LIGA

50% reward & 50% punishment

LIGA begins at the end. The audience views a video in which a group of actors returns backstage after the performance we’re just about to see. Their director meets them and the highs and lows are re-lived as the actors enthusiastically congratulate, compliment, and console each other. With practiced professionalism; disappointments and failures are being denied.

The performance follows. We go back in time. In a live "flashback" the actors perform their play. We observe five characters: young, playful and easy to influence. While unsure how to behave, their human need to conform makes them susceptible to manipulation. In a mush of directing and up bringing, the characters learn how "to pretend." With acted conviction and taught spontaneity they succeed but we’ve already seen that in the video .

actors: Thijs Bloothoofd, Harm van Geel, Esther Snelder, Marc Stoffels and Willemijn Zevenhuijzen
concept, director & actor: Liesbeth Gritter
coordination & dramaturge: Mette van der Sijs
technique & actor: Klaas Paradies
production: Sjoerd Kelderman
publicity: Herrie/ Margo van der Valk

LIGA was selected for the Flemish Theaterfestival selection '07. LIGA was also shown during TF4 as Flemish choice during the Dutch Theaterfestival.
A quote from the jury rapport of LIGA:
“In the film and on stage a series of plain hilarious scenes grow into a unique composed analyses of human live.
Kassys does this with so much discerning aplomb and an ingenious scenario that LIGA appeared promptly on the selection list.
Theater which is too rare in Belgium: smart, almost without words,generous and funny, inspired and with a very genuine and originalsignature.”
May 2007

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFnB6ghRgyw

PRESS

“Once again Kassys shows their its power to anatomize human behaviour crystal-clear and display it in detail. We watch how touching naiveté transfers into extreme and embarrassing infantilism.
Nobody can deny the hilarious performances perfectly timed, captivating and immediate from the cast of Thijs Bloothoofd, Harm van Geel, Esther Snelder, Marc Stoffels and Willemijn Zevenhuijzen”
Volkskrant, November 2006

“The essence of playing on stage is being shown: playing on stage.
Liga is Gritter and van der Sijs at their best.”
Vrij Nederland, December 2006

“Film and reality coincide with each other; the audience has become performer in the show, that’s why there is no end to the applause for this extraordinary theater show.”
TheaterCentraal, November 2006

“Kassys brings with Liga a visual attractive show, with many movements and dynamics.”
8 Weekly, November 2006

"In "Liga" Kassys does voluntary do something every actor wants to avoid: to flop."
De Standaard, August 2007

“The show is wonderful theater: there’s inventive near-constant and motion, the characterizations (…) are spot-on and built to a hilariously anarchic. (…) But the show is also a wry meditation on theater itself”.
Pittsburgh City Paper, October, 2008

"LIGA draws us ineluctably back to the idea “acting natural”- onstage or in the great theater of the world- is not only an oppressive burden, but a contradiction in terms.”
The Village Voice, January, 2009

TOUR

November 2006
Amsterdam, Theater [FRASCATI] in de Brakke Grond: November 21 & 22 try outs
Amsterdam, Theater [FRASCATI] in de Brakke Grond: November 23 première
Amsterdam, Theater [FRASCATI] in de Brakke Grond: November 24 & 25
Amersfoort, Theater De Lieve Vrouw: November 29
Arnhem, Schouwburg Arnhem: November 30

December 2006
Doetinchem, De Gruitpoort: December 8
Eindhoven Plaza Futura: December 16
’s-Hertogenbosch, Verkadefabriek: December 21

January 2007
Nijmegen, LUX: January 6
Haarlem, Toneelschuur: January 10
Den Haag, Korzo Theater: January 11 januari
Rotterdam, Rotterdamse Schouwburg: January 12
Dordrecht, Schouwburg Kunstmin: January 13
Tilburg, De NWE Vorst: January 18
Leiden, LAKtheater: January 19 & 20
Groningen, Grand Theatre: January 26 & 27

February 2007
Breda, Chassé Theater: February 2
Utrecht, Huis a/d Werf: February 7 & 8

March 2007
Utrecht, Tweetakt Festival: March 20

August 2007
Brussels, Belgium. Kaaitheater. Selection '07 of the Belgium Theaterfestival: August 24 till 26
Amsterdam, Theater de Brakke Grond. Belgiums choice during the Dutch Theaterfestival TF4: August 30 & 31

December 2007
kunstencentrum Vooruit, Gent Belgium: December 19 & 20
KC nOna, Mechelen Belgium: December 21

October 2008
Ostadetheater, Amsterdam: October 10
International Festival of Firsts, Pittsburgh VS: October 16, 17 & 18

January 2009
New York City, VS, Under the Radar Festival/ APAP conference in The Public Theatre: January 7 till 18

April 2009
Grand Theatre, Groningen. During the Kassys Week: April 4
Plaza Futura, Eindhoven: APRIL 16

May 2009
CC Berchem, Berchem Belgium: May 7
Schouwburg Kunstmin, Dordrecht: May 16
Stadstheater, Zoetermeer: May 20
Theater Frascati, Amsterdam: May 27 & 29

October 2009
Kunstencentrum BUDA, In The Mood Festival: October 10

January 2010
Culturgest, Lisbon Portugal: January 21, 22 & 23

TECHNIQUE

- lightplanliga.pdf

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FILM

LIGA - FRAGMENT

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AUDIO

LIGA - FRAGMENT