Compagnie Krak was founded in 2008 to perform for street children and in homes in Southeast Asia and South America. This gave them a taste for it and so they continued touring when they got back in Belgium with their first production ‘Charlieston’ at festivals and cultural centres. Next came ‘Kiss!’ where they further explored their skills as a clown duo. For their third performance, they decided that Dieter would continue to play, but that Els would work behind the scenes as dramaturge and coach.

With the successful poetic clowning shows ‘VIVA RAPHAEL’ and ‘KONTROL’, Dieter toured Portugal, Denmark, Sweden, France, the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, etc. In 2020, the compagnie started an artistic research project into the connection between artist and audience and the audience among themselves. This resulted in the installation performance ‘NOTHING’ and the pop-up performance ‘BENCH INVASION’. Their focus shifted from mere showing to a more socially engaged work, which was also noticed outside Europe. ‘BENCH INVASION’ was invited at Ex Muro (L’ART AU-DELÀ DES MURS) in Canada and many other places.

Their latest performance Kintsugi will be their most personal work, where they will deal with grief and psychological well-being in a accessible and humorous way. After all, you may hide the man behind the clown, but you can never hide the clown behind the man.

A clown is waiting in front of a door. He waits for someone he would like to see again. He waits and waits. As he tries to fill the emptiness, his imagination and fear are laid bare, until he realizes that the loss will always be a part of him.
Kintsugi is a story about grief, beauty, and comfort, where clowning symbolizes the humor that lightens the heaviness of life. Grief that doesn’t sit heavily on your stomach, but a journey from a firm pat on the back to a soothing, comforting heartbeat. This summer they will begin to tryout this performance. In Pennabilli, the audience will have a chance to see some very early tryouts.

Credits
Idea: Els Degryse and Dieter Missiaen Artist: Dieter Missiaen External eye, dramaturgy: Craig Weston Clowning coach: Stef Geers Movement advice: Piet Van Dycke With the support of the Flemish Government. Coproduction: CIRC’OUT & MIRAMIRO With thanks to Cultuurfabriek Sijsele, Te Gek!, De Warande Turnhout, CC De Spil, Uitwijken Brugge Plus, CC Brugge, MAD festival, CirkLabo.

Work in progress show. Recommended age: +9.