Six individuals wandering in a restricted, safe space. Forever immersed in their helix of emotions. Pain, lust, aggression, fear, desire and love. Unbridled energy becomes aimless; the struggle is meaningless. Resignation and the beauty of acceptance. Bodies in emotion. Bodies in acquiescence.

Q61 is situated in a twilight zone, a suspended state. In a moving landscape of isolated emotions, Q61 slowly and rhythmically builds to a long, soft scream. An infinitely desolate, yet hopeful piece.

In Q61 Ann Van den Broek takes stock of material produced in ten years of research into rhythm, emotions and movement. She creates a white, softly pulsating composition of endlessly transforming movements.

The music composition is circular. Gliding tones with a consoling resignation, combined with live-operated voice and contact microphones form the basis. The set design is inspired by the notion of niches. A clean, rhythmic space.

concept and choreography Ann Van den Broek
original cast Jan Deboom, Andreas Kuck, Frauke Mariën, Cecilia Moisio, Judit Ruiz Onandi, Dario Tortorelli
music composition Arne Van Dongen
set design Niek Kortekaas
lighting design Bernie van Velzen
styling costumes Ann Van den Broek
advice Marc Vanrunxt
sign language coach Marie De Corte
photography Maarten Vanden Abeele
premiere February 4, 2011, Korzo theater, The Hague (NL)

Q61 is a co-production of of WArd/waRD (NL/BE), Korzo productions (The Hague, NL), ccBerchem (Antwerp, B) and Künstlerhaus Mousonturm (Frankfurt, DE). It has received financial support from Performing Arts Fund (NL) and the Flemish government (BE).

“What is brilliant is how, with minimal means, Van den Broek manages to create an unrelenting mood of suspense throughout this hour-long piece, with an almost hypnotic effect. Not a very cheerful work, but certainly a very intriguing one.”

– NRC Handelsblad (NL)