Lam Gods

Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, martyrs and angels: the motifs are Christian and spiritual. But the faces of the figures are realistic, they show faces from Ghent. The van Eyck brothers immortalised their patrons and clients, but also their neighbours and colleagues. Thus, one of the first works of modern realistic art was at once documentary and mythical, ordinary and universal.
Milo Rau mixes reality and fiction, amateurs and professional actors in his productions and has been engaged in the 'theatre of the real' for a decade. With Lam Gods, the production with which he opened his first season at NTGent, he brought fifty Ghent natives together on stage for a re-enactment of the famous panel by the Van Eyck brothers. Lam Gods, which premiered in the 2018-2019 season, is an ode to Ghent and its inhabitants.
'An instant classic'Filip Tielens - De Standaard****
In Lam Gods, Rau connects the everyday with the spiritual, just as the Van Eyck brothers did: just as the altarpiece consists of different layers that overlap, just as the real mixes with the symbolic, so people from Ghent will tell about their lives on stage. In a casting that was filmed over many months, this project plunges into the here and now of a city community: who is the Cain of Ghent, who is the Abel? Who plays Adam and who plays Eve? Who are the martyrs of the 21st century? The crusaders and the just judges? The patrons? What do they tell us about the themes of this painting, about original sin and human suffering, about faith and tragedy, death and redemption?
Milo Rau has already created more than fifty plays, films, books and events, and has won several awards. In 2018 he received the European Theatre Prize. In 2020, the University of Ghent awarded him an honorary doctorate.
'Twelve panels to steal'Magali Degrande - Het Nieuwsblad
credits
concept, direction & text
Milo Rauon stage
Güllüzar Calli , Frank Focketyn , Chris Thys , Koen Everaert, Storm Calle, Rames Abdullah, Bram Wets, Fanny Vandesande , Rani T'Kindt, Jonathan Lingaon screen
Said Ahmadi, Aghyad Abido, Mohamed Loay, Ahmad Hamod, Besmillah Hussaini, Yaseen Ali Ibrahim, Mohammed Juma Rahimi, Emad Khazal, Denise Kimbo , Katelijne Laevens , Annabel Heyse, Carmen Hornbostel , Lotte Loncin , Abdel Majid Gandouzi, Nelly Massa, Aline Platteau, Filip Taveirne, Hiranya terryn, Marijse Tratsaert, Steven Vander Stichelen, Leen Van Welden , Jan Vereeck, Marijn Vlaeminck , Barbara Gessler, Pablo Fernandez Alonso , Ayham Abido, Zouzou Ben Chikha, Abbas Akbari, Amina Alhaj, Anas Almasri, Bilal Alnouri, Rasha Alobeid, Abdalhameed Alobid, Arvo Wets, Etab Yaghi, Alys Ward, Nele Buyts, Wim Distelmans, Yaël Bobo, Wim Claeys, Dirk Crommelinck , Leen Baccaert, Chokri Ben Chikha , Marc Croux, Eman Dawoud Radwan, Tom De Clercq , Benny D'Haeseleer , Mieke Vercruyssechildren choir
Jakob, Kaat & Marie Bombaerts, Merel Boone, Mien Cottenier, Luz De Maesschalck, Kaat De Waegemaeker, Leonore & Elodie Dobbelaere, Dita & Nico Dufoor, Hanne Maes, Luce & Juliette Marichal, Flo Meskens, Stella Minner-Goossens, Elena Van Vooren, No & Til Verhasselt, Ben Vuylstekedramaturgy
Stefan Bläskeinternship dramaturgy
Eline Bankenset & costume design
Anton Lukascasting and production leader
Annabel Heysedirection assistant
Katelijne Laevensassistant costumes
Miguel Penarandalight design
Dennis Dielsstage manager
Marijn Vlaeminckcamera video-remake panels
Steven Maenhoutcamera documentary images
Pascal Poissonnierdirection documentary film
Bram Van Paesschenediting
Joris Vertentenvideo technique
Victor Goddyn, Stijn Pauwels, Raf Willemslight technique
Dennis Dielssound technique
Bart Meeusenstage technique
Marijn Vlaeminck , Gunther De Braekeleerdresser
Micheline D'Hertogeset and costume workshop
Pierre Keulemans , Thierry Dhondt , Joris Soenen , Sam Declercq, Luc Goedertier , Flup Beys , An De Mol , Mieke Vander Cruyssentour manager
Laura Ergo , Noemi Suarez Sanchez, Sebastiaan Peetersinternship dramaturgy & surtitling
Eline Banken , Bo Alfaro Decretoncoproducer
Internationaal Theater Amsterdam, Schauspiel Stuttgartthis production was realized with the support of
The Belgian Tax ShelterNEWS
- 15 Sep 21 — De Morgen - 'Moeder van terreurslachtoffer en moeder van jihadist brengen boek uit: ‘Alle moeders wenen dezelfde tranen’'
- 18 Oct 18 — Lost Dramaturgin International (VS) - 'Een nieuw altaarstuk: Lam Gods, NTGent, en het theater (& de stad) van de toekomst' (Blog)
- 18 Oct 18 — De Theaterkrant - '15e eeuwse polyptiek magistraal tot leven gewekt.' (Recensie Lam Gods)
- 18 Oct 18 — Le Soir (FR) - 'Een mals en zeldzaam "lammetje."' (Recensie Lam Gods)
- 11 Sep 18 — De Standaard - ‘Een instant klassieker' (Recensie Lam Gods,****)
- 28 Aug 18 — Het Nieuwsblad - 'Ik weet nog maar sinds vandaag dat ik God de Vader speel' (
- 28 May 18 — De Morgen - 'Theater in conflictgebied en een verbod op repertoire, Milo Rau gooit roer om bij NTGent'
Thank you for your message.
Het was een adembenemende avond, dat is het toneel waar we nood aan hebben, het zet ons met onze neus op de werkelijkheid. De toekomst die we kunnen afwijzen of onder ogen zien. Wereldburgers worden en samen gelukkig zijn en mekaar beminnen of mekaar doodmaken.
Waanzinnig goed !! Voorstelling die lang blijft nazinderen.
Proficiat aan het volledige team
Genoten van het Lam Gods: inventief, meeslepend, emoties, menselijkheid. Inderdaad, een nieuwe wind in ons vertrouwd theater. Ik dacht even aan Jan Hoet zaliger die ook wegen bewandelde sie een ander niet aandeed. Proficiat voor al de medewerkers en voor de regie van Milo Rau. Al het dwaas gedonder in de kranten was absoluut overbodig: geen schandalen maar oprechte mooie mensen, kinderen en volwassenen, allemaal samen met hun warm publiek.
Meer moet dat niet zijn.