Jandergrouwnd brings Moscow to North

About the author

As a twenty-five year old writer, hummusaddict, night decorator, Master student, secret girlfriend of James Franco and lover of thick books, I totally agree with the saying that wolves don't lose sleep over the opinion of sheep.

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Am I a naïve child of Romanticism? Maybe, but I’m convinced some mysterious times need their retell, like the illegal art scene of Moscow in the ’70s and ’80s. When massive censorship was Russia’s second name creativity tried to escape from it by meetings off the map. In smoky kitchens and ice cold lofts Soviet rebels showed each other their paintings, manuscripts and poetry while keeping themselves warm with vodka. With no prospect on publication, this outburst still has a shady image. Oostpool and De Warme Winkel sealed the deal by bringing this subculture back on an underground stage.

Oostpool theatre group

The Oostpool bevy seems to have affection with earlier stories as I also noticed in their performance (in) Koud Water last week. A beautiful tale about three hippies who are mainly busy with being hopelessly in love with each other. The original novel ‘A home at the end of the world’ by Michael Cunningham seeps through their dialogues. ‘I don’t want to speak about love out loud, because the real version seems like an end point’, sighs Matthijs van de Sande Bakhuyzen who fulfils the role of the homosexual Jonathan. The poetical lyrics, great acting performances and the original drama of an almost too notorious era, made me keep an eye on these professionals in pretending.

Back to the promising co-production. With an out-of-the-box approach De Warme Winkel picked your local thrift store for their ultimate Russian scenery. In our capital it means hopping on the ferry to the Distelweg to find The Location at the northern side. Expect random stuff that will serve the play because the décor and costumes will pop out of the abandoned things available. Don’t expect gushing about Shakespeare or any other slow-motion acting, but imagine fast moving weirdness that art from the fringes of society can deliver. Go jandergrouwndd.

Jandergrouwnd

When: December 12-15 and 19-21
Where: Kringloopcentrum De Locatie, Distelweg 85
Tickets: Between €5,- and €15,- (depends on your income)
Website: www.dewarmewinkel.nl

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