WijkSafari Bijlmer about

11th MAY - 26th JUNE 2015 I AMSTERDAM BIJLMER

The Refugee Garage in the Bijlmer has been evacuated. Cheap flats are being fixed up and decorated by off beat newcomers. The gospel choirs are lifting off the roof in the African churches. And the 'elephant legs' are still standing, stately as ever, on the Bijlmerdreef. It’s not often you find a place that radiates the kind of energy Bijlmer does!

The DE Brede School 's (primary school) motto is ‘together multiplied equals the future’. It’s in that spirit that the school board partnered up with us and our plan and we welcomed them with open arms. They’ve let us build a nest here so we can caper around the classroom with you.

The scooters are gleaming, the adoptive couples are ready to throw open their doors to welcome you, and from the roof of an apartment block you’ll gaze out over the magnificent city of Amsterdam. Order your tickets now to ensure that you’ll be racing off with Adelheid and her gang of Bijlmerboys!

The WijkSafari Bijlmer actors and adoptions open their doors untill June 26th, 2015 for you!

URBANSAFARI

Have you ever wandered around like a tourist in your own city?

Ever wondered who lives behind that window?

Ever wondered whose television is connected to that satellite dish?

In the UrbanSafari, Adelheid en Zina base themselves in a Dutch suburb. From their basecamp they explore the neighbourhood, ring on residents doorbells, chat with the local police officer and invite the district to connect with each other. The UrbanSafari performers are adopted by locals for a few of weeks. They live together, share their life stories and get to know each other intensively. These meetings form the basis of the production.

The UrbanSafari takes you on a trip through streets and allies, on the back of a scooter, in a bus and on foot. The residents welcome you into their lives and homes with personal stories and a delicious lunch. Surrender yourself to the city, the play and the truth. Will you join us?

The UrbanSafari emerged in 2012 in the Amsterdam district Slotermeer and reformed in 2013 in Utrecht where the communities of Overvecht, Zuilen and Ondiep meet.

IN THE NEWS | AMSTERDAM

VOLKSKRANT ****I 26th MAY 2015
WIJKSAFARI IS AN HAPPENING!
'When a car skids onto the pavement and screeches to a halt in front of us, a preconceived notion of the area flits through my mind. Then the Dutch-Zambian singer Naomi van de Linden steps out and pours us all a drink whilst giving a heavenly rendition of a gospel number and disappears again.

The Bijlmer safari is a four-hour party.'

HET PAROOL**** I 22nd MAY 2015

'[…]Honest. transparent scenes which can all of a sudden confront. Because of the intimate setting, in the garden or at the dining room table, the personal stories come very close. [...] UrbanSafari Bijlmer shows how completely different people are displaced in completely different ways - and yet try to feel at home. It's all about the value of that search.'

NRC HANDELSBLAD I 11th MAY 2015 I HERIEN WENSINK

'Can theater change the world? [...] In February artist Melih Gencboyaci was a regular visitor to the Refugee Garage where more than a hundred Eritrean and Somali refugees found temporary shelter. He was working on a scene with the Somali Nasir (36) . [...] You can’t help but think differently about illegal immigrants as soon as you meet Nasir and his companions. [...] Hopefully you'll still be able to shake hands with Nasir during the UrbanSafari in the Bijlmer. Take that chance. Talk to him. You will never feel indifferent to the fate of illegal migrants again.'

