Man in the Mist

A passionate entrepreneur with a dream. When he takes over his father's comapny, the futere smiles on him. He has big plans, works day and night, invests heart and soul. Until his company unexpectedly ends up in turbulent water: overdue payments, outstanding invoices, incomprehension with the tax authorities, cut-throat competition. It's very fast. The man collects but keeps up appearances, from a commercial point of view and out of shame. Unfortunately, bankruptcy turns out to be unavoidable - liquidation, everything gone. Turmoil in his brain, he can't see a way out. Nothing left but to run...

'Never before so many bankruptcies', headlined De Tijd over the first half of 2019. Director Christophe Aussems - himself the son of independent entrepreneurs - is looking for people behind the companies that went bankrupt. After 'Fire' and 'Hybris', he makes a new performance based on in-depth interviews. Christophe is fascinated by difficult topics to discuss. Themes such as loss, failure, resilience often recur in his performances. Now he talks to entrepreneurs who are going through bankruptcy, with their family and their curators.
Christophe Aussems: "In America, the motto is: 'entrepreneurs who never went bankrupt can't be trusted.' In Flanders, the following often still applies: 'entrepreneurs who once went bankrupt can't be trusted.' We usually see bankruptcy as a personal failure and stigmatization of failed entrepreneurs as 'losers'. In my area I was recently confronted with bankrupticies. I noticed that besides the practical consequences, there was especially a great emotional impact. 'They're not going to hurt themselves, are they?!' In 'Man in the Mist', a missing article, following a bankruptcy, is central".

written & directed by
Christophe Aussems
cast
Jorre Vandenbussche, Sara Vertongen, Jonas Van Thielen, Aline Cornelissen
music
Bert Hornikx, Joris Caluwaerts
scenography & light
Bart van Merode
dramaturgy
Els Theunis
production
Het Nieuwstedelijk in coproduction with Het Laatste Bedrijf
with the support of
Gallop Tax Shelter

Cast

  • Aline Cornelissen
  • Sara Vertongen
  • Jorre Vandenbussche
  • Jonas Van Thielen

Calendar

15.01.2022 – 20:15 – De Nieuwe Zaal, Hasselt (Première) 

19.01.2022 – 20:15 – De Nieuwe Zaal, Hasselt 

20.01.2022 – 20:15 – De Nieuwe Zaal, Hasselt 

21.01.2022 – 20:15 – De Nieuwe Zaal, Hasselt 

22.01.2022 – 20:15 – De Nieuwe Zaal, Hasselt 

25.01.2022 – 20:15 – C-Mine, Genk 

26.01.2022 – 20:15 – C-Mine, Genk 

27.01.2022 – 20:15 – CC Lanaken, Lanaken 

29.01.2022 – 20:15 – CC Palethe, Pelt 

02.02.2022 – 20:00 – CC Brugge, Brugge

03.02.2022 – 20:15 – CC Muze, Heusden-Zolder

04.02.2022 – 20:00 – CC Ter Vesten, Beveren

07.02.2022 – 20:00 – CC De Spil, Roeselare

09.02.2022 – 20:15 – CC De Velinx, Tongeren

10.02.2022 – 20:00 – CC ‘t Schaliken, Herentals

11.02.2022 – 20:00 – GC Den Bussel, Keerbergen

12.02.2022 – 20:00 – CC De Factorij, Zaventem

16.02.2022 – 20:00 – CC Ter Dilft, Bornem

17.02.2022 – 20:00 – CC De Woeker, Oudenaarde

18.02.2022 – 20:00 – CC Asse, Asse

19.02.2022 – 20:00 – CC Stroming, Berlare

20.02.2022 – 20:00 – CC De Fabriek, Sint-Lievens-Houtem

23.02.2022 – 20:00 – OPEK, Leuven

22.03.2022 – 20:00 – OPEK, Leuven

23.03.2022 – 20:00 – OPEK, Leuven

24.03.2022 – 20:00 – OPEK, Leuven

25.03.2022 – 20:00 – OPEK, Leuven

26.03.2022 – 20:00 – OPEK, Leuven