Sandra Hüller sings songs by legendary singer and songwriter PJ Harvey in „I Want Absolute Beauty“

Music theatre

16.8.-30.8.2024

Jahrhunderthalle Bochum

Sandra Hüller sings songs by the legendary singer-songwriter PJ Harvey

One woman. Her journey. Her decisions. Sandra Hüller (Oscar nominee for Anatomy of a Fall) sings and acts the leading role, embarking on an epic journey through extreme emotional and mental landscapes. She is joined by dancers, including some from the Ballet national de Marseille, directed by the revolutionary artistic collective (LA)HORDE, Marine Brutti, Jonathan Debrouwer and Arthur Harel who also co-choreographed Madonna’s Celebration Tour. We follow the protagonist’s attempts to become her true self, defying the roles and expectations society has for her. She reinvents herself in every encounter, every relationship and every city. With I Want Absolute Beauty Ivo Van Hove opens Ruhrtriennale 2024. This emphatic music theatre production with chosen songs by alternative rock star PJ Harvey shows how we can overcome obstacles, grow from them and finally accept that we can only take life as it comes. And that can feel really good!

Produced by Ruhrtriennale in partnership with Ballet national de Marseille direction (LA)HORDE.

„There’s no greater thing for me than to feel like I’ve been able to give something of value to other people in this world.“

PJ Harvey

Cast

Conceived and directed by
- Ivo Van Hove
Choreography
- (LA)HORDE - Marine Brutti, Jonathan Debrouwer, Arthur Harel
Set Design, Lighting Design
- Jan Versweyveld
Video Design
- Christopher Ash
Costume Design
- An D'Huys
Sound Design
- Tom Gibbons
Musical direction
- Liesa Van der Aa
Dramaturgical advice
- Koen Tachelet
Associate Bühnenbild
- Bart Van Merode
Associate Light Design
- Dennis van Scheppingen
Associate Sound Design
- Erwin Sterk
Assistant Director
- Phillip Decker
Assistant Choreography
- Jacquelyn Elder ,
- Julien Monty
Assistant Costume Design
- Belza Beausoleil
With
- Sandra Hüller (Play / Singing) ,
- Louka Gailliez ,
- Casper Tveteraas Hauge ,
- Timothy Firmin ,
- Tristan Sagon ,
- Nahimana Vandenbussche ,
- Luca Völkel ,
- Evan Sagadencky ,
- Emma Savoldelli-Harris ,
- Jens van der Pijl ,
- Efua Maria Aikins ,
- Sarah Abicht
Band
- Liesa Van der Aa ,
- Anke Verslype ,
- Neil Claes ,
- Alban Sarens
Production Manager Ruhrtriennale
- Stefanie Hiltl
Technical Project Manager Ruhrtriennale
- Georg Bugiel
Technician
- Harald Adams ,
- Konrad Anger ,
- Steven Böhm ,
- Sascha Brandt ,
- Willi Eidam ,
- Desirée García López ,
- Bruno Grotsch ,
- Leif Hetfeld ,
- Severino Jurischka ,
- Andreas Korogonas ,
- Frank Kostadimas ,
- Torben Krol ,
- Daniel Lein ,
- Franzi Luhn ,
- Ole Meißner ,
- Gerd Mikuscheit ,
- Fernando Quartana ,
- Stefan Rausch ,
- Uwe Renken ,
- Stephan Schneppel ,
- Alma Schraer ,
- Ralph Schwarzenauer ,
- Stephanie von Porbeck ,
- Dominik Wegmann ,
- Christoph Wüst
Dressing, collaboration costumes
- Sabine Höhfeld ,
- Paula de la Haye ,
- Laura Effsing ,
- Natalie Soroko ,
- Renate Wellershausen