Special procession near Central Station: actors stunt with angels in the street (Antwerp)
On Saturday afternoon, a special group caught the eye on the Central Station – Linkeroever axis. Actors from Troep/Troupe went through the city with a wounded angel.
Ilse Dewever
Why does theater have to be performed in a hall? Let’s just take to the streets, thought by the Antwerp artist collective Troep/Troupe. A clear procession was signed near Central Station on Saturday around 1.30 pm. Six actors wore a pair of angel wings on a berrie. Behind it walked an angel figure with large wings. With chants it moved on towards Linkeroever, their end point. “We want to break through boundaries with Troep/Troupe”, says actor Simon De Vos. With this angel figure we have already taken to the streets several times in the past six months. For this performance wounded angel we were inspired by the painting of the same name by Hugo Simberg. By a wounded evoke the processions of yesteryear. The angel is one who radiates comfort and is widely known, in all ways.”
wounded angel is still planning processions from the Turnhoutsebaan to the Laar (9/4), from the Dageraadplaats to the Corso hall in Berchem (23/4) and from Park Spoor Noord to Rix in Deurne (14/5). On September 23 there is a closing moment in Berchem, during which the entire hall complex of Corso is taken over by angels. “By taking to the streets with this angel, we allow passers-by to dwell on a figure that everyone knows, yet raises questions. We notice that there is a great need for imagination in public space.” Still, some passers-by also expect to run amok. “We’ve been through performances that didn’t know what they were seeing. Other people of the angel figure that things did not go well on one.”