BANG at FFT Düsseldorf: An award-winning journey through fear
Date and Time
Location
Price
About this Event
Mood
Venue Type
When fear suddenly takes the stage: BANG at FFT Düsseldorf
A personal room, a new city, university on the horizon – at 19, life seems to be just beginning. Then everyday life tips over. In BANG, Hanneke van der Paardt reflects at 25 on a time when fear changed the perception of mirrors, sounds, strangers, and even her own thoughts.
An autobiographical monologue about a mind in a state of emergency
The production takes the audience deep into an inner state of emergency. Van der Paardt tells directly, unsparingly, and with surprising humor about a young woman who no longer trusts her own perceptions. From seemingly incidental observations, a swirling stream of thoughts emerges: precise, oppressive, and simultaneously marked by great linguistic clarity.
The dramaturgy does not follow a linear narrative but rather the restless rhythm of fear. Memories, doubts, and thought loops pile on top of each other. It is precisely this open form that makes the stage experience so immediate: the audience experiences not just a story about fear but the movement of a thought process that continually bites into the same questions.
Direct acting with pace, wit, and vulnerability
Hanneke van der Paardt combines acting, text, and performance into a concentrated solo work. Her playing style remains transparent and approachable, while the direction by Gillis Biesheuvel sharpens the inner pull of the narrative. The production alternates between sharp analysis, quiet moments of self-examination, and sudden outbursts.
The stage and lighting design by Maarten van Otterdijk supports this fragile theater atmosphere. Individual visual stimuli and loud vocal emphasis set accents that make the sensory character of fear tangible. The stage becomes a thinking space: reduced, focused, and open enough for the character's thoughts to directly inscribe themselves into the audience's perception.
Award-winning stage art about growing up
BANG was awarded the BNG Theater Prize 2025, an important funding award for emerging theater talents in the Netherlands. The jury praised the artistic construction of a thought cycle that cannot simply be dissolved. Theater criticism also highlighted the distinctive language, precise observation, and the unusual combination of youthful recklessness, existential unrest, and dark humor.
The production was created in collaboration with Theater aan de Rijn and Theaterhaus Jena. At FFT Düsseldorf, it is part of CORE, a cross-border network that connects artists from Germany and the Netherlands.
An evening between oppression and liberating laughter
FFT Düsseldorf presents BANG on Friday, November 27, 2026, at 8:00 PM on Stage I. The performance lasts about 60 minutes. A post-show audience discussion is planned. The performance addresses states of anxiety and psychoses; occasionally, flashing lights and loud vocal emphasis are used.
For people who require a specific seat or prefer a quiet entrance, Early Boarding is available without prior registration. Seating is free choice.
Conclusion: An intense stage experience about the mechanics of fear
BANG transforms personal experiences into precise stage art. Hanneke van der Paardt presents fear not as an abstract theme, but as a physical, linguistic, and social experience. The result is a touching performance with high dramatic tension, surprising wit, and lasting impact on the audience. Those who experience contemporary theater, strong acting, and unusual monologues should discover this evening live at FFT Düsseldorf.
Official channels of Hanneke van der Paardt:
- Instagram: no official profile found
- Facebook: no official profile found
- YouTube: no official profile found
- Website: https://www.hannekevanderpaardt.com/
