Pleasant Island

Silke Huysmans & Hannes Dereere / CAMPO

Hidden in the Pacific Ocean lies the island of Nauru, once called ‘Pleasant Island’ by European explorers. Although its size makes it one of the smallest nations in the world, its history is both large and significant. Nauru is often seen as a parable for our current world. The island was severely impacted by the effects of colonization, capitalism, migration and ecological distress of which the consequences still linger today.

After the exhaustive exploitation of its natural resources, the island was left in economic and ecologic ruins. Today Nauru is most known for hosting Australian refugee detention centres in return for a large amount of Australian money. This sparked the government of Nauru to ban most journalists and researchers from entering the island in an effort to keep negative news from reaching the outside world. Meanwhile, the island risks being swallowed by the ocean as a result of the rising sea level.

Silke and Hannes were exceptionally allowed to enter the island for a couple of weeks in the summer of 2018. In this post-apocalyptic setting they try to capture the historical, ecological and humanitarian exhaustion of the island, and by extension of our entire planet. In Pleasant Island Silke and Hannes use their personal smartphones to navigate the spectator through audio and images from their research on Nauru. How to encounter the limitations of a world that is intent on endless growth? What idea of the future is left on Nauru and the rest of the world?

60 minutes
In English

Part of

Theme productions

On tour

Shun Sato

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Ilse Philips

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Ilse Philips

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IN DE PERS

"Interessant documentair theater, over een deel van de wereld dat bijna vergeten leek" - De Volkskrant ★★★★, 13-05-19

"Een eerlijke vorm van collectief makerschap", "past erg goed bij onze hedendaagse beleving van de wereld, van het nieuws", "bijzonder goed - De Theaterether, podcast De Zendelingen, 19-08-19

"Bewijst de geschiedenis van ‘hellhole’ Nauru welke schade een neoliberaal model van uitbuiting aanricht, dan beseffen de kunstenaars dat ze er schatplichtig aan blijven. - De Standaard ★★★, 13-05-19

"Nauru biedt ons een toekomstbeeld. Een dystopisch toekomstbeeld, over hoe we een plek uitmijnen en dan gebruiken als opvangcentrum voor vluchtelingen. Op de kleine schaal van Nauru zie je de problematieken waarmee heel de wereld wordt geconfronteerd." - De Morgen - Ewoud Ceulemans, 09-05-19

"Het werk van Huysmans en Dereere heeft wel wat verwantschappen met dat van een ander Vlaams gezelschap, Berlin, (...) al ligt bij hen meer accent op de muzikale insteek" - Theaterkrant.nl, 13-05-19

"Nauru is een miniatuurversie van hoe uitgewoond de aarde er binnen niet al te lange tijd mogelijk bij zal liggen uit naam van het extractiemonster dat te ver doorschiet in zijn honger naar meer." - Nienke Scholts, 30-04-19

Credits

by & with Silke Huysmans & Hannes Dereere dramaturgy Dries Douibi sound mixing Lieven Dousselaere technical Anne Meeussen & Piet Depoortere production CAMPO coproduction 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 with the support of Vlaamse Gemeenschapscommissie & KAAP many thanks to all collocutors in Nauru

