English Version: Talk to the demon

‘Talk to the demon’ is Wim Vandekeybus’ gripping portrait of humanity as a sometimes grand but more often cruel race. In his view however, this cruelty is merely a cover for a deep fear not to be loved by others. The only characters that seem to escape this fate are children. They play the main characters in this work. This time, Vandekeybus exceptionally chose not to use any music. It proves to be an excellent decision as it puts to the fore the great cast he brought together.

‘Talk to the demon’ opens with an uncommonly cruel scene.

Luke Jessop presents a black and a white kid to the audience, inviting it to choose for either one. Even though the audience has no clue, it goes for the white kid that receives a princely gown. The black kid slumps off in disappointment. The white child now reigns over a bunch of six grown-ups. They soon prove to be intolerable jerks, worse than kids. First, they bully the Moroccan Yassin Mrabtifi. After he is out, they look amongst themselves for a next victim that suffers the cruelest treatments. Even the audience is threatened. Finally, only the sheepishly grinning Manuel Ronda is left. Suddenly, the black kids returns to the stage, asking the ...