In Joy Enjoy Joy choreographer Ann Van den Broek takes a different approach. Her dark and heavy side gets a lighter edge and lands in the melancholic regions of pleasant, but past memories. Joy Enjoy Joy follows the flow of life, down-to-earth and dynamic. It is a steady, driving and pulsating stream, moving constantly, never stopping. A stream that shimmers like reflecting light. A glamorous dream, restless and full of energy.

Joy Enjoy Joy also blurs the lines between the various disciplines with WArd/waRD’s  characteristic combination of movement, music, texts and video.

Joy Enjoy Joy illustrates a transition: putting aside accusations and reproaches, regrets and untenable desires. Lust transforms into deep love, resistance into acceptance. On the road to solace and safety for a perennially restless soul.

“Things need to be moving constantly. On the move, no more stagnation. We have had more than enough of that.“

concept and choreography Ann Van den Broek  
original cast Frauke Mariën, Louis Combeaud, Nik Rajšek, Jean-Gabriel Maury, Marion Bosetti, Carla Guerra, Kamil Pilarski, Isaiah Selleslaghs
understudy Karolina Krynicka 
music Nicolas Rombouts 
prerecorded vocals Gregory Frateur
conversation fragments Tom Barman 
video and lighting design Bernie van Velzen 
scenography Niek Kortekaas  
styling costumes Ann Van den Broek in collaboration with Marielle Vos
rehearsal director Pol Van den Broek, Gregory Frateur
outside eye Marc Vanrunxt
photography Rio Staelens
trailer Thorsten Alofs 
first presentation January 12, 2022, La Filature, Mulhouse (FR)
dutch premiere February 19, 2022, Theater Rotterdam, Rotterdam (NL) 

Joy Enjoy Joy is a production of WArd/waRD in coproduction with permanent partners Theater Rotterdam (NL) and corso, Antwerp (BE). Coproduction partners are La Filature, Mulhouse (FR), Theater Freiburg (DE) and Podium Bloos, Breda (NL). The project is financially supported by Fonds Podiumkunsten (NL) and the city of Rotterdam (NL).

“Joy Enjoy Joy is a double-edged ode to the joy of life, with a sharp edge.”

– de Volkskrant (NL)

“Ann Van den Broek’s ode to joy is very composed, making it unbelievably thrilling.”

– Het Parool (NL)

“My work will never be entirely without other feelings. An emotion is never straightforward, it’s more complex and always contains more layers.”

– Ann Van den Broek in Movement Exposed (NL)