Noordteater is currently the host to an Antwerpian play; De Zevende Hemel. A delightfully directed, local production of Jan Christeans’ story of a local pub of the same name.
I could have very well been in the Kit Kat Club of 1930’s Berlin. All but Liza was missing.
It was delightful as I had the pleasure of being a fly on the wall photographer, taking pics of the three principal character actors before, during and after Showtime. Nothing quite prepared me for the banter, intense concentration and preparation of the three… I am very grateful. Here are just a few of my photo's, with a few of my favourites below:
Even the after party – in full drag – was a sight to behold. Call me, and I’ll tell you all about it. I’m not quite Oscar Wilde, and therefore cannot describe it to you with the glamorous, witty and amusing attention to detail in prose that it deserves. So call, and I’ll tell you.
Back to the play. Although I understood almost nothing of the dialogue (it was thick Antwaarps dialect), it is a lovely story about the clients of a local pub; their lives and relationships.
It almost – almost – typifies Antwerp for me.
What’s more is that I’ve actually been to the pub of the same name; here in the Schippersquartier.
What a pub. Always open, with more interesting people than well, well... probably the Kit Kat Club. Perhaps that Club was, for some of them, their stamkroeg, in real life. Some of them may very well have performed there, too.
On a few occasions I’ve visited, but when I’ve thought I had more money than I actually did… and offered to buy everyone drinks, which was gratefully accepted. Only to find that I couldn’t pay for it. I’ve not done this once. But twice.
