“…you put me down with your accusations, you make me strong with your accusations…”

Accusations is an intriguing, nearly endless relay race of live movement, images, film, sound and words. Performers are absorbed by meaning, contemplation, accusation and regret. Accusation focuses on choices that were or were never made, chances that were or were not taken, mistakes that consume, desires that have yet to be satisfied.

Together with composer Nicolas Rombouts and video and lighting designer Bernie van Velzen, Ann creates a cross-media installation in Accusations that can be manipulated live. A human loop machine with performers as conductors.

Ann, with performer and lyricist Gregory Frateur, is inspired by the text of the play ‘Selbstbezichtigung’ (Self-accusation) by author Peter Handke. However, the original text is reimagined by Ann’s experiences, feelings and analyses.

A powerful immersive experience, Accusations draws in both spectators and performers and plunges them into critical (self-)reflection in search of a better version of themselves.

Accusations is nominated by the VSCD (Association of Theater and Music Hall Directors) for a Zwaan (Swan) for the most impressive dance production, the most prestigious Dutch dance prize.

concept and choreography Ann Van den Broek
original cast Ann Van den Broek, Gregory Frateur, Wolf Govaerts, Laila Gozzi, An Hackselmans, Louis Combeaud, Nik Rajšek, Frauke Mariën
text Ann Van den Broek, Gregory Frateur
video- and lighting design Bernie van Velzen
sound and composition Nicolas Rombouts
styling costumes Veronique Branquinho
text advice Hans Timmerman
advice Marc Vanrunxt
photography Maarten Vanden Abeele
premiere March, 30, 2017, Rotterdamse Schouwburg, Rotterdam (NL)

Accusations is a production of WArd/waRD (NL/BE) in coproduction with the Rotterdamse Schouwburg/Theater Rotterdam (Rotterdam, NL), ccBe (Antwerp, BE), Rencontres Chorégraphiques (Seine-Saint-Denis, FR), Accueil Studio: Centre Chorégraphique Nationale de Rillieux-la-Pape (Lyon, FR) and is made possible with the financiel support of the Performing Arts Fund NL.

“ It is a rough diamond on the edge of several disciplines, one that frustrates, touches and tantalizes.”

– Jury VCSD dance prizes (NL)

“An extraordinary production, a combination of funeral procession, installation, fashion show, pop concert and monologue.”

– de Volkskrant (NL)

“The most intriguing aspects of the production are the charisma of the performers, the texts, the repetitive music and the way in which it all falls into place securely.”

– Knack Focus (BE)