“Enviable is the freedom with which this performance sweeps its feet from formats and expectations: Somewhere between documentary, spoken word, stand-up comedy, musical theater and cabaret kitsch, Detroit Dealers does not allow itself to be captured in any way.”
De Morgen
Situated within the history of the rise and fall of the American auto industry, Walter Bart tells the story of his grandfather, car dealer Arie Bart.
Arie is a Dutch Opel dealer in the 1950s. On a business trip to the parent company General Motors in Detroit, he meets an American soul singer. In a crossover of dramatized documentary, theater and music, the striking life of Arie Bart is linked to the romance of the American dream and the transience of the automobile as a sex symbol.
By and with
- Walter Bart
- Maartje Remmers
Acting
- Rose Marie Wilson
Music and composer
- Bo Koek
Music
- Jens Bouttery
- Andrew Claes
Photography and film
- Gerbrand Burger
Co-producer
- Rotterdamse Schouwburg
- NTGent
- Holland Festival
Made possible by
- Gemeente Rotterdam
- dienst Kunst en Cultuur
- FPK
- Norma Fonds
- Stichting Doen
- Peak Audio B.V.
Design
- Maarten van Otterdijk
Production manager
- Carry Hendriks
Past dates
-
December 2012
15
NTGent
Gent (BE) -
December 2012
14
NTGent
Gent (BE) -
December 2012
13
NTGent
Gent (BE) -
December 2012
12
NTGent
Gent (BE) -
November 2012
23
Monty
Antwerpen (BE) -
November 2012
22
Monty
Antwerpen (BE) -
November 2012
21
Monty
Antwerpen (BE) -
October 2012
07
Stadsschouwburg Utrecht
Utrecht (NL) -
October 2012
06
Stadsschouwburg Utrecht
Utrecht (NL) -
October 2012
05
Stadsschouwburg Utrecht
Utrecht (NL) -
September 2012
25
De Keuze
Rotterdam (NL) -
September 2012
24
De Keuze
Rotterdam (NL) -
September 2012
23
De Keuze
Rotterdam (NL) -
September 2012
22
De Keuze
Rotterdam (NL) -
February 2012
23
Distinctively Dutch Festival
Pittsburgh (USA)
“Detroit Dealers does not narrate the clash between changing worlds, it brings those worlds together, in dialogue. That is the highest form of respect. And it deserves the highest form of respect.”
De Morgen
“A great rap battle between the stammering, elated Bart and Wilson’s sexy and witty flow, backed by the cool electronic music of Bo Koek, Jens Bouttery and Andrew Claes.”
Het Parool
Current projects
-
The Dogshit Attack -
ALFA -
The queuer