Detroit dealers

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)

“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

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

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