Untangling Trauma

Name: Untangling Trauma — Mara van Nes / Frascati Producties i.s.m. ARQ
Start: 2024-12-03T20:30:00+01:00
Location: Frascati

Mara van Nes / Frascati Producties i.s.m. ARQ

Tue 3 Dec ’24 20:30

A dialogue between art and science.

Tue 3 Dec ’24

20:30

Tue 3 Dec ’24

20:30

Frascati

Frascati 1

Past event

Almost everyone seems to have a trauma these days. Is recognition and openness about trauma increasing, or is the term being overused, diluting its meaning? How do we define trauma, and how can we contribute to healing and prevention?

In a time where friction, conflicts and global crises are on the rise, researchers are advocating for a deeper understanding of trauma and collective resilience beyond the therapist’s office. This evening, program maker Mara van Nes and Jetske van Heemstra (healthcare psychologist at ARQ National Psychotrauma Center) explore these questions in the context of theater. Can this exchange between art and science help us better examine trauma and tell stories in new ways about its diverse causes and manifestations?

At Frascati Producties, Mara and Jetske connected theater makers Tea Tupajić, Merel Severs, Basak Layic, and Jelle Huizinga with experts from ARQ. Together, they combine their knowledge and creativity to explore trauma-related themes in innovative ways and give them form.

On Tuesday, December 3rd, Frascati will host an evening where the findings are shared through performances and talks on different forms of trauma, trauma treatment, and (collective) resilience.

About ARQ National Psychotrauma Center

ARQ is the expertise center in the field of psychotrauma. Through various departments, they work on prevention, treatment, and the sharing of knowledge. Since 2017, Frascati Producties has collaborated with ARQ within the program line De (on)vertelde Stad.

About Mara van Nes

Mara van Nes (1993) is a theater maker, program creator, and moderator. She specializes in creating socially engaged artistic work, where the conversation itself is approached as the artistic product. In her practice, Mara often collaborates with both professional artists and amateurs, or works crossdisciplinarilly with specialists from the social domain. Her work centers on the encounter, experience, and dialogue, with a significant role for rituals, based on the idea that shaping gatherings has a direct influence on their substantive qualities.

Spoken language: English

Part of

About the makers

Tea Tupajić (Sarajevo, 1984) is a Croatian theatre and film director. Often engaging in long processes with invited protagonists who always seems to either be reluctant to be on stage or to have a lot to lose by doing so, she investigates the potential of art when confronted with controversial political and personal issues.

Her performances, amongst which Licht (2023), DARK NUMBERS (Frascati Producties, 2018), Spy School (2016); The Disco (2015); Variete Europe "Orpheus" (2013) and The Curators' Piece (in collaboration with Petra Zanki, 2011) were acclaimed and presented in over 30 theatres and festivals internationally. Her first feature film Darkness There and Nothing More (2021), celebrated its world premiere at the IDFA Envision competition. Here, she earned IDFA Award nominationsfor Best First Feature and Best Dutch Film. Tea is also a published writer and has served as a guest editor for the performing arts magazine Frakcija. Her texts have been translated into English, German, Dutch, Polish, Arabic and Hebrew.

Merel Severs (1991) is a choreographer, performer, and martial artist known for creating physical and visual performances that challenge societal structures. Drawing inspiration from intersectional feminism, body politics, and martial arts, Merel has developed a unique performance language that emphasizes the strength, flexibility, and resilience of the human body. Her work questions the violent structures of the world around her, using the transformative power of the body to explore themes of vulnerability, anger, and care.

Merels performances Let me tell you something you already know (2020) and Try Not To Know What You Know (2022) both earned a nomination for the BNG Bank Theater Prize. Her latest work, Coerced & Freely Given (2024), continues the exploration of the body’s power and tenderness in times of political despair. Her work is a testament to the transformative potential of the body and its ability to challenge and reshape the world.

Başak Layic is a storyteller, theatermaker, and Artistic Director originally from Istanbul, now based in Amsterdam since 2019. Her work encompasses theater, storytelling, and community-building, focusing on bridging cultural divides and exploring the complexities of identity and belonging. As an in-house storyteller at Mezrab, Başak captivates audiences with narratives that blend humor and serious themes, illuminating the universal human condition.

Başak's work has been presented at festivals across the country, including Oerol, RRReuring, Fringe, Spirit of Amsterdam, and the Storytelling Festival, among others. As the Artistic Leader of Above as Below, Başak continues this mission by creating spaces for collective storytelling, where complex cultural identities and shared humanity intersect. Currently, she is presenting her latest solo performance, Divine Madness, which explores the intersection of intergenerational trauma and personal liberation.

Jelle Huizinga (Zwolle, 2000) graduated in 2024 as a performer from the Toneelacademie in Maastricht. He grew up with a love for Dutch-language rap and theater, and he entered drama school to bridge these worlds. During his studies, his interests expanded to experimental hip-hop and punk/post-punk. Inspired by this, he creates musical performances in which he seeks vulnerability in a tough, adrenaline-fueled world. In September 2024, Jelle created the performance REGRESSIE at Frascati Producties as part of Beginnings.