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Holland Festival x OBA: In perspective

Safae el Khannoussi, Miranda Lakerveld, Dymphie Braun

What role does literature play in the creation of a performance? How do you translate text to the stage — and how does art, in turn, find its way back into literature? Moderator Dymphie Braun talks to director Miranda Lakerveld, writer Safae el Khannoussi, and curator Rowan Stol about the books that move, inspire, and influence them.


Miranda Lakerveld shares insights into her performance Ring of Our Time (23, 24, 25 June) and how Children of the Days: A Calendar of Human History by Eduardo Galeano inspired her. She will read two passages that resonate with her — stories from Iraq and Mexico. Writer Safae el Khannoussi joins the conversation with her debut novel Oroppa, a compelling mosaic of voices and experiences that reveal a different face of Europe. What was it like for her to move from academic research into literary fiction — and why did she choose the novel as her form? Safae will also read an piece from her book. The discussion also touches on The Second Body by Daisy Hildyard — a work that explores themes of ecology, identity, and embodiment. Curator and writer Rowan Stol, part of the Holland Festival’s HF Young Circle since 2023, shares her reading experience. What can stories do — in art, and in how we see the world? How do they change our perspective?


The afternoon concludes with a musical performance by soprano Madeline Saputra and marimba player Wendy Palomeque, both of whom also appear in Ring of Our Time.


The Second Body is a 2017 essay collection by English writer Daisy Hildyard. In these four extensive essays, Hildyard explores the concept of the 'second body,' referring to the way every living being not only has a physical body but is also embedded in a global network of ecosystems. The collection challenges readers to reflect on the impact of human activities on the environment and emphasizes the interconnectedness of all living beings. The work was praised for its originality and depth.


Choreographer Ola Maciejewska (Poland, 1984) also explores the dynamics of two bodies in her performance The Second Body (June 17 and 18 at Frascati), examining the physical body and a massive block of ice.


Children of the Days: A Calendar of Human History by Eduardo Galeano presents a collection of stories for each day of the year, with Galeano sharing historical events and anecdotes that shed light on human history. With his distinctive style, he offers an alternative view of the past, often bringing forgotten or overlooked stories to the forefront.


Oroppa by Safae el Khannoussi follows the story of a diverse group of characters, including Hind, who discovers the paintings of the vanished artist Salomé Abergel in the basement of a house in the Amsterdam Rivierenbuurt. This discovery leads to a journey through various cities such as Amsterdam, Paris, Tunis, and Casablanca, with themes of power, migration, and personal search at its core. The novel has been praised for its rich narrative style and deep character development.

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dates

Sun May 18 3:00 PM

prices

  • default € 5
  • for OBA members € 2,50

information

  • Dutch

  • 1 hour 20 minutes

related

  • Safae el Khannoussi - writer

    Merlijn Doomernik

  • Miranda Lakerveld - speaker

  • Rowan Stol - speaker

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