“Wunderbaum is at her best with the bizarre theatrical scenes in Beren.”
Volkskrant
“The play ‘Beren’ shows dissatisfied citizens, who turn their backs at the conventional society.”
NRC
“Entertaining parody of libertine philosophy.”
Theaterkrant
All power to the individual: live free or die!
New Hampshire, USA. A group of radical supporters of freedom infiltrate the idyllic town of Grafton to free themselves from everything that bothers them: taxes, government interference, the ban on carrying guns. All power to the individual.
At the same time as this radical ‘liberation’ of Grafton, an old problem is emerging. The town is visited by bears that venture closer and closer to the people in their search for edible waste. Due to the lack of rules, they face an invasion of bears that venture closer to humans in search of food.
Based on the book A Libertarian Walks into a Bear, a book by investigative journalist Matthew Hongoltz-Hetling, Wunderbaum reconstructs a battle of ideas as a tragicomic nightmare. A well-ordered American model project becomes story about human instincts, our relationship to nature and the desire for a self-made utopia. Neoliberalism comes into conflict with the ideals of the social state. The big question is: how does society define freedom?
By and with
- Walter Bart
- Wine Dierickx
- Matijs Jansen
- Maartje Remmers
- Marleen Scholten
Text
- Gebaseerd op het boek A LIBERTARIAN WALKS IN TO A BEAR: The Utopian Plot to Liberate an American Town (And Some Bears) door Matthew Hongoltz-Hetling
Final direction
- Suze Milius
Music
- Bo Koek
Dramaturgy and text editing
- Koen Tachelet
Director's assistance
- Nanine Maria Kok
Set and lightdesign
- Theun Mosk
Costume design
- Lotte Goos
Props
- Noa Müller
Sound Design
- Rick Gobée
Voice-over
- Davis Freeman
Technical coordination
- Siemen van der Werf | Ruimtetijd
Technician
- Rinke Bartelink
- Martijn van Nunen
Production manager
- Wunderbaum
coproduction
- Theater Rotterdam
- Theaterhaus Jena
Special thanks to
- Paul G. Baran
- Daniël Frankl
With the support of
- Gemeente Rotterdam
- Fonds Podiumkunsten
- Stichting Verzameling van Wijngaarden-Boot
- Stichting Zabawas
- Stichting Elise Mathilde Fonds
Photography
- Jan Dirk van der Burg (Campagnebeeld)
- Fred Debrock (Scenefotografie)
Past dates
-
October 2022
09
FIT festival
Lugano (CH) -
May 2022
20
Theaterhaus Jena
Duitsland -
May 2022
19
Theaterhaus Jena
Duitsland -
May 2022
18
Theaterhaus Jena
Duitsland -
May 2022
14
Theaterhaus Jena
Duitsland -
May 2022
13
Theaterhaus Jena
Duitsland -
May 2022
12
Theaterhaus Jena
Duitsland -
March 2022
05
Oase
Rotterdam -
March 2022
04
Oase
Rotterdam -
March 2022
03
Oase
Rotterdam -
March 2022
02
Oase
Rotterdam -
February 2022
26
Oase
Rotterdam -
February 2022
25
Oase
Rotterdam -
February 2022
24
Oase
Rotterdam -
February 2022
23
Oase
Rotterdam -
February 2022
19
Oase
Rotterdam -
February 2022
18
Oase
Rotterdam -
February 2022
17
Oase
Rotterdam -
February 2022
16
Oase
Rotterdam -
February 2022
12
Oase
Rotterdam -
February 2022
11
Oase
Rotterdam -
February 2022
10
Oase
Rotterdam
We collected some links during the rehearsal process.
This is the official website of the free state project, the big brother of the Free Town Project, and this is the Forum where Libertines help each other. Get to know Jason Sorens, the mastermind behind the Free State Project, and in this video meet the residents of Grafton. The Facebook page of John Connells Church is still up.
See a news item about the bear that was shot in a backyard and reactions from angry citizens. And a great video with a bear expert who answers all your questions.
You can order the book A Libertarian Walks in to a Bear here.
Current projects
-
John & Gena -
Die Hundekot-Attacke -
WUNDERBAUM plays LIVE (online it's a mess)