TELEGRAAF I 5th MAY 2015 I

"The process of creation is precious and difficult because of language barriers, but also because of cultural differences. There is a scene about the Chinese language and the more than fifty meanings for "mao". [..]  Nonetheless Noraly Beyer enjoys it to the fullest: ‘The UrbanSafari lifts you out of reality and at the same time it plunges you right into its very centre, it touches on real life. It teaches you not to have your opinions preformed. Like that Chinese people are closed. I honestly don’t know if I could open my door and heart they way they have for us. I feel humbled. "

NRC HANDELSBLAD I 2nd MAY 2015

'Life is a long, continuous conversation with yourself. You learn to understand your own mindset through the clash with ‘the other’. Hey, your life is diametrically opposed to mine. Tell me more... " She can recognize herself in everyone, she says. Her hands are on my knee. "Your facade, your shell is different, but I recognize the inner workings. Everyone’s clock is the same." She leans back in her chair. "An adoption, such an intense encounter can be very confrontational.” You are, she says, sometimes surprised by your own prejudices, opinions, feelings and memories. She thinks for a moment about at which adoption address she most came up against herself. "That was in a women's refuge in Groningen. I lived in a corridor with a lot of women and their children for weeks. We shared the bathroom, the kitchen, the laundry room. No problem. But all the rules: you had to be in at a certain time, eat at a certain time, be silent after a certain time. I couldn’t stand it.'

IN THE NEWS I UTRECHT

21 NOV 13 I MART.SPRUIJT THEATER POSTER PRICE 2011-2012
THE JURY ABOUT URBANSAFARI SLOTERMEER
CHEEKY AND INFORMAL "The jury appreciates it much that the mentality of the performance is captured beautifully in one image, this is a performance that is guided by what is happening in the district, in which cultural differences are positively exposed and the art becomes streetwise."

NRC HANDELSBLAD ***** I 13 JUN 13
URBANSAFARI BRINGS LIVE ONDIEP CLOSER
'The idea of artificiality is scraped to the bone. The safari is real as life itself [...] very oppressive by the intimate integrity'

CUTTING EDGE **** I 17 JUN 13
'Zina|Adelheid Roosen has a strong concept that will open eyes in many other cities and will create commitment as happened today in Utrecht.'

AD UTRECHTS NIEUWSBLAD NEWSPAPER I 30 MAR 13
‘Dringgg!’ says Adelheid Roosen as she lifts her finger to press an imaginary doorbell, ‘That’s where it all begins.’ And so she finds herself on the front doorstep of a random house on a random street, and then sits shyly on an unfamiliar bench to ask an unknown family her questions: ‘Would you like to adopt me? And would you allow the play we make to adopt you?’

IN THE NEWS I SLOTERMEER

DE TELEGRAAF **** I 15 MAY 12
‘This is community theatre with a golden touch. […] Ingrained prejudices are swept away.’

DE VOLKSKRANT **** I 05 MAY 12
‘Roosen’s cheerful brand of experiential theatre does what it’s supposed to do: it overwhelms you with rare glimpses of life behind doors that are normally shut.’

HET PAROOL **** I 04 MAY 12
‘You want to hear all the stories, but at the same time you develop a sense of curiosity about everyone who’s just out walking on the street.’

NRC HANDELSBLAD I 04 MAY 12
‘The huge Tanger supermarket on the ‘40-’45 Square was simply spectacular. Every Amsterdammer should be required to do their shopping there at least once.’

WijkSafari Bijlmer on tour

2015 I AMSTERDAM

11 mei to 26 juni 15 I Bijlmer

2013 I UTRECHT

12 jun to 17 jul 13 I Zuilen, Ondiep & Overvecht

2011 I 2012 ON TOUR IN AMSTERDAM

02 may to 09 jun 12 I Slotermeer
14 to 19 nov 11 I Slotermeer

WijkSafari Bijlmer credits

WIJKSAFARI I CREDITS | BIJLMER

Concept I Adelheid Roosen

Artistic Team I Adelheid Roosen, Titus Muizelaar, Lauren Rissik, Daria Bukvic, Céline Buren, Titus Tiel Groenestege, Alexander Chu (trainee direction)

Assistant directing I Jim van de Bliek (trainee), Nicky Ebbeng (trainee)

Research I Sophia Jonker (head), Lauren Rissik, Noraly Beyer, Alexander Chu, Jantien Kurpershoek

