Blood, Betrayal and Tears
A Shakespearean collage of the intrigues, desires and embarrassments of power performed on stage by puppets and people. Bådteatret (the Boat Theatre) offers an evening full of blood, betrayal and grotesque characters, creating the ultimate House of Cards, from both then and now.
“Blood, Betrayal and Tears” is a cabaret about greed, intrigue and ambition, where the actors and puppets create the ultimate House of Cards, both from then and now.
A sumptuous scene of fake news and betrayal, where victory leads directly to defeat. Despite well over 400 years of history, Shakespeare’s gallery of characters is to this day so composed and complex that we can still draw inspiration from the texts. His works live on both in language, on stage and as the existential leaven in completely new drama.
The western world has, amongst others, Berlusconi, Erdogan and Orbán, and these politicians are, moreover, all elected by the people. In Shakespeare’s time, at least you had to fight for the throne.
With the contemporary types of politicians in mind and influenced by the last convulsions of democracy, the Bådteatret puppet theater ensemble prepares for a seductive and horrifying evening with the biggest demagogues in theater history.
Please note: The dialogue/text of this performance will be in Danish.
The performance is presented as part of Århundredets Festival.
Reviews
“It’s a captivating, complex power play that the dedicated puppet theater director, Rolf Heim, head of the Boat Theatre, gets unfolded really well in the room together with his cool puppeteers… The strength lies in the vivid tableaus, where a Lady Macbeth can give you the chills from a kind of vengeful fury.”
– Monna Dithmer, Politiken
“There is absolutely a point in the fact that “Blood, Betrayal and Tears” is a puppet performance. The mask of power is the same no matter who wears it. In addition, the performance is a gifted mash-up of Shakespeare’s gallery of criminals, which is put into perspective by a small contemporary sound montage that frames the action.”
– Steen Blendstrup, POV 1.5.
“The show, with its flick of truth, is complete and educational, and you will be amazed at how vividly the story comes out.”
– Knud Cornelius, Frederiksborg County Newspaper
“The actors (or: puppeteers) are impressive; they merge with their giant puppets, play organically with them, so that the puppets really come alive on stage. The physical acting and the timing is excellent, the puppets worm around, drag a deformed body behind them, cut faces”
– Linea Maja Ernst, Weekendavisen
Credits
Performers: Astrid Kjær, Jannie Faurschou, Signe Kærup Dahl
Director: Rolf Heim
Scenography: Rolf Heim & Jonathan Hjort
Puppet maker: Erik Sanko, Phantom Limb Company
Translator: Niels Brunse
Prop maker and ass. to puppets: Pernille Lehnert
Light design: Egil B. H. Hansen
Sound design: Janus Jensen
Assistant director: Astrid Lindhardt
Builder and technician: Jonathan Hjorth
PR, marketing and graphics: Art Attack
Administrative manager: Anny Neel Dirchsen
Press photography: Miklos Szabo
Supported by: A.P. Møller Fonden, Bikubenfonden, Beckett-fonden, Konsul George Jorck og Hustru Emma Jorck’s Fond, Knud Højgårds Fond OK, Oda og Hans Svenningsens Fond OK, Statens Kunstfond Projekstøtteudvalg for Scenekunst, Københavns Kommunes Scenekunstudvalg, Frimodt-Heineke Fonden, Aage og Johanne Louis-Hansens Fond, Scandinavian Tobacco Group’s Gavefond, Åben Skole og Frederiksberg Fonden