Scratching the inner fields

In the SCAPIN database

Scratching the inner fields

Premiere

2001/02/27 — Paris, Théâtre des Abbesses

Season

2000-2001

Use your nose. Can you smell me? It's my hair that blossoms like jasmine. Open your mouth. You have lips, a tongue and a throat. Thick, red juice. The droplet on your chin. Keep your eyes closed. Keep those eyes closed. You have fingers and a tongue. That is all you need to be able to read me.   Peter Verhelst   On February 27th, 2001, Théâtre de la Ville presented the world première of Wim Vandekeybus and Ultima Vez' performance Scratching the Inner Fields at Théâtre des Abbesses in Paris. The company's long collaboration with Théâtre de la Ville resulted in residence in its more intimate Théâtre des Abbesses during the final weeks of the creation period. After an all-male cast in In Spite of Wishing and Wanting (1999), Wim Vandekeybus is now working with an all-female cast for the first time for Scratching the Inner Fields. The nearly completely renewed, international company is comprised of five dancers and two actrices. Inne Goris, who worked formerly as a theater director at the Bronks youth theater in Brussels, is the dramaturge for this piece. Once again, dance, text and music form the inherent parts of the performance.  For the text material there has been a close collaboration with the Flemish writer Peter Verhelst, who reworked a number of stories from his ‘fairytale novel' Zwellend Fruit. Peter Verhelst made his debut as a poet in 1987. He acquired fame in Dutch speaking countries with his book Tongkat, which has received numerous literature prizes in 1999.  Besides publishing a number of poetry books and novels, Peter Verhelst has also contributed to various theatre productions over the last few years. The original music has been composed by Yves De Mey, alias Eavesdropper. Eavesdropper made his debut as a breakbeat composer during De Nachten 1997 in deSingel in Antwerp, where he has since become a familiar face.  Besides composing his own tracks, he works on remix projects and has composed the music for a number of film soundtracks. Finally, Wim Vandekeybus also has also worked with the German sound designer Josh Martin for the sound concept of the piece. Josh Martin has played as a musician in various groups. Over the last few years he has been working as a sound designer and live electronics performer for theatre, dance and contemporary music.

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