Pronk

UPDATE: This evening there will be a discussion with Anoek and Jan Pronk.

We are looking for: a clear manual on how to live in disruptive and polarized times. Guides like that cannot be found in bookstores, political parties or houses of prayer. Luckily there is Anoek Nuyens [1984], an inquisitive theater maker and writer. In the solo performance PRONK she draws on conversations with the former politician and former UN envoy of the same name. Jan Pronk [1940] is the proud flag bearer of Dutch social democracy. But in 2013 – after a membership of almost 50 years - he turned his back to political party PVDA. He could no longer reconcile with his party’s complicity in the policies of the Rutte-II administration.

A few of the questions that Nuyens gets her hands on, with sharpness, emotion and humor in PRONK: How can you create order in the global chaos? What is left of the leftist dreams? How does it feel to really stand for something? And above all: is there still hope?

PRONK is considerably more than a well-made portrait of the gnarly Jan Pronk, who’d rather eat his red tie than violate his principles. Most of all, it is a portrait of a 36-year-old woman who is looking for hope, guidance and connection. That makes PRONK an intellectual pamphlet about idealism, politics and visionary life.

Anoek Nuyens already surprised audiences at the 2015 edition of Boulevard. In her solo HULP [Help], she told the story of her great-aunt, 98-years-old at that time, who was the chairman of the charity Auxilium [Latin for Help]. Anoek took over the foundation from her, including a thousand requests.