Past touring dates

10 May 19 - 20:30 - Kunstenfestivaldesarts - Brussel (Belgium)

11 May 19 - 18:00 - Kunstenfestivaldesarts - Brussel (Belgium)

12 May 19 - 15:00 - Kunstenfestivaldesarts - Brussel (Belgium)

12 May 19 - 20:30 - Kunstenfestivaldesarts - Brussel (Belgium)

13 May 19 - 20:30 - Kunstenfestivaldesarts - Brussel (Belgium)

20 May 19 - 21:00 - SPRING Performing Arts Festival - (The Netherlands)

21 May 19 - 21:00 - SPRING Performing Arts Festival - (The Netherlands)

27 Jun 19 - 20:00 - Latitudes Contemporaines - Lille (France)

07 Aug 19 - 21:00 - Theater aan Zee - Oostende (Belgium)

08 Aug 19 - 15:00 - Theater aan Zee - Oostende (Belgium)

08 Aug 19 - 21:00 - Theater aan Zee - Oostende (Belgium)

24 Sep 19 - De Brakke Grond - Amsterdam (The Netherlands)

25 Sep 19 - De Brakke Grond - Amsterdam (The Netherlands)

04 Oct 19 - 21:30 - Materiais Diversos - Minde (Portugal)

23 Oct 19 - 20:30 - CAMPO nieuwpoort - Gent

24 Oct 19 - 20:30 - CAMPO nieuwpoort - Gent

25 Oct 19 - 20:30 - CAMPO nieuwpoort - Gent

26 Oct 19 - CC De Grote Post - Oostende (Belgium)

28 Oct 19 - 20:30 - SPIELART Theater Festival - München (Germany)

29 Oct 19 - 20:30 - SPIELART Theater Festival - München (Germany)

31 Oct 19 - 21:00 - PACT Zollverein - Essen (Germany)

22 Nov 19 - 20:30 - nona - Mechelen (Belgium)

29 Nov 19 - Akcent Festival - Archa - Praag (Tsjechië)

10 Jan 20 - Tanzquartier Wien - Wenen (Oostenrijk)

11 Jan 20 - Tanzquartier Wien - Wenen (Oostenrijk)

06 Feb 20 - Rosendal Teater - Trondheim (Noorwegen)

07 Feb 20 - Rosendal Teater - Trondheim (Noorwegen)

05 Mar 20 - Theatre Commons - Tokyo (Japan)

06 Mar 20 - Theatre Commons - Tokyo (Japan)

11 Mar 20 - 20:30 - Arenbergschouwburg - Antwerpen (Belgium)

13 Mar 20 - 20:00 - leietheater - Deinze (Belgium) (CANCELLED)

18 Mar 20 - 20:00 - Pilar - Brussel (CANCELLED)

20 Mar 20 - 19:30 - Points Communs - Nouvelle scène nationale Cergy-Pontoise / Val d’Oise - Cergy-Pontoise (France) (CANCELLED)

21 Mar 20 - 19:30 - Points Communs - Nouvelle scène nationale Cergy-Pontoise / Val d’Oise - Cergy-Pontoise (France) (CANCELLED)

