David van Reybrouck (BE) / Dead Centre (IR)

Bus trip to Liege

The curious story of the forgotten country of Neutral Moresnet as a mirror of our times.

In the east of Belgium, right below Vaals, once lay Europe's largest zinc mine. The small enclave where this precious metal was mined was coveted by the European powers for years, but was eventually declared neutral territory after the fall of Napoleon. For almost a century, Moresnet enjoyed neutrality where people of all nationalities lived side by side.

David van Reybrouck wrote the 2016 Book Week essayZink about the Free State of Moresnet. Broder poured this extraordinary story into musical theatre that was shown at Cultura Nova last year. The Irish company Dead Centre brings history to life in a special performance at Théâtre de Liège, which we visit by bus from PLT.

The ultimate utopia

In a world where borders constantly shifted and national identities were formed with bloody conflicts, Neutral Moresnet became the epitome of a European utopia ahead of its time. But the 20th century and its devastating wars destroyed that dream. After a hundred years of prosperity and stability, the inhabitants of Moresnet changed nationalities several times without ever moving. They did not cross borders - the borders came to them. Using this extraordinary and little-known history, the Irish company Dead Centre explores the concepts of neutrality and borders, and how history shapes our identity. At a time when borders are being re-erected, identities are hardening and countries are retreating behind their own walls, Dead Centre makes the stage what Moresnet once was: a neutral place, full of questions. Perhaps it is theatre - the last territory without defined sovereignty; as the ultimate utopia.

The performance has Dutch subtitles.

Credits

Production: Théâtre de Liège et DC&J Création
Co-production: Dead Centre, NTGent, Les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg, D'haus Düsseldorfer Schauspielhaus, ThéâtredelaCité CDN de Toulouse Occitanie, Maison de la Culture d'Amiens,
Nowy Teatr, Maison de la Culture de Bourges, Comédie de Caen CDN de Normandie, KVS Brussels2
Cast: Cathy Min Jung (BE), Lisah Adeaga (BE), Fabio Godinho (LUX), Mila Moinzadeh (DE) (distribution in progress)
Directed by Dead Centre (Ben Kidd and Bush Moukarzel)
Text: a free adaptation of Zink by David Van Reybrouck
Dramaturgy: Simon Vandenbulke
Set and costumes: Nina Wetzel
Video design: Sébastien Dupouey