Kana Kassy / Don’t Cry

Theatre director Aminata Demba is a relative of Oulematou Niangadou, who was shot and killed on that day, 20 years ago now. That same afternoon in the city, the perpetrator shot two other people: a two-year-old girl, who also died, and a woman sitting on a bench. She survived. A police officer stopped the perpetrator whilst his killing spree had, in fact, only just begun. He acted out of racism. We do not know whether he targeted women specifically. The city reacted with shock. A period of solidarity and collective mourning ensued, which eventually subsided.

In this project, theatre makers Aminata Demba and Clara van den Broek, together with writer Annelies Verbeke, explore how those directly affected and the bereaved cope with collective trauma. What are the cultural particularities that emerge during a grieving process? And can these be bridged? Can a community be united by a collective trauma? How do the bereaved cope with the ebbing of collective grief? Can theatre contribute to a unifying experience of grief?

SKaGeN sets out to investigate and interviews those who are grieving. The performers, who both experienced a great loss early in life, also delve into their own experiences and explore whether theatre can lead to a sense of connection for them too. In this way, the creators craft an open, embracing performance that goes straight to the heart.