Schopenhauer

After the widely acclaimed and multi-award-winning performance Sartre & De Beauvoir, philosopher-writer-director Stefaan van Brabandt comes with the long-awaited fifth part of his successful philosopher-theatre series: Schopenhauer, played by one of our greatest actors: Damiaan De Schrijver.
Our lives, according to the cheerful pessimist and laughing misanthropist Arthur Schopenhauer, are characterised by suffering and boredom and are consequently one big mistake. Nevertheless, the philosophy of ‘the blackest philosopher of all time’ is extremely uplifting, infectious and even liberating. Nietzsche — who saw Schopenhauer as his ‘teacher and educator’ — praised him for ‘great cheerfulness’ and even considered this glee one of his most important traits.
(read more below the quote)
"Damiaan De Schrijver shines as a pessimistic Schopenhauer. A true delight to listen and watch, (...) for an hour and a half we hang on his every word."Theaterkrant
In Schopenhauer you will find out why life is suffering, and how, according to the ‘Buddha of Frankfurt’, you can free yourself from that suffering. Through the mix of simplicity, humour and wisdom, the philosophers in his performances always become people of flesh and blood, telling us their lives and philosophies in language that is as comprehensible as it is graceful, full of sharp sentences, sharp observations and rich, inspiring philosophical insights.
Theatre that will move you and at the same time make you laugh and think.
With the support of Literatuur Vlaanderen

credits
concept, text and direction
Stefaan Van Brabandtperformance
Damiaan De Schrijverproduction
De Verwondering vzw in collaboration with Het Zuidelijk Toneelcoproduction
Arenbergdistribution
Jimmie Dimmick- 1 Dec 24 — De Volkskrant (NL) ★★★★★ - "Damiaan De Schrijver is a briljant choice for the performance ‘Schopenhauer’" (review)
- 19 Nov 24 — NRC (NL) ★★★★ - In Schopenhauer is de filosoof monter, kleinzerig, megalomaan en (natuurlijk) een pessimist. (recensie)
- 19 Nov 24 — De Standaard (BE) - “Filosofie wordt inspirerend theater: monoloog ‘Schopenhauer’ is een zonnige regenbui”