Dates / Schedules
Saturady, january 30, 2027 7:00pm
Sunday, january 31, 2027 5:00pm
Shielded from all suffering, Siddhartha’s life is mapped out from the very beginning. Yet an inner voice leads him to set off in search of a different destiny. Throughout his journey, he encounters different experiences until he finds meaning in the contradictions of human existence. The character created by Hermann Hesse is not the historical Buddha, but rather a man marked by doubts, vulnerabilities and desires.
With Hesse’s novel in her pocket, Lisaboa Houbrechts, one of the most prominent directors on the contemporary international theatre scene, found herself in India during the pandemic. In her adaptation of Siddhartha, she creates a theatrical polyphony that brings together different art forms and cultures, reinvents characters and questions gender roles. The protagonist is played by singer and songwriter Meskerem Mees. Structured around music by composer Caroline Shaw, performed by a 24-member choir, SIDDHARTHA combines theatre, classical singing, pop improvisation, Sufi songs and Indian dance, creating a performance universe characterised by a diversity of artistic languages and references.
Accessibility: Audio-described performance on 31 January at 5pm.
The Centro Cultural de Belém Foundation reserves the right to collect, store and use recordings of image, sound and voice, for the purposes of dissemination and for preserving the memory of its cultural and artistic activities, as well as its spaces. Should you require any further information, please contact us at the following email address: privacidade@ccb.pt
Siddhartha Scenefoto_s Low Res (c) Kurt Van der Elst
Siddhartha Scenefoto_s Low Res (c) Kurt Van der Elst
Siddhartha Scenefoto_s Low Res (c) Kurt Van der Elst
Siddhartha Scenefoto_s Low Res (c) Kurt Van der Elst
Ages
Age rating to be assigned by CCE.
Data sheet
Concept, Libretto and Direction Lisaboa Houbrechts
Based on the work by Hermann Hesse
Composition Caroline Shaw
Musical Direction Christian Balvig
Performers Meskerem Mees, Shantala Shivalingappa, Claron McFadden, Oumar Dicko, Lisaboa Houbrechts / Milēna Miškēviča, Casper Clausen, Samuel Mariño and Zila Khan
Choir Latvian Radio Choir (Riga), comprising 24 singers, conducted by Kaspars Putniņš: Aldis Andersons, Iveta Apine, Jēkabs Bernāts, Rūdolfs Bērtiņš, Emils Gilucs-Lacis, Ilona Dzērve Talute, Gundars Dziļums, Nora Kalniņa, Jānis Kokins, Ilze Konovalova, Gundega Krūmiņa, Jānis Kurševs, Lauma Malnace, Inga Martinsone, Agnese Pauniņa, Daniels Pelnens, Agate Pooka, Jurgis Rats, Vitālijs Stankevičs, Dace Strautmane, Vilhelms Vacietis, Inita Vindava, Shino Yamasaki and Serhii Zadorozhny
Original Vocal Compositions, Vocals and Harmonium UstadMa Zila Khan
Soundscape Casper Clausen
Soundscape Assistant Brecht Beuselinck
Additional Recordings Audrey Chen (Vocals), Gaspar Claus (Cello), Jon Birdsong (Brass), Markus Müller (Nebula Instruments) and André Gonçalves (ADDAC)
Musical Dramaturgy Anna Chernomordik
Set Design Sammy van den Heuvel
Costume Design Oumar Dicko
Lighting Design Fabiana Piccioli
Set and Costume Production Toneelhuis
Assistant Director Intern Teuntje Wolters
Movement Consultant Laura Neyskens
Set Design Intern Aak van Zessen
English Translation Martine Bom
Production Management Kristien Borgers and Katinka De Belder
Technical Production Management Diederik Suykens and Filip Timmerman
Sound Engineering Jeroen Kenens
Lighting Engineering Lies van Loock
Set Engineering Ward Van Den Bossche and Victor Boni
Wardrobe Kathleen Van Mechelen and Monique Van Hassel
Costume Making Costume Atelier Toneelhuis (Esther Reijnen, Tanya Maldonado, Liezelot Osselaer, Kathleen Van Mechelen and Monique Van Hassel), Costume Atelier Dailes Theatris, Riga, and PXL MAD School of Arts / Frederik Aerts
Set Construction Decoratelier Toneelhuis (Niels Antonissen, Chris Reijnen, Luk Willekens and Patrick Jacobs)
Surtitles Katinka De Belder and Erik Borgman
Surtitles Assistant Luka Swinnen
Production Toneelhuis and KVS
Co-production Ruhrtriennale, Dailes Theatre, Internationaal Theater Amsterdam and Centro Cultural de Belém
Executive Production Toneelhuis
With the Support of the Belgian Federal Government’s Tax Shelter scheme, through Gallop Tax Shelter, and Riga Investment and Tourism Agency
Acknowledgements Opera Ballet Vlaanderen and hetpaleis
SIDDHARTHA
A music theatre production by Lisaboa Houbrechts based on the novel by Hermann Hesse With work by New York composer Caroline Shaw
English language translation by Martine Bom
Discounts
DISCOUNTS are only valid for CCB production and/or co-production shows and for tickets with a price above €12, with the exception of CCB cardholders, the discount is applied to values above €8.
50 % people with specific needs and free for accompanying person
50% for Arts and culture professionals
50% for unemployed
30% for CCB Card’s holders (individual, Senior, Youth and Family)
20% for people over 65 / for under 30s / students / for groups of more than 20 people
Tickets at €5 for Artistic Schools
We also suggest