Edinburgh festival 2008 > Dance & physical theatre > Driven at Bedlam Theatre

Driven at Bedlam Theatre - Neel de Jong

Average rating:

De Jong's quest to stretch freedom's boundaries, while embracing human imperfection, is ongoing. Out of the backbone of life, avant-garde dancer/performer De Jong creates unexpected different worlds. 'Resolutely outlandish ... total artistry' - ***** (Mary Brennan, Herald). www.neeldejong.com

Venue:

Bedlam Theatre
11b Bristo Place, Edinburgh
EH1 1EZ

Audience Reviews

K. Elties's rating

The surrealistic image of de Jong looking in a mirror, the time she took to look at her face and her body remind me of a Russian desolated movie. Than there follows a hopeful, confrontating song about people who are able to live, or not. Finally she was dancing, what struck me is that her fragility and power goes hand in hand, awesome!

Who should go see it.
Persons who like to be challenged and like theatre which goes more towards art.

Ton Verheijen's rating

 

  

Loaded silence

 For Christ’s sake, where have we arrived now? A human being and her plastic bag on stage watch timid but very carefully what’s happening. What is this? There is a loaded silence in here. Do we smell Fellini? Could John Cage be somewhere around? Or is this just a cheap schoolpay -with yellow feathers in the hair... BUT HO! There’s no time to fantasize. Neel de Jong asks complete attention from her audience in her show DRIVEN. And let me tell you: it is not easy to escape. This is serious business. DRIVEN grabbs you deep inside. Every moment is new. Neel de Jong, a wild, 58-years old theatre-animal from Gouda, the Dutch Cheese-capital, pumps her vivid energy in every body which is ready to receive it. Interesting is the changing of perspective in the roles she plays. The victim. The furious diva. The happy schoolgirl which dances joyfully and plays with toiletpaper. The lonely girl, praying her prayer like it is a mantra. In the meantime the bald Italian pianist Augusto Pirodda cuddles his instrument like it has been drinking. But don’t misunderstand this. It is all very true what’s happening here. And just at the moment you start to feel really uncomfortable, there is the relieve. All of a sudden the lonely girl turns out te be a wise storyteller, who exchanges some grown-up conversation with her audience. Shoudn’t we clean up our mess first before we build something new? Neel de Jong is an artist who will never reach a big audience. For that her show is to uncomfortable. But for everyone who can stand this lack of comfort it defenitely will be a refreshing experience. The beautiful sounds, the bright colours, the unexpected surprises, the absolute lack of any wish to talk proper English... We call it a piece of art on the edge, completely different every day, because Neel doesn’t play on safe. DRIVEN makes you want to drive a long way, to come back and watch again. For Christ’s sake, what have you seen there? 

Who should go see it.
I would!

Loaded silence

For Christ’s sake, where have we arrived now? A human being and her plastic bag on stage watch timid but very carefully what’s happening. What is this? There is a loaded silence in here. Do we smell Fellini? Could John Cage be somewhere around? Or is this just a cheap schoolpay -with yellow feathers in the hair... BUT HO, there’s no time to fantasize. Neel de Jong asks complete attention from her audience in her show DRIVEN. And let me tell you: it is not easy to escape. This is serious business. DRIVEN grabbs you deep inside. Every moment is new. Neel de Jong, a wild, 58-years old theatre-animal from Gouda, the Dutch Cheese-capital, pumps her vivid energy in every body which is ready to receive it. Interesting is the changing of perspective in the roles she plays. The victim. The furious diva. The happy schoolgirl which dances joyfully and plays with toiletpaper. The lonely girl, praying her prayer like it is a mantra. In the meantime the bald Italian pianist Augusto Pirodda cuddles his instrument like it has been drinking. But don’t misunderstand this. It is all very true what’s happening here. And just at the moment you start to feel really uncomfortable, there is the relieve. All of a sudden the lonely girl turns out te be a wise storyteller, who exchanges some grown-up conversation with her audience. Shoudn’t we clean up our mess first before we build something new? Neel de Jong is an artist who will never reach a big audience. For that her show is to uncomfortable. But everyone who can stand this lack of comfort it will be a refreshing experience. The beautiful sounds, the bright colours, the unexpected surprises, the loaded silence, the absolute lack of any wish to talk proper English... We call it a piece of art on the edge, completely different every day, because Neel doesn’t play on safe. DRIVEN makes you want to drive a long way, to come back and watch again. For Christ’s sake, what have you seen there? 

Marja van Draanen's rating

Like all true artists Neel de Jong steps into the void and travels through the great unknown, the audience comes out about thirty minutes later having witnessed a performance you never thought possible! She does this again and again and again and.........

So come and see this show again and again and again and.......

Who should go see it.
Anyone who wants to see the unknown simplicity of human life.

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