Actors I Noraly Beyer, Thomas de Bres, Melih Gencboyaci, Mike Libanon, Elly Ludenhoff, Nazmiye Oral, Wassim Al Razzaz, Belinda van der Stoep

Adoptions I Mahmud Mamma, Nasir Hussen, Sherry Jay Francis, Sophie A-Tjak-Hiwat, Sulan en Yun Sheng Hu, Nii Tackie, Letitia Valpoort en Havva Oral, Grace Appiah, the pupils of DE Brede School group 1/2 van Polsstok in care of Sheila Accord

En route ‘District inspectors’| directed by Samora Bergtop, Julissa Wezer, Alex Douma, Oonagh Evertsz, Juan Castello, Gershwin Bonevacia, Sharona Martowirono, Anne Last, Eugene Heuvel, Carmen Lamptey, Anne Last, Collin Edson, Rose-Anne Niemantsverdriet. Platform Gehandicapten ZuidOost lead by Carrol Sastro and Ronald Blonk

 En route 'Not listening' DE Brede School I pupils from group 6: Eliza, Tychara, Daniël, Yermin, Ashley, Alicia, Kym, Chiffairo, Hans, Damaritzio, Danye, Jenia, Leandro, Asmara, Christopher, Chaifa, Romana, Tyrikcson, Marlon, Yassin, Chris, Ivan, Obed, Chiara, Donyé, Maurillio, Deshaun, Izma, Maameyaa, Davaihny, Aristides, Jael, Khadija, Stephanie, Paulina, Robin, Jean-Collin, Kyle, Derrick, Shandrea, Raylan, Vieni, Grazia, Joy, Seth, Govante, Anjel, Pharrel, Usman, Jalen, Isabel, Helene, Chereno, Yosiah, Shendifer, Anisa, Samuel, Mauro, Tiani and teachers Laura, Linsy, Brenda, directed by Sophia Jonker

 Music en route I Meral Polat, Gideon Everduim aka Gikkels, Tahira Sabajo, Stephan Marinov, Christa Kerstens, Kabier Noor Mohammed, Avi Kishna, Sanne Landvreugd, Seval Okyay, Stacyian Jackson, Naomi van der Linden, Robby Harman, Giovanca

Scooterchoreography I with ISH, Abdelhaadi Baaddi 

Scooter boys & girls b Samantha Illidge, Steven Cleans, Tracy Adusei, Jhorano Plet, Yassar Ramzan, Michael Oliver, Mubarak Amartey, Valery Levant, Jefferino Lioeanjie, Jordies Petronilia, Cerezo Hilgen, Gianno dos Passos, Gio Sabajo, Johan Crispulo, Daphne Agyepong

Costume and Design I Dymph Boss

Producer I Denise Harleman

Senior producer I Elly Ludenhoff

Stage management I Saskia Lous (head), Nicky Groot (assistant), Lisa van Diepen (trainee), Sarah Mulder (trainee), Dominique Kluinhaar (trainee) ,Yke van Dok (head at Zina) 

Research production I Annelies Hendrikse

Scooter coordination I Nolimit: Angelo Bromet, Samantha Illidge

Ticket Office I Kim Zonneveld

Catering I Tafel van Zina/Malika Hamdaoui

Publicity I Myrddin Baars, Fleur Kruis at alliance partner Toneelgroep Amsterdam

Camera I Bart Majoor

Photography I Cigdem Yuksel, Jenneke Boeijink

Graphic Design I Roddy Mac Mahon

Poster Photography I Cigdem Yüksel

Back office I Daniella Groenberg, Sheila Chitanie

Coproduction I Zina, Adelheid|Female Economy

In cooperation with I Bijlmer Parktheater, Ernstiene Comvalius, Petra de Waard, Demelzha Blinker, DE Brede School (As-Soeffah, OBS Bijlmerhorst en Polsstok), Ina Ter Avest, Bartjan Commissaris, Janneke Kraakman, Nicolette Schröder, Bart Vervoort, Mellany Burke, Bushra Kasiem, Stichting Alexander, Rochdale (Herbert Scherer, Marlou Steenbergen, Chequita van Guine, Bernice Shakison, Hester van Buren, Johnny Jainullah, Allan Smith, Edo de Jong, Oswaldo Renfrum)

