A Little Life

A Little Life description

No other novel in recent memory has captivated and moved millions of readers quite like Hanya Yanagihara’s A Little Life. No other director in recent memory has created unique theatre experiences quite like Ivo van Hove.

Working with Internationaal Theater Amsterdam (formerly Toneelgroep Amsterdam), van Hove is renowned for his epic productions and Adelaide Festival audiences will remember two of his finest – the celebrated Shakespeare cycles Roman Tragedies and Kings of War.

In A Little Life, van Hove and his extraordinary ensemble of actors take on a modern classic with a similarly grand scope that dives into timeless themes of ambition, privilege, cruelty and power.

★★★★★ This is Van Hove at his best, theatre that leaves an ineradicable mark.

Financial Times 

The gripping narrative tracks the deeply intertwined lives of four men over a period of more than 30 years – there’s actor Willem, visual artist JB, architect Malcolm and Jude, a lawyer with a past shrouded in mystery. Tightly bound together by their close friendship, they grapple with the influence of Jude’s traumatic history on their lives. But how do you help someone who doesn’t want to be helped?

Celebrated from Amsterdam to New York, most recently at the Edinburgh International Festival, A Little Life interrogates the interplay between past and present, friendship and desire, care and harm with poignancy and precision. It’s a timeless story of a man haunted by his history.

With compelling storytelling and shattering performances, this production breathes life into one of the most impressive and moving literary works of the past decade.

★★★★★ a triumph of emotional richness

The Telegraph

Event additional information

Credits

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Jude Ramsey Nasr
Willem Maarten Heijmans
JB Majd Mardo
Malcolm Edwin Jonker
Caleb, Luke, Traylor Hans Kesting 
Ana Marieke Heebink
Harold Steven Van Watermeulen
Andy Bart Slegers

Concept and Direction Ivo van Hove
Based on the novel by Hanya Yanagihara
Translation Kitty Pouwels and Josephine Ruitenberg
Adaptation Koen Tachelet
Dramaturgy Bart Van den Eynde
Scenographer, Light Design Jan Versweyveld
Video Mark Thewessen, Jan Versweyveld
Music and Sound Design Eric Sleichim
Musicians BL!NDMAN [strings]: Stefanie Van Backlé (violin), Marlon Dek (cello), Monica Goicea (viola), Femke Verstappen (violin)
Costumes An D'Huys
Assistant Director Daniël 't Hoen
Assistant Scenographer Bart van Merode
Casting Advice Hans Kemna
Co-producer GREC Festival, Ruhrfestspiele Recklinghausen
Private Producer Gert-Jan en Corinne van den Bergh, Hendrik Jan ten Have en Gabriëlla de Rooij, Joost en Marcelle Kuiper
Production Manager Michiel van Schijndel
Head of Technical Staff Reyer Meeter
Stage Manager Stijn van der Leeuw
Crew Pepijn van Beek, Adriaan Beukema, Yannick Bruine De Bruin, Rinse de Jong, Paul Meijer, Dennis van Scheppingen, Erwin Sterk, Mark Thewessen, Jip van ’t Veer, Ruud de Vos
Hair and Make-up Mirjam Venema
Wardrobe Farida Bouhbouh
Titles Erik Borgman
Photography Jan Versweyveld
Publicity Natasa Cvjetkovic

Coproduced by GREC Festival, Ruhrfestspiele Recklinghausen
Private Producer Gert-Jan and Corinne van den Bergh, Hendrik Jan ten Have and Gabrielle de Rooij, Joost and Marcelle Kuiper

Supported by Ammodo
Generously supported by the Girgensohn Foundation

Images Jan Versweyveld

Partners

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