Coerced & Freely Given Merel Severs

After her critically acclaimed performance Try not to know what you know, Merel delves deeper into the relationship between care, violence, exhaustion and resilience in Coerced & Freely Given . Together with Milou van Duijnhoven and Princess Isatu Hassan Bangura, she presents a thrilling performance with her characteristic energy. The trio questions the existing capitalist, patriarchal system and explores a world of intense physical exertion versus soft connection. How can care and interconnectedness form an active resistance against the dominant norms in our society? As sharp blows turn into tender embraces, the performers transform the stage into a landscape of personal memories and stories.

In Coerced & Freely Given, Merel puts pressure on the body with discipline and pleasure. With her players she fights for radical softness and together they celebrate humanity in all its complexity, full of emotions and impulsiveness.