Thanks to | Stadsdeel Amsterdam-Zuidoost, Toneelgroep Amsterdam, ZuidoostPartners, We Are Here, Kinderboerderij De Gliphoeve, Mavis Gaffer & Meneer Gaffar van Moskee Taibah, EBG Amsterdam Zuidoost, Wi Eegie Kerki, Nolimit, Kinderboerderij De Gliphoeve, Amsterdam Museum, Marian Markelo, Boris van Berkum, Praktijkschool de Dreef, Foe Ooi Leeuw, Rent a Brik, Andere Weg, Scootercity, DeKey, Rijschool First, Smeltkroes, Stichting Congada, Politiebureau Vlierbosdreef & Ganzenhoef, Hogeschool voor de Kunsten Utrecht, Monica (DE Bredeschool), Janke & Reshma (Swazoom), Samantha (Blokhut), Peter Dautzenberg for the magnificent Bijlmer walk.

And a big thanks to all Bijlmer residents!

UTRECHT

Concept I Adelheid Roosen
Actors I Nazmiye Oral, Agnes Matthews, Elly Ludenhoff, Myriam Sahraoui, Adelheid Roosen, Shahin Abdalla, Melih Gençboyaci, Michiel Blankwaardt, Thomas de Bres
Adoptive parents I Fatma Alaca-Dogan, Moussa Bellachab, Pierre Corneille, Albert van den Heuvel, Omar Aart van de Klok & Amina Benzakour, Hassan Oumhamed, Katicia Radovanovic, Arthur Beresford, Moniek Eenling
Guest role I alternately Lilian Vieira, Herman van Veen, Joy Wielkens, Eefje de Visser, Lilian Hak
Singers I Najib Cherradi, Janneke Daalderop
On the road I Denise Sharpe, Hélène Schotsborg from Nos Bohio under direction of Suzanne Reindersma
In the bus I Yamila Bavio, Herman van der Burgh
Quarter Prophets I Nina van Koppen, Myrthe Boersma, Henke Tuinstra
Scooter choreography I Abdel Baaddi
Scooter boys I Faris el Abbassi, Hamza Afkir, Rachid Afkir, Karim el Amri, Faysal Bellachab, Hassan Bouszzaoui, Boumedien Jouhri, Tarik Ousrout under direction of Moussa Bellachab

Artistic team I Céline Buren, Titus Muizelaar, Adelheid Roosen, Titus Tiel Groenestege
Director assistence I Lauren Rissik, Kim Zonneveld
Art design & Costumes I Dymph Boss, advies Dieuweke van Reij, trainee Carri Harwig
Head of production I Tim Nieburg
Production I Marle Brouwer
Trainees production I Selma Hanzon, Dana Heres Diddens, Sven Weijman, Lotte Bakker
Technics I Tom Hemmer, Maarten Siebelink, Elmar Dekker, trainee Lieke Principaal
Quote Patcher I Janna Schouten
Catering I Malika Mehdaoui from Tafel van Zina
Design I Johanna Koelman ArtsUnited.nl
Photography poster I Bastiaan Heus
Publicity I Fleur Kruis at alliance partner Toneelgroep Amsterdam
Social media Editor I Sjoerd Berveling
Website I Krista Wamsteker
Video art I Bart Majoor
Photography I Cigdem Yuksel, Harry Brieffies
Office I Thea Appelman, Daniella Groenberg, Anouk van den Kommer, Frieda Mulisch
Producers I Female Economy, Zina, Stadsschouwburg Utrecht & Vrede van Utrecht

