The Unpleasant Surprise

Davy Pieters/Theater Rotterdam

A constant stream of images confronts us on a daily basis. The majority of which are images of violence. Events in the lives of people usually unknown to us. We know that what we see has really happened, yet we are allowed to watch and look away.

How do we relate to the worlds on our screens? What are their effects on who we are? The Unpleasant Surprise looks for the connection in a visual and physical performance. Because with everything that we capture, something is lost as well. The majority of which are images of violence.

Events in the lives of people usually unknown to us. We know that what we see has really happened. Yet we are allowed to watch and look away.

How do we relate to the worlds on our screens? What are their effects on who we are? The Unpleasant Surprise looks for the connection in a visual and physical performance. Because with everything that we capture, something is lost as well.

concept & direction: Davy Pieters
performance: Klará Alexová, Niels Kuiters, Rob Smorenberg
music: Jimi Zoet
set design: Lena Newton
lighting design: Yuri Schreuders
costumes: Erik Bosman
production: Ferida Yildiz
assistant director: Mariëlla van Apeldoorn
video design: Ryan Cherewaty (stage)
props: Eva Arends
technical facilities: John Thijssen (coördinatie), Arjen Fortuin, Axel Dikkers
stage photography: Sanne Peper

Trailers

The Unpleasant Surprise in the press:

NRC

*** The three brilliant mime performers succeed in bringing the abstract news flashes both in a realistic and absurd way

Played earlier on:

  • Sat 04 Mar 2017 - Ro Theater - Première
  • Sun 05 Mar 2017 - Ro Theater
  • Wed 08 Mar 2017 - Toneelschuur
  • Thu 09 Mar 2017 - Toneelschuur
  • Fri 10 Mar 2017 - Theater aan het Spui
  • Thu 16 Mar 2017 - Frascati
  • Fri 17 Mar 2017 - Frascati
  • Sat 18 Mar 2017 - Frascati
  • Fri 24 Mar 2017 - Ro Theater
  • Sat 25 Mar 2017 - Ro Theater
  • Sun 26 Mar 2017 - Ro Theater
  • Wed 20 Sep 2017 - Ro Theater
  • Thu 21 Sep 2017 - Ro Theater
  • Fri 22 Sep 2017 - Ro Theater
  • Sat 23 Sep 2017 - Ro Theater
  • Mon 25 Sep 2017 - Vrijthof Enschede
  • Thu 28 Sep 2017 - Frascati Amsterdam
  • Fri 29 Sep 2017 - Frascati Amsterdam
  • Sat 30 Sep 2017 - Frascati Amsterdam
  • Wed 04 Oct 2017 - Parktheater Eindhoven
  • Fri 06 Oct 2017 - De Nieuwe Vorst Tilburg
  • Tue 10 Oct 2017 - Theater aan het Vrijthof Maastricht
  • Wed 11 Oct 2017 - Schouwburg De Kring Roosendaal
  • Thu 12 Oct 2017 - Junushoff Wageningen
  • Sat 14 Oct 2017 - Corrosia Almere
  • Sat 21 Oct 2017 - Chassé Theater Breda
  • Tue 24 Oct 2017 - Theater Kikker Utrecht
  • Wed 25 Oct 2017 - Theater Kikker Utrecht
  • Fri 27 Oct 2017 - Rabotheater Hengelo
  • Sat 28 Oct 2017 - LUX Nijmegen
  • Sun 29 Jul 2018 - Biennal Venice (IT) - Italian Premiere
  • Fri 05 Oct 2018 - International Festival Actoral (FR) - French Premiere
  • Sat 06 Oct 2018 - International Festival Actoral (FR)