24 Mar 20 - 21:00 - Cement Festival - 's Hertogenbosch (The Netherlands) (CANCELLED)

25 Mar 20 - 21:00 - Cement Festival - 's Hertogenbosch (The Netherlands) (CANCELLED)

02 Apr 20 - Zona K - Milano (Italië) (CANCELLED)

03 Apr 20 - Zona K - Milano (Italië) (CANCELLED)

22 Apr 20 - Warwick Arts Centre - Coventry (Britain) (CANCELLED)

23 Apr 20 - Warwick Arts Centre - Coventry (Britain) (CANCELLED)

30 Apr 20 - CC De Schakel - Waregem (Belgium) (CANCELLED)

12 May 20 - Auawirleben - Bern (Switzerland) (CANCELLED)

13 May 20 - Auawirleben - Bern (Switzerland) (CANCELLED)

27 May 20 - Theater Freiburg - Freiburg (Germany) (CANCELLED)

26 Jun 20 - Belluard Bollwerk International - Fribourg (Switzerland) (CANCELLED)

11 Jul 20 - Theaterformen - Braunschweig (Germany) (CANCELLED)

12 Jul 20 - Theaterformen - Braunschweig (Germany) (CANCELLED)

15 Aug 20 - Zürcher Theater Spektakel - Zürich (Switzerland) (CANCELLED)

16 Aug 20 - Zürcher Theater Spektakel - Zürich (Switzerland) (CANCELLED)

17 Aug 20 - Zürcher Theater Spektakel - Zürich (Switzerland) (CANCELLED)

06 Sep 20 - 21:00 - La Bâtie - Genève (Switzerland)

07 Sep 20 - 21:00 - La Bâtie - Genève (Switzerland)

25 Sep 20 - Festival Actoral - Marseille (France)

26 Sep 20 - Festival Actoral - Marseille (France)

07 Oct 20 - FIT - Festivale Internazionale del Teatro - Lugano (Switzerland)

13 Oct 20 - 20:00 - Festival d'Automne à Paris - Parijs (France)

14 Oct 20 - 20:00 - Festival d'Automne à Paris - Parijs (France)

15 Oct 20 - 20:00 - Festival d'Automne à Paris - Parijs (France)

16 Oct 20 - 20:00 - Festival d'Automne à Paris - Parijs (France)

17 Oct 20 - 20:00 - Festival d'Automne à Paris - Parijs (France)

23 Oct 20 - 20:30 - OORtreders festival - Pelt (Belgium) (CANCELLED)

08 Nov 20 - 18:00 - Temporada Alta - International Festival of Scenic Arts - Girona (Spain) (CANCELLED)

16 Nov 20 - ARGE Kultur - Salzburg (Oostenrijk) (CANCELLED)

17 Nov 20 - ARGE Kultur - Salzburg (Oostenrijk) (CANCELLED)

20 Nov 20 - OC Vondel - Meulebeke (Belgium) (CANCELLED)

21 Nov 20 - HETPALEIS - Antwerpen (CANCELLED)

28 Nov 20 - CC Ter vesten - Beveren (Belgium) (CANCELLED)

04 Dec 20 - Beursschouwburg - Brussel (Belgium) (CANCELLED)

05 Dec 20 - Beursschouwburg - Brussel (Belgium) (CANCELLED)

02 Feb 21 - Warwick Arts Centre - Coventry (Britain) (CANCELLED)

03 Feb 21 - Warwick Arts Centre - Coventry (Britain) (CANCELLED)

06 Feb 21 - CC De Factorij - Zaventem (Belgium) (CANCELLED)

18 Mar 21 - Les Brigittines - Brussel (Belgium) (CANCELLED)

19 Mar 21 - Les Brigittines - Brussel (Belgium) (CANCELLED)

20 Mar 21 - Les Brigittines - Brussel (Belgium) (CANCELLED)

25 Mar 21 - 15:00 - Cement Festival - 's Hertogenbosch (The Netherlands) (CANCELLED)

25 Mar 21 - 19:00 - Cement Festival - 's Hertogenbosch (The Netherlands) (CANCELLED)

26 Mar 21 - 17:00 - Cement Festival - 's Hertogenbosch (The Netherlands) (CANCELLED)

26 Mar 21 - 21:00 - Cement Festival - 's Hertogenbosch (The Netherlands) (CANCELLED)

27 Mar 21 - 19:00 - Cement Festival - 's Hertogenbosch (The Netherlands) (CANCELLED)

22 Apr 21 - 30CC - Leuven (Belgium) (CANCELLED)

23 Apr 21 - HETPALEIS - Antwerpen (CANCELLED)

26 Apr 21 - CCHA / cultuurcentrum Hasselt - Hasselt (Belgium) (CANCELLED)

05 May 21 - 20:00 - Auawirleben - Bern (Switzerland)

06 May 21 - 20:00 - Auawirleben - Bern (Switzerland)

07 May 21 - 21:00 - Auawirleben - Bern (Switzerland)

28 May 21 - Theater Chur - Chur (Switzerland)

04 Jun 21 - CCHA / cultuurcentrum Hasselt - Hasselt (Belgium) (CANCELLED)

13 Jun 21 - 15:00 - Ruhrfestspiele - Recklinghausen (Germany) (CANCELLED)

13 Jun 21 - 20:00 - Ruhrfestspiele - Recklinghausen (Germany) (CANCELLED)

14 Jun 21 - 20:00 - Ruhrfestspiele - Recklinghausen (Germany) (CANCELLED)

15 Jun 21 - 20:00 - Ruhrfestspiele - Recklinghausen (Germany) (CANCELLED)

22 Aug 21 - Mladi Levi - Bunker Productions - Ljubljana (Slovenia)

23 Aug 21 - Mladi Levi - Bunker Productions - Ljubljana (Slovenia)

27 Aug 21 - 21:00 - Cement Festival - 's Hertogenbosch (The Netherlands)

28 Aug 21 - 21:00 - Cement Festival - 's Hertogenbosch (The Netherlands)

29 Aug 21 - 16:30 - Cement Festival - 's Hertogenbosch (The Netherlands)

15 Oct 21 - 20:00 - Schwankhalle - Bremen (Germany)

16 Oct 21 - 20:00 - Schwankhalle - Bremen (Germany) (CANCELLED)

21 Oct 21 - 19:30 - Les Brigittines - Brussel (Belgium)

22 Oct 21 - 19:00 - Les Brigittines - Brussel (Belgium)

23 Oct 21 - 19:00 - Les Brigittines - Brussel (Belgium)

28 Oct 21 - 19:30 - Theater Chur - Chur (Switzerland)

06 Nov 21 - 17:30 - euro-scene Leipzig - festival of contemporary European theatre and dance - Leipzig (Germany)

07 Nov 21 - 15:30 - euro-scene Leipzig - festival of contemporary European theatre and dance - Leipzig (Germany)

09 Nov 21 - 20:00 - Theater der Dinge - Schaubude - Berlin (Germany)

10 Nov 21 - 20:00 - Theater der Dinge - Schaubude - Berlin (Germany)

03 Feb 22 - 20:15 - HETPALEIS - Antwerpen

22 Feb 22 - 19:45 - Warwick Arts Centre - Coventry (Britain)

23 Feb 22 - 19:45 - Warwick Arts Centre - Coventry (Britain)

23 Apr 22 - 30CC - Leuven (Belgium)

29 May 22 - 19:30 - Freiburg Festival - Freiburg (Germany)

30 May 22 - 19:30 - Freiburg Festival - Freiburg (Germany)

29 Sep 22 - 20:30 - Monty - Antwerpen (Belgium)

06 Oct 22 - 19:00 - Bundeskunsthalle - Bonn (Germany)

08 Oct 22 - 20:30 - GC Felix Sohie - Hoeilaart (Belgium)

23 Nov 22 - 20:00 - CC Brugge - Brugge (Belgium)

10 May 23 - 20:00 - Beykoz Kundura - Istanbul (Turkey)

02 Aug 23 - Esplanade, Theatres on the Bay - Singapore (Singapore)

03 Aug 23 - Esplanade, Theatres on the Bay - Singapore (Singapore)

23 Sep 23 - 20:00 - Nitra Festival - Nitra (Slowakije)

02 Oct 24 - 19:00 - Sirenos - Vilnius (Litouwen )

20 Jan 26 - Tollhaus - Karlsruhe (Germany)