The playwright

Paul Pourveur was born in Antwerp in 1952. He studied cinematography in Brussels and attended scriptwriting workshops in the United States of America. He started to write for theatre in 1985. Paul grew up bilingually and writes some of his plays in Dutch, and some in French. His texts include L'abécédaire des temps modernes (2008), Bagdad Blues (2005), Shakespeare is dead – get over it! (2002), Locked in (2001) and the youth play Lilith@online. Paul has been writer in residence at the Rideau de Bruxelles.

The play

William loves Anna and hates globalisation. Anna doesn't care about globalisation, for she is an actress – but she loves William, the strongest opponent of globalisation here and now, as well as the writer from there and then: William S., you know who. He, in turn, is not loved by William.

Can you create a home in No Man's Land where you can simply hug each other tightly? Does all the information that applies to you, or is similar to you, shape something like a life? If so, is it really your own? Paul Pourveur has designed a model kit, in which he reflects on post modern biographies and, in a sense, hangs them up to dry on the progress of a rather easy-going relationship. At the end, everyone is dead and the author recommends for the last time: Live clean, think about the next one.

The documentation

The documentation includes –

• an introduction to the theatrical landscape of Belgium by Georg Weinand
• Paul Pourveur’s essay about his groundbreaking style, the nomadic drama
• an introduction to the play by Andreas Klaeui
• information and reviews about the Dutch, Belgian, German and French productions

Documentation (PDF, 6.3 MB)

The plan

Philip Desmeules, from whom no William’s secrets are hidden, Athina Kasiou, Alejandro Ospina, Constantin Popp and Lucy Smail joined Philippe Rixhon in the creative translation/ production of Paul Pourveur’s text – a challenging and exhilarating project. We have completed the translation, developed a staging concept and are now preparing the production... watch this space!