Two young documentary theatre makers, Silke Huysmans and Hannes Dereere, who are already acclaimed on the stages of Europe's major theatres, are working exclusively on environmental themes, and prepare each piece with the utmost care. The creative process usually starts with artistic-scientific-journalistic research, interviews with people in the thick of things and experts. The result is a documentary stage work that touches on important, universal themes. This year, Sirens presents two plays from their environmental trilogy.
The Pleasant Island is the second work in the trilogy. It focuses on one of the world's smallest countries, with an area of just 21 square kilometres and the only road to cross the island in less than 20 minutes by car. The Republic of Nauru, once dubbed by European explorers as the 'Pleasure Island', is now one of the world's least visited tourist destinations.
With the destruction of the island's ecosystems by European mining corporations, the island's complex fates unfold on the scarred surface of an unknown planet... The filmmakers also see Nauru as a post-apocalyptic image of the future of the entire planet. Briefly the world's richest country, the Republic of Nauru is today an ecological and economic ruin, the result of colonisation, capitalism, migration and the depletion of nature.
Today, Nauru is best known for its refugee detention centres, funded by Australia. The Nauru government has banned most journalists and researchers from the island to prevent unfavourable news from reaching the outside world. Due to rising sea levels, Nauru is at risk of being swallowed up by the ocean.
In the summer of 2018, Silke and Hannes were granted exceptional access to the island for a couple of weeks. In this post-apocalyptic environment, they are trying to capture the historical, ecological and humanitarian exhaustion of the island, and by extension, of our entire planet. What does the future hold for Nauru and the rest of the planet? How to make a world accustomed to endless growth accept its limits?
Silke Huysmans and Hannes Dereereere
Silke Huysmans (b. 1989, Brazil) studied playwriting at the KASK School of Arts in Ghent, and Hannes Dereereere (b. 1990, Belgium) studied theatre studies at Ghent University. Both artists, currently based in Brussels, explore the ways in which journalistic and documentary elements are used in theatre in their work. Their artistic practice is based on extensive field research. From 2016 to 2022, they worked on a long-term investigation of how the mining business affects the environment, resulting in a trilogy of stage works.
The first part of the trilogy, Mining Stories, premiered at the Beursschouwburg in Brussels (2016). In preparation for this performance, Silke and Hannes travelled and worked in Brazil, the area where Silke grew up. When a dam collapsed in 2015, toxic waste flooded the area, causing one of the biggest mining-related ecological disasters in recent history.
Mining Stories was selected for the 2017 Het TheaterFestival (Belgium), and won the main prize at the 2018 Zürcher Theater Spektakel (Switzerland).
The second part of the trilogy, Pleasant Island, premiered at the Kunstenfestivaldesarts in Brussels in 2019.
The trilogy concludes with Out of the Blue. In this performance, Silke and Hannes look into the future of mining by focusing on a Belgian deep-sea mining company. Through interviews and other conversations, the authors provide a detailed picture of an emerging industry. The work premiered at the Kunstenfestivaldesarts in 2022.
Technology: Anne Meeussen & Piet Depoortere
Producer: Campo (Belgium)
Co-Production: Kunstenfestivaldesarts, Spring Festival Utrecht, Beursschouwburg, Kunstenwerkplaats Pianofabriek, Veem House For Performance, Spielart & De Brakke Grond
Residencies: Beursschouwburg, De Grote Post, KAAP, Kunstencentrum Buda, Kunstenwerkplaats Pianofabriek, STUK & Veem House for Performance, LOD
Supported by the Vlaamse Gemeenschapscommissie & KAAP &
The creative team would like to thank the following collaborators from Nauru.The team of the Nauka Naukamäki Community Support Team is also grateful to the cooperation of the Naukamäki Community Support Team for the cooperation of the Naukamäki Community Support Team.