger D’Hondt, Mika D’hooghe, Evelyne Gross, Ruben De Haeck, Siska De Lobel, Tamila Dzejtova, Flory Robeyns, Lief Robeyns, José Mattheeussen, Alexander McIntosh, Charlotte Paesen, Solanda Resabala Menendez, Paul Schrijvers, Karin Trouillard, Sonja Tuerlinckx, Katty Van Beeck, Nathalie van Damme, Carine Van de Walle, Ronny Van Santvoort, Ingrid Assenbroek, Raf Vandecasteele, Françoise Verbeeck, Diane Vereecken, Charlotte Wellens, Magda Peeters, Karin Magits, Maarten Wijnants, Michiel Horsten, Fatimani Yonzima, Marie Couwenberg, Goedele De Winter, Jan Van Kerckhoven, Florence Luyten, Renée Van der Vreecken, Griet Janssens, Esther De Clercq
Composition music: Mathias Coppens
Conductor: Michiel Delanghe
Strings: Christophe Pochet, Jeroen Vernimmen, Lisbeth Lannie, Harmen Goossens

MYTH OF SISYPHUS
With: Richmond Kwaku Acheampong, Jamal Akabi, Sobhe Al Ezo, Kamel Al Ezo, Moaheb Al Ezo, Qasm Al sadiq, Yauna Alsous, Zahra Ambreen, Irsa Batool, Tim Berghmans, Achiel Boesmans, Ans Brys, Lewis Anthoni, Leen Coosemans, Paula De Brie, Ann De Keersmaecker, Siska De Lobel, Darie De Pelsmaker, Vera Demil, Michau Djamba, Ise Donckers, Monique Hoevenaers, Sophia Idele, Mikhaela Idele, Mellaizedek Idele, Lynn Laureys, Flory Robeyns, Kirsten Bo Mariën, Nicolas Mazeure, Adam Rifai, Carolien Van Loon, Jeanne Mazeure, Maurice Mazeure, Carole Michels, Tine Poot, Andries Eerlings, Camille Eerlings, Majdouline Rifai, Maysa Rifai, Rosalie Soete, Sofie Wanten, Virginie Van Eupen, Katrien Van Hoyweghen, Diane Vereecken, Eva Koppen, Marie Couwenberg, Karin Magits, Barham Mirzakhc, Renée Van der Vreecken, Griet Tuerlinckx, Anne Tuerlinckx, Abdulqarir Asad, Tim Van Gorp, Gerda Luyten, Nataliia Klymko, El Hasnaoy Najat, Pedro Castro, Solomon Welday Gebreslasie, Al-Sadi Thabit, Naji Abdulrahman, Ibrahim Ali Saad, Kofi Awuah, Teame Andegergish Atsimay, Driss Bellaragui, Salem Almassri, Hassan Mohamud Bashir, Hend Eltaher, Arusyak Arzumanyan, Hamida Salmin, Bouziana Soumia, Aziz Jeffali, Adil Goulahsen, Lisette Waas, Omik Dhavan, Alsabri Boushra, Teddy Dimitrova, Hussein Alkotbah