News — Oct 21, 2024

22, 23 and 24 November 2024

Is there such a thing as the ‘average Dutch family’? If so, where do they live, how do they spend their time, and what do they feel is ‘normal’?

On 22, 23 and 24 November 2024, artist duo Sander Breure and Witte van Hulzen will present the performance A Family Portrait at the Stedelijk. This unique performance, commissioned by the Stedelijk, is a sequel to their acclaimed 2014 work in which the artists found an ‘average’ Dutch family and, with their permission, eavesdropped on them in their home non-stop for a week. The theatre script is based on audio transcripts of the family’s actual conversations.

In 2024, the makers followed the same family again, resulting in a compelling double portrait. The performance shows how the family's life has changed in the last ten years: the eldest daughter is about to leave the parental home, while the teenage son spends most of his time playing video games. Four actors bring both eras vividly to life in an arresting, alienating portrayal of everyday family life.

As well as offering a glimpse into the banality and intimacy of everyday life, A Family Portrait raises questions about the role of surveillance in today’s society. What impact does this continuous surveillance have on our behaviour? And how does that influence the way we express ourselves in language? These questions are thrown into sharp focus in this double bill, which connects past and present.

The performance is English subtitled.

Actors: Wine Dierickx, Matijs Jansen, Lisa van de Wiel, Abel Peeters, Jonne van der Moolen, Mees Oude Nijhuis, Juliette van Leeuwen
Commissioned by: Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam
Supported by: Mondriaan Fund
Director: Sander Breure & Witte van Hulzen
Production: Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam
Co-production: Wunderbaum, IDFA
Screenplay: Sander Breure & Witte van Hulzen