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With your eyes closed, you walk across Terschelling, guided only by a hand that leads you to the edge of life. As the world feels increasingly distant, you are invited to step into the vast unknown. What happens when you place your trust in what you cannot see? An experience of letting go, of surrender, and of the delicate thread connecting life and death. A practice in parting – and in carrying one another through it.
Experiential artist Bart van de Woestijne explores, during his residency, how the familiar world can be transformed simply by closing your eyes. This project is part of a broader research, in which he immerses himself in the practices of the funeral industry. Together with funeral director Florine Schaap and dramaturg Maarten Bos, Bart is developing a series of theatrical rituals that bring death into life.
During his residency at Oerol, Bart is organising a number of test sessions. This is a unique opportunity to experience an early version of Realm of Shadows and to contribute to its development process.
Realm of Shadows is part of the Werkplaats. Within the Werkplaats of Oerol, both emerging and established makers are given the space—often in collaboration with partners—to develop location-inspired work throughout the year. During the festival, several of these resident makers explicitly invite you, the audience, to become part of their work-in-progress.