Swiping right
SOPHIE ANNA VEELENTURF / BERLIN (BE)
© Koen Broos
Do opposites really attract? And if they do, what happens when attraction clashes with irreconcilable ideologies?
With humor and sharp dialogue, Sophie Anna Veelenturf, an artist who describes herself as “left-wing,” draws on her personal experience of failed dates with conservative right-wing men to stage theatrical reconstructions of interviews she has conducted—not only with her partners, but also with politically diverse couples and academics of all political persuasions.
Swiping Right examines what happens when political opponents meet in intimate situations. How does ideology influence our dating, our desires, and our relationships? How do we find a compromise between attraction and resistance when political divisions seem insurmountable? Can dating be used as a tool to combat political polarization?
The result is a fascinating mix of ideology and intimacy, flirting with cabaret and documentary theater. In an uncompromising but vulnerable way, Veelenturf explores the boundaries between love and politics, posing a burning question: can we really love someone who votes against our values?
performance, ideation and text: Sophie Anna Veelenturf direction: Doris de Vries research, production e co-production: Jarne Van Loon performative coaching: Kristien De Proost, Karolien De Bleser external view: Marah Haj Hussein scenography: Chloé Wasselin Dandre scenic construction: Wiebe Moerman music composition and final mix: Seppe Vande Veire technical direction: Marjolein Demey, Nick De Keyser technicians: Rex Tee, Jakke Theyssens administrative direction: Patrick Sterckx sales: David Bauwens / Play The House Down comunication: Sam Loncke co- production: Het Laatste Bedrijf, Cambridge Junction residencies partners: CAMPO, NTGent, kunstencentrum nona, c o r s o, Het Oude Badhuis, Theater aan Zee, de Brakke Grond acknowledgments: all the people interviewed, Rashif El Kaoui, Josie Dale-Jones with the support of: Governo delle Fiandre, Tax Shelter del Governo Federale Belga, Gallop Tax Shelter, deAuteurs, Stobbs New Ideas Fund
photo by Koen Broos
Info
75 min
Dutch, English and Italian with sub. Ita
Tickets
FULL PRICE 15,00 €
REDUCED OVER 65 13,00 €
REDUCED Students/Under26/ with disability 10,00 €
Reduction on the full ticket price applicable with certified disability or invalidity equal to or greater than 67% (the disability certificate or disabilitycard.it is valid). Free admission for accompanying persons if required by the disability certificate; please write to biglietti@zonak.it to reserve free admission.
Tickets and multi-visit tickets can be purchased during the festival at the LIFE box office starting at 5:30 p.m. or online with the addition of advance sale fees.
Requests for refunds and/or date changes will not be accepted.
Accessibility
Suitable for audiences aged 16 and over.
Event accessible to people with reduced mobility and deaf or hearing-impaired people.
Content warning: the show contains testimonials and interviews that include offensive or discriminatory statements, including instances of transphobia, racism, sexism, and stigmatization of individuals based on their political opinions or identities.
Born in Amsterdam in 1999, Sophie Anna Veelenturf graduated in 2024 from KASK Drama (Ghent) as an actress and playwright. For her master’s thesis, she created “Linkse Gaatjes,” a show that combines documentary, theatre, and cabaret. In addition to her work in theatre, she is a passionate singer, a skill she puts to good use as an actress in Ontroerend Goed’s “Funeral.” In the 2024/25 season, she joined BERLIN as an associate artist to work on her first creation: Swiping Right.
