Fort Europa Song of Fragmentation

Dutch director Johan Simons with his ensemble ZT Hollandia and musical director Paul Koek will present a new work by Belgian playwright Tom Lanoye (Schlachten!, Mamma Medea). It is called Fort Europa. As might be expected, it deals with migration. But it is the Europeans who want to leave, disappointed by the fact that present-day Europe has not developed into the paradise once envisioned. Nationalism, xenophobia and consumerist terror are all threatening European civilization. Perhaps it would be better if everyone were to emigrate, leaving Europe for others to come. Perhaps it would be better to build a new Europe, a better Europe elsewhere.

Johan Simons founded the ensemble ZT Hollandia in 1985, and together they created Sentimenti for the RuhrTriennale 2003. Fort Europais to be their last project together. His adaptation of Michel Houellebecq's novel Les particules élémentaires (Atomised) in Zurich was invited to this year's Berliner Theatertreffen. From this autumn, Simons will be director of the NTGent.