After the success of Billy's Violence, the desire to continue this intense tale was so strong amongst the artistic team, cast and crew that it has led to a sequel: Billy’s Joy. Once again, Victor Lauwers turns his hand to reworking Shakespeare’s plays and see what they can still mean in our time - a time of great controversies, vulgar polemics, cancel culture, structural racism, climate change, war. What is there left to laugh at? Is humour the coward's weapon or a form of activism?

For Billy's Violence, Victor Afung Lauwers researched the ten tragedies of Shakespeare and rewrote them into violently loving, intimate dialogues in which the woman is the central focus, stripped of any historical reference or anecdotal content.

Songs of Disconnection is a next step in Seghers’ research into the potentially tragic relationship between entertainer and spectator. This resides in the irresistible urge to share and connect and the essential impossibility of doing so.

All the good tells a story about loss and hope. A love story at a time in which Europe is sacrificing its values and a large group of people are succumbing to hate and incomprehension.

Haunted by the night and inspired both by her ancestors and the Javanese theatre of shadows wayang, Grace Ellen Barkey, who was born in Surabaya, Indonesia, enters into a dialogue with the obscure and searches for forms of re-imagination in her installative performance MALAM / NIGHT.

News
15 September 2023
MILL'S BEAUTY REALITY SALON 2023

After two successful editions, MILL'S BEAUTY REALITY SALON returns in 2023. MBRS is a fellowship developed by and within Needcompany. It was born out of a desire to continue the multidisciplinary artistic quest that Needcompany started 30 years ago. With this € 10 000 initiative, we want to give artists the opportunity to think and create in a timeless and non-result-oriented way. Our goal is to establish new, sustainable connections.

For MILL'S REALITY SALON we are inviting artists who have never before worked with Needcompany. The call has been launched and is open to all nationalities and ages with an extra focus on artists with a link to Brussels. Deadline = 25 October!

27 June 2023
Worldpremiere Billy's Joy

On 11 July, Billy's Joy will finally premiere at ImPulsTanz in Vienna. After months of preparation and rehearsal, it is time to present the 'liquid comedy', the HYSTORY, to the public.

Victor Lauwers once again commits to reworking Shakespeare's texts to see what they can still mean in our time - a time of great controversies, vulgar polemics, cancel culture, structural racism, climate change, war. What is there left to laugh at? Is humour the coward's weapon or a form of activism?

6 March 2023
Billy's Violence in Antwerp

On Saturday 18 March (8pm) and Sunday 19 March (3pm), Billy's Violence, Needcompany's lauded show, will finally be performed at the Bourlaschouwburg in Antwerp after successful passages in Bruges, Ghent, Brussels and all over Europe.

De Morgen (****), De Standaard (****), Knack (****), El País (****), Les Inrocks and many other international press had nothing but praise for the radical adaptation of Shakespeare's tragedies by writer Victor Afung Lauwers, composer Maarten Seghers and director Jan Lauwers. Don't miss it and buy your tickets now!

23 December 2021
Music of Billy's Violence available online

In July 2021, Billy's Violence, a radical adaptation of the tragedies of Shakespeare by Victor Afung Lauwers, directed by Jan Lauwers, premiered at Festival Grec in Barcelona. Maarten Seghers composed the original music which gives the performance extra layers, resonance and intensity.

From now on, the music is available on all major streaming services (Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, Deezer etc) and digital shops. A physical release on vinyl was already released in July. The limited, carefully crafted release is available via Needcompany's Bandcamp. Those who would like to buy the digital release can also visit our Bandcamp.

Tour dates

October 2023
13 OctSongs of DisconnectionACTORAL (Marseille FR) Premiere
14 OctSongs of DisconnectionACTORAL (Marseille FR)
November 2023
10 NovBilly's JoyTeatro Central (Sevilla ES)
11 NovBilly's JoyTeatro Central (Sevilla ES)
23 NovEXPLO #3MILL (Needcompany) (Brussels BE)
24 NovEXPLO #3MILL (Needcompany) (Brussels BE)
28 NovBilly's JoyCC Brugge (Bruges BE) Premiere
December 2023
01 DecBilly's JoyNTGent (Ghent BE)
January 2024
20 JanBilly's ViolenceCC De Spil (Roeselare BE)
23 JanBilly's JoyLe Quartz (Brest FR)
Tour dates

October 2023
13 OctSongs of Disconnection
 Marseille FR  ACTORAL Premiere
14 OctSongs of Disconnection
 Marseille FR  ACTORAL
November 2023
10 NovBilly's Joy
 Sevilla ES  Teatro Central
11 NovBilly's Joy
 Sevilla ES  Teatro Central
23 NovEXPLO #3
 Brussels BE  MILL (Needcompany)
24 NovEXPLO #3
 Brussels BE  MILL (Needcompany)
28 NovBilly's Joy
 Bruges BE  CC Brugge Premiere
December 2023
01 DecBilly's Joy
 Ghent BE  NTGent
January 2024
20 JanBilly's Violence
 Roeselare BE  CC De Spil
23 JanBilly's Joy
 Brest FR  Le Quartz
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