God's Beard
In a tunnel deep underground Hotel Modern is working on a new production. Gas masks, Indonesian antiques, ladies gowns, glue guns, miniature cameras and a bucket were recently passed down through a hatch. The sounds of a cyclone often escape the tunnel entrance. An empty vial of homesickness is lying under a bush. And at nighttime light-pictures appear in the sky of a girl who has had two encounters with Death.
Hotel Modern will shortly leave the tunnel, and God's Beard will see daylight. You'll be able to see it in your theatre! Perhaps you'll be allowed to touch it...
"Clay figures act out heartrending tales with chilling precision. This time Hotel Modern’s ‘bouquet’ of stories is more personal, and the emotions more recognisable. Deeply moving surrealism." (Volkskrant)
"God’s Beard sees the return of impressive puppetry scenes. […] A cardboard box packed with wax figures creates a chilling depiction of the transport of Jews. [...] A story is illustrated in a delightfully melancholic way using flashbacks, in which we see tall trees being replaced with saplings to suggest a journey back in time." (NRC Handelsblad)
"Everything about God’s Beard shouts of the enormous love that went into making it. The keen eye for detail in the maquettes, the sound effects and the music, the lighting, the camerawork and the decor are all perfectly combined to bring the story to life, and to do so convincingly. It doesn’t matter whether the story being told is funny, absurd or sad, because Hotel Modern are utterly convincing and emotionally authentic every step of the way." (CultuurBewust.nl)
Credits
Makers and cast Arlène Hoornweg, Herman Helle, Pauline Kalker Sound concept and live performance Arthur Sauer Set assistants Heleen Wiemer, Mirijam Neve Technician André Goos Subsidy Performing Arts fund NL, City of Rotterdam