Thanks to I Gemeente Utrecht, Wijkbureau Overvecht, Wijkbureau Noord West, Corrie Berrens Woningbouwvereniging Mitros, Theo van de Korput van Woningbouwvereniging Portaal, Donna Risa/STUT, Cobie de Vos/Het Huis, Zouheir Youkaj/Lotus Gym, Mimi Carolina van Nos Bohio, Roela/Jongeren Huiskamer, Buurtteam Krachtig Ondiep, Verzorgingshuis Zuylenstede, Koptisch Orthodoxe Kerk Utrecht, Sultan Ahmet Moskee Utrecht, Museum van Zuilen, Snackbar van Zuilen, Sint Antonius Ziekenhuis Overvecht, NSI van de Plantage, Rutger Kuiper/Scootercity Amsterdam, Ruud Visser/Het Hok, Anthony Heidweiller, Marnie Blok & Maarten Treurniet, Muhi Gaffer, alle medewerkers van de Stadsschouwburg Utrecht. En diepe dank aan alle bewoners van Ondiep, Zuilen en Overvecht.

Supported with dosh by I Stadsschouwburg Utrecht, Vrede van Utrecht, Wijkbureau Overvecht, Wijkbureau NoordWest, Gemeente Amsterdam, Fonds Podiumkunsten, Stichting Doen, Skanfonds, Fentener van Vlissingen Fonds, kfHein fonds, Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds

SLOTERMEER

Concept I Adelheid Roosen
Actors I Nazmiye Oral, Shahin, Agnes Matthews, Elly Ludenhoff, Myriam Sahraoui, Adelheid Roosen, Sanne Vanderbruggen, Melih Gençboyaci, Abdel Baaddi
Adoptive parents from Slotermeer I Sukru Aykan, Zubeyde Bekar, Youssef Geunnoun, Malika Hamdaoui, Threes Hoekstra, Halima Idrissi, Gassan Jawad, Tom Mulder, Truus Verboom, Tilly Hendrik, Hans Jounkhout, Tessa Margarita, Renette Margarita, Fatima Aliat
Singers in car I Sara Kroos, Carolien Borgers, Ellen ten Damme, Wende Snijders, Joy Wielkens
Scooter boys I Appie, Anass, Chakib, Dima, Hamid, Ilias, Khalid, Soufian, Souhail, Yassin, Yazzar, Youssef
District coroners I Chris Comvalius, Maureen Teeuwen
Musician I Dris Idrissi
Accordeonists I René Trok, Jaaps Somsen, Willem Maijer
Busdriver I Herman van der Burgh

Artistic team I Adelheid Roosen, Titus Tiel Groenestege, Titus Muizelaar, Céline Buren
Scooter-choreography I Marco Gerris
Design I Adelheid Roosen
Executive designer I Juul Dekker & trainee Nora Tinholt
Costumes I Dieuweke van Reij
Head of production I Tim Nieburg
Production I Katy Streek & trainees Pauline Otten, Vera Andeweg
Technical coördinator I Wannes van der Veer
Catering I Tafel van Zina
Trainee dramaturgy I Joran de Boer
Trainee assistent director I Karianne Henkel
Design I Johanna Koelman Artsunited.nl
Photography I Bastiaan Heus
Photography and video art I Bart Majoor
Publicity I Winnie Boegborn at Alliancepartner Toneelgroep Amsterdam
Office I Thea Appelman, Daniella Groenberg, Anouk van den Kommer
Website I Krista Wamsteker
Producers I Female Economy & Zina

Thanks to I St. Connect Initiatieven, De Alliantie, Eigen Haard, Hotel Blue Square, Tanger, Vespa Scooter rent, the carillonplayers, Van Eesteren Museum, the Aksa Tawhid Mosque, Toneelgroep Amsterdam, all residents of Slotermeer and the Kolenkit

Supported with dosh by I Fonds voor Cultuurparticipatie, Fonds Podiumkunsten, Europees Integratie Fonds, Stichting Doen, Amsterdams Fonds voor de Kunst, Oranje Fonds, SKAN Fonds, Stadsdeel Nieuw-West