SACRIFICE (OFFER)

Musical theatre about the desire for a better world

Premiere March 15, 2025, Schouwburg Hengelo (NL)

The phone lies unlocked in her hand. Her heart is pounding in her throat, she can hear her breathing and the rush of her blood. This moment is dizzying. But it seems worth the sacrifice: a better world for everyone. At her fingertips rests the fate of millions, from the farmer in Bangladesh to the car dealer in Ohio and the influencer in Berlin. That she has ended up here is the logical consequence of honest thinking and sincere humanity. After having explored every possible path, she has had enough of all the dishonesty and lies. But is this really the right choice?

How good do you have to be to not be wrong?

SACRIFICE follows the story of a young woman, her lover and their supporters. We are introduced to a small community with great ideals and a sharp judgment of society, driven by an authentic desire for a better world. Slowly their warm devotion changes into straightforward radicalism and the use of violence seems to be the only way out... In the performance, the ideological color and political preference of the group remain neutral. With two soloists, a percussionist and the twelve-member choir of Consensus Vocalis, we search for the patterns of radicalism and the extremist in each of us.

*People have currently often turned against each other. Where one feels misunderstood, the other seems unwilling to understand. Groups are entrenching themselves, like-minded people are giving each other the confirmation they so desperately need. I find the fear behind all this, that a safe future is no longer guaranteed, interesting. Those who are afraid are looking for allies, certainties, explanations.* – Annechien Koerselman, stage direction

Photo © Anne van Zantwijk

Credits Cast & Crew

SHE Fanny Alofs (mezzo-sopraan)

HE Berend Eijkhout (Bariton)

The Community Consensus Vocalis: Veronika Akhmetchina, Kitty Lai, Meike Wijma (Sopranos), Rosalie Ardts, Eske Tibben, Berber Vis (Altos), Edmond Chu, Guido Groenland, Twan van der Wolde (Tenors), Arjan Lienaerts, Gulian van Nierop, Juan Vizán (Basses)

Percussion Colin Crandal

Idea Fanny Alofs

Composition Lucas Wiegerink

Libretto Sophie Kassies

Stage direction Annechien Koerselman

Conductor Béni Csillag

Setdesign Juliette Mout

Costumedesign Anne Ammerlaan

Lightdesign Wilfred Loopstra

Technics Koen Heringa (Light) & Koos Wolters (Audio)

Productionmanager Dagmara Siuty

Artistic Management Imre Ploeg

General Manager Francis Faas

Organisation Consensus Vocalis

Calendar

Hengelo (NL) Schouwburg Hengelo March 14, 2025 20.30h try-out

Hengelo (NL) Schouwburg Hengelo March 15, 2025 20.30h premiere

Deventer (NL) Schouwburg April 17, 2025 20.30h

Zwolle (NL) Schouwburg Odeon April 24, 2025 20.30h

Haarlem (NL) Schuur July 03, 2025 20.15h Festival The Big Sing

will be further complemented

More information: Consensus Vocalis