http://www.toneelgroepceremonia.be

Toneelgroep Ceremonia is the brainchild of author and director Eric De Volder. Guided by the motto ‘nothing ventured, nothing gained’, the group presents a repertoire that is characterized by a vivid use of dialect, vaudeville-like scenes and grotesque film techniques, and that deals with everyday themes and the unknown side of life.

De Volder founded Toneelgroep Ceremonia in 1992 with some colleagues from the collective Etherisch Strijkersensemble Parisiana, which brought ‘anarchistic intervention theatre’. Toneelgroep Ceremonia stands for highly visual performances wrapped in expressionistic shapes and colours that focus on carnivalesque characters. The company operates under the wings of De Volder's own structure KIM, which is short for the ironic Kunst is Modder [Art is Mud].

Eric De Volder continues to be Toneelgroep Ceremonia’s artistic director, assisted by a core group of actors consisting of Leen De Veirman, Johan Knuts, Ineke Nijssen, Hendrik-Hein Van Doorn, and Benjamin Van Tourhout.

This theatre company has been a significant presence in the theatre world in recent years. In addition to receiving the Culture Prize for the Performing Arts in 2003 and the Main Theatre Festival Prize in 2004, Toneelgroep Ceremonia has also been awarded the Flemish Community’s Triennial Prize for Playwriting. In 2006, Eric De Volder was selected for the Theatre Festival for the fifth time for Au nom du père (a co-production with het Toneelhuis).

In De Volder’s work the grotesque is always present: in the expressive make-up, reminiscent of masks, in the language, in the acting, in the stage settings. Having trained under Grotowski, he likes to magnify the characters’ emotions to bring the audience closer to what is being told.

Toneelgroep Ceremonia usually creates pieces organically, i.e. by means of a constant interaction between the artistic director and the actors. The close-knit relationship between the members of the group plays an important role. Usually De Volder first comes up with a file of texts and visual ideas, with which the actors start to improvise. De Volder takes notes and incorporates his ideas in a work script, which serves as the new basis for the actors to work with. He continues to steer, cut and add until the play is moulded correctly. A key element for the actors is the discovery of a physical character style. Once the actor finds a style that fits his/her character, it can lead to new material in the play.

Theatre language has to sing, according to De Volder, and therefore he prefers to use the rich tones of archaisms, soundscapes and dialect rather than standardized language. De Volder loves a striking use of music, which has led to a fruitful collaboration with composer Dick van der Harst and LOD for Diep in het bos (1999), Vadria (2000), Zwarte vogels in de bomen (2002) and Achter ’t eten (2003).

In his search for new music, he has also collaborated with the composers Pedro De Strooper (Armarium Mortis, 2005), Gilbert Colman (De Nachten, 1987 / Poète et Prisonnier, 1994), Johan Derijcke (Poète et Prisonnier, 1994 / Mesdames et Messieurs, 2007), Ad Cominotto (Meestersnacht, 2006 / the wordless Les in hysterie, 2008 / Smoor, 2009), Peter Vermeersch (Het Lichaam, 2009) and in autumn 2010 he collaborated with Dominique Pauwels.

Johan Knuts (De vier seizoenen, 2003 / Lachstuk, 2008) and Leen Roels (Le pays promis, 2006 / Madre, 2009) have in recent years also appeared in the Toneelgroep Ceremonia credits as authors and directors.
Johan Knuts has in the meantime been working on Liquid Love Hotel (a new creation), which will open in May 2010, featuring Wouter Bruneel, Ineke Nijssen, Leen Roels and Hendrik Van Doorn.

The location production Godses (2010) is coproduced by Campo, Toneelgroep Ceremonia and the Unie der Zorgelozen. Eric De Volder’s latest play is being made with and acted by Geert Six and is based on a number of striking recollections of the actor’s youth.

2010 will also see the premiere of Woyzeck. At the invitation of Johan Simons and Wim Opbrouck, Eric De Volder will be directing this coproduction by Toneelgroep Ceremonia and NTGent. He will again be collaborating with the composer Dominique Pauwels for the music.