Benny Claessens

«Everything will be fine, a new beginning lies ahead!» With this declamation, the goddesses of renewal of the ancient myths have always heralded the end of a crisis and wiped dry the tears of humanity. Actor and director Benny Claessens, together with a troupe of contemporary goddesses and a queer choir, hoists the white flag and leads us to places of sensual and fragile pleasure. Places where we can surrender and stop being strong.

In «White Flag», co-produced by Theater Neumarkt and Opera Ballet Vlaanderen, the goddesses dare to rebel against the existing order: They want to cast a new and different light on traditional, male-dominated terms such as strength, genius and heroism.

In the evening twilight, the antique protagonists ecstatically sing of defeat and surrender as the final resistance. The piece – a progressive hybrid of performance, live-film, music and theatre – is about sex, beauty and resilience. And of course: about the social constraint to remain «strong» in the face of crises.

Claessens’ attempt to establish a radical softness on stage is not only a cleverly executed idea but also a highly entertaining and visually stunning show. To hell with geniuses and heroes. A new beginning lies ahead! (se)