Echte Verhalen (Eng. True Stories) is a new production of music theatre through socially engaged forms of storytelling. It gives a voice to those who have been marginalized, forgotten or unheard in society. The foundation of Echte Verhalen is the intertwined connection between meaningful and personal music and the underlying stories. Some of these stories are kept secret from the outside world or even from their family members for many years. This important participatory art feature gives Echte Verhalen its characteristics.
The first play took place in March 2017, and was carried out by Catholic and Protestant women who have been affected by The Troubles in Northern Ireland, and contained the following themes: the transfer of personal heritage, true love and the value of compliments. The second play was performed by Dutch young adults, with an average of twenty-two years. The performers gave a voice to the impactful and largely invisible events that they have experienced. The themes of this performance are: murder, sexual abuse, sexual assault and bullying.
Echte Verhalen is a production that combines participatory art with real life dialogues. The participants receive full ownership of the performance. During the performance they enter the dialogue of real life events and initiate dialogues with the audience.
Due to the privacy, safety and with permission of the participants we only use the audio of their personal songs.
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Copyright 2017, Moonyard Productions, Amsterdam (NL)
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What if I wanted to break
Laugh it all off in your face?
What would you do?
What if I fell to the floor
Couldn't take this anymore?
What would you do?
Come, break me down
Bury me, bury me
I am finished with you
What if I wanted to fight
Beg for the rest of my life?
What would you do?
You say you wanted more
What are you waiting for?
I'm not running from you
Come, break me down
Bury me, bury me
I am finished with you
Look in my eyes
You're killing me, killing me
All I wanted was you
I tried to be someone else
But nothing seemed to change
I know now, this is who I really am inside
I've finally found myself
Fighting for a chance
I know now, this is who I really am
Come, break me down
Bury me, bury me
I am finished with you,
Look in my eyes
You're killing me, killing me
All I wanted was you