Bertrand Russell’s Paradox

In the early morning of April 13th 1975, Lucy, granddaughter to philosopher and Nobel laureate Bertrand Russell, walks into a cemetery. After dousing her head and body with kerosene, she lights a match and sets herself on fire. A few days later she dies, barely 26 years old. As old as the Vietnam War, which finally comes to an end after her funeral. What drove Lucy to this point? And how insane was her act of sacrifice?

Nobel laureate Bertrand Russell has been called "the English Voltaire." This philosopher's life was all about logic. No one led a more rational life than he did. And the standards he imposed on himself, he also demanded of his family. After her parents are removed to a mental institution on Russell's orders, Lucy comes under his tutelage. She is his chosen one, "my shining side of the moon," and Sir Bertrand wants to protect his granddaughter at all costs, from the madness in the world.

But a human being is not a purely logical machine. Not Russell; and certainly not his granddaughter. Let alone the world around her. Lucy grows up in a time when fear rules. Lucy is not resistant to this troubled world. Soul without epidermis describes Grandpa Russell her. But how can he help? Someone who is depressed - is it consumed by gloom inside ? Or is it eaten up by melancholy from outside? And doesn't the urge for exclusionary reasonableness sometimes do more harm than good?

directed by
Thomas Janssens
written by
Thomas Janssens & Peter De Graef
players
Tanya Zabarylo, Bill Barberis & Peter De Graef
production
Woodman Speelt in coproduction with Het Laatste Bedrijf
with the support of
Gallop Tax Shelter

Cast

  • Tanya Zabarylo
  • Peter De Graef
  • Bill Barberis

Calendar

18.03.2022 – 20:00 – Arenbergschouwburg, Antwerpen (première)

19.03.2022 – 20:00 – Theater Hemelhoeve, Brasschaat

25.03.2022 – 20:30 – CC Overijse

26.03.2022 – 20:30 – CC Pelt

27.03.2022 – 20:00 – CC Knokke-Heist

30.03.2022 – 20:00 – CC Mol

31.03.2022 – 20:00 – CC Ter Dilft, Bornem

07.04.2022 – 20:30 – CC Mortsel

20.04.2022 – 20:00 – CC Strombeek

23.04.2022 – 20:00 – CC Deurne

29.04.2022 – 20:00 – CC Oostende

14.05.2022 – 20:00 – CC Erpe-Mere

19.05.2022 – 20:15 – CC Nova Antwerpen