Who’s afraid of the big, bad wolf?
We often feel alienated from nature; no longer see ourselves as part, but as dominators or, on the contrary, protectors. In ‘De Jacht’, the latest NITE + Slagwerk Den Haag production directed by Chilean Manuela Infante, this distinction between ‘human’ and ‘nature’ is questioned.
In De Jacht, Infante explores the world of ‘rewilding’. A trending topic in the Netherlands, especially with the return of the wolf. Whether it is the #vanlife wild-camping digital nomad without a fixed abode, or the poaching hunter in search of new prey; both are looking to become one with the wilderness again.
Infante’s work integrates research, music, and stories. Avoiding a single history-altering narrative, De Jacht welcomes a variety of alternating stories. Collaborating with Diego Noguera, NITE actors, and Slagwerk Den Haag musicians, Infante crafts a thought-provoking musical performance with rich soundscapes, seamlessly blending the musical and the absurd with the extravagant.
Manuela Infante x NITE
After completing studies in Chile and at the University of Amsterdam, Infante is now a sought-after interdisciplinary theater maker worldwide. She has worked at the KVS (Brussels), Schauspielhaus Hannover, Theater Basel, Volkstheater Vienna, Festival Internacional Santiago a Mil (Chile), The Watermill Center (USA), Theatre Works (Singapore) among others.
“The narrative form of the hunter, of plot and suspense, is not my way of making theatre. I never succeeded and attempting always felt uncomfortable. I’d much rather collect.” – Manuela Infante
Credits
Text: Manuela Infante, inspired by Ursula Le Guin
cast: Bram van der Heijden, Sarah Janneh, Bien de Moor, Nimuë Walraven, Olaf Ait Tami
composition: Diego Noguera
music: Slagwerk Den Haag, Enric Montfort and Dirge Kuran
set design: Ascon de Nijs
lighting design: Wil Frikken
dramaturgy: Camilla Valladares, Liet Lenshoek
costume design: Tania Ballve
