Eight performers continue the tradition to perform Die Fledermaus indefinitely in a single evening.
The tradition of continuing to perform Die Fledermaus is remarkable. Every year on New Year’s Eve, the operetta is performed somewhere in Europe. In Fledermaus Forever, eight performers continue the tradition indefinitely in a single evening. Just as the characters want to get to the party in Act II come what may, these performers want to keep on performing this pleasurable piece at all costs. With what they have, they adapt their casting, musical and textual material in order to get the piece performed time and time again. In the urge to keep the festivities alive, to keep on performing, there is something that is at once very beautiful and very sad. The work Die Fledermaus embodies this urge, both in its narrative and in its performance practice. In short, the ideal musical performance to come one step closer to answering the questions: Why keep on performing? Why keep on partying?
“A grotesque comedy with humorous characters and slapstick, which deploys rhyming dialogues and vocals to deliver a healthy dose of laughable pathos. It is a nod to a pastiche of the operetta genre. Live music on piano, cello and accordion brings Strauss II to life in an idiosyncratic manner, with successful arrangements from Les Âmes Perdues … This makes Fledermaus Forever uninhibited, entertaining theatre with a catchy soundtrack. Again next year?”
De Tijd - Nina Dillen - 11.08.2023
“A colourful celebration in a comic straitjacket. The witty, roguish Fledermaus forever dresses and undresses Strauss’ well-known operetta. This production brings together a group of multi-talented performers. Just like Goossens, the collective Les Âmes Perdues know how to transform the classical repertoire into a playground. The rest of the cast, with Tania Van der Sanden, also perform this demanding task perfectly. A nostalgia trip and a clever reflection on why we don’t want it to end.”
De Standaard **** - Gilles Michiels - 12.08.2023
“Eight performers waltz a performance together that is packed with jokes and wisecracks, running gags and the craziest costumes. Strauss’ music, in a clever adaptation for piano and cello, intertwines with the intrigue, and the company excels at harmonies. With his enormous musical sensitivity, Goossens knows exactly how far he can go. He was helped in this by the music collective Les Âmes Perdues, which delivered a brilliant reduction of the score. An inventive, captivating and cheerful evening.”
PZAZZ - Johan Thielemans - 13.08.2023
“It’s been a long time since a piece of (musical) theatre has ticked so many boxes. Fledermaus Forever entertains as a creative pastiche and a controlled revolving door comedy, with misunderstandings, slapstick, intrigues and quiet moments. Enriched by continuous live music on piano, cello and accordion, it is also an ode to the theatre.”
Bruzz ***** - Michaël Bellon - 29.01.2025
Credits
- Musical direction | Arrangements • Les Âmes Perdues
- Direction • Tom Goossens
- Direction assistent • Adele Raes
- Concept | Dramaturgy • Les Âmes Perdues / Tom Goossens / Mitch Van Landeghem
- Texts • Tom Goossens / Mitch Van Landeghem
- Composition • Johann Strauss jr.
- Scenography • Jana Roos / Anne van Es
- Costume design • Jana Roos
- Costume design trainees • Sam Beddegnoodts / Fine Stoffels
- Light design • Anne van Es
- Play I Music I Vocals • Mitch Van Landeghem / Tania Van der Sanden / Lucie Plasschaert / Adele Raes / Jonathan Kazanga Linga / Ewout Lehoucq / Marjan De Schutter (ZVA) / Naomi Beeldens / Ecem Topcu / Isaak Duerinck
- Atelier decor • M-art-in-B / Gatam
| Location | Dates | Hour | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compagnie Cecilia (Gent) +32(0)9 223 53 82 www.compagnie-cecilia.be Show on map | 14/4/2026 15/4/2026 16/4/2026 | 20:00 - - | |
| GC Den Bussel Keerbergen (Keerbergen) +32 15 50 90 62 www.keerbergen.be Show on map | 23/4/2026 | 20:00 | |
| Arenbergschouwburg (Antwerpen) +32 3 202 46 41 www.arenbergschouwburg.be Show on map | 26/4/2026 | 20:15 |