In Ann Van den Broek’s work duality, the delicate balance between control and letting go, between the positive and the negative, between masking and honestly divulging is always palpable. A predilection for the dark and the tragic side often prevails, so it was about time the balance tipped to the other side: To that of lightness and feeling good, to laughing together, embracing each other, nostalgically remembering old, but pleasant memories. Creating Joy!

But the corona crisis put quite a damper on those notions. A universal event put this perspective under pressure: The universal became personal instead of the other way around.

Creating Joy is not an ‘everyday production’. The structure is fragmented, sketchy. It conjures associations with a talk show. But also with a ‘logbook’, a record of daily activities, searching for meaning, pleasure and the will to go on. How you can find comfort, strength and tranquility in your head with simple activities: baking bread, a massage, rays of sunshine in spring, a good conversation.

Once again Ann shows the world on stage and beyond in a unique mix of real-time and prerecorded images in combination with live performances tied together by a master of ceremonies. There will be facemasks, screens, a movable and compact set, social distancing and dancers working from home via a livestream.

In doing so, Creating Joy is also an account of making theater in an uncertain period. A time that places enormous demands on the ability of the choreographer and her performers to adapt. After all, with or without an audience, postponement or cancellation hangs over every performance like the Sword of Damocles. And yet they have started working on this new project in high spirits. It’s all about creating joy!

Follow creation process on Facebook

concept and choreography Ann Van den Broek
performers (on stage and at home) Gregory Frateur, Louis Combeaud, Marion Bosetti, Jean-Gabriel Maury, Carla Guerra
original music composed and written by Nicolas Rombouts, Gregory Frateur
video- and lighting design Bernie van Velzen 
scenography Niek Kortekaas
styling costumes Ann Van den Broek 
assistant choreography and rehearsal director Nik Rajšek
prefilmed guestperformers by Tijs Delbeke, Sjoerd Bruil, Nicolas Rombouts, Gregory Frateur, Frauke Mariën, Nik Rajšek, Niek Kortekaas, Jutta Troch, Pieter Theuns, Ann Van den Broek
inspired by the original song A Part Of Us All by Dez Mona and B.O.X.
voice of An Hackselmans in interview with Ann Van den Broek

Creating Joy is a production of WArd/waRD (NL/BE) in co-production with permanent partners Theater Rotterdam (NL) and ccBerchem (BE). The project is supported by Fonds Podiumkunsten (NL).

WArd/waRD

Date	City	Venue
17 March 2021	Creating Joy	Rotterdam (NL)	TR Witte de With
18 March 2021	Creating Joy	Rotterdam (NL)	TR Witte de With
24 March 2021	Creating Joy	Tilburg (NL)	De Nieuwe Vorst
26 March 2021	Creating Joy	Helmond (NL)	ECI Cultuurfabriek
27 March 2021	Creating Joy	Leiden (NL)	Theater ins Blau
6 April 2021	Creating Joy	Amsterdam (NL)	Theater Bellevue
8 April 2021	Creating Joy	Drachten (NL)	Schouwburg De Lawei
10 April 2021	Creating Joy	Maastricht (NL)	AINSI Theater
13 April 2021	Creating Joy	Haarlem (NL)	Toneelschuur
15 April 2021	Creating Joy	Nijmegen (NL)	LUX
17 April 2021	Creating Joy	Purmerend (NL)	Theater De Verbeelding
20 April 2021	Creating Joy	Almere (NL)	Corrosia Theater, Film & Expo
21 April 2021	Creating Joy	Arnhem (NL)	Stadstheater
23 April 2021	Creating Joy	Utrecht (NL)	Theater Kikker
24 April 2021	Creating Joy	Utrecht (NL)	Theater Kikker
29 April 2021	Creating Joy	Breda (NL)	Chassé Theater
1 May 2021	Creating Joy	Den Haag (NL)	Korzo

When a summer day ends in rain and the scent of past prevails / When you call out through the woods and a deer recalls its name / When a part of you remains in the memory of a loved one / These are times to cherish and things to live for.

– Dez Mona, A Part Of Us All