KINGDOM

A barrack made up of two houses, in front of which runs a river. On one side stands a forest, and beyond the gate, the territory of the Other. Having exiled itself to the Siberian taiga to flee the noise of the world and rebuild a way of life they’ve long idealised, a family finds it cannot escape its past. Between turf wars, poaching, arsons, and trying to find a balance with nature and wild animals, unfolds an epic drama, an ancestral conflict. Inspired by Clément Cogitore’s documentary Braguino, Kingdom—last part of a trilogy begun with Sadnesses and Arctic—follows the history of a family over three decades, under the watchful eye of a film crew who just happened to be there. A merciless battle for survival, a forest kingdom as seen by children. Through the experience of this new generation, victims of battles they didn’t choose, director Anne-Cécile Vandalem tells of the failure of a utopia, of an impossible community, a disappearing world which the youngest will have to reinvent.

With Arnaud Botman, Laurent Caron, Philippe Grand’Henry, Épona Guillaume, Zoé Kovacs
And Federico D’Ambrosio, Leonor Malamatenios (camera crew)
in alternation with Juliette Goossens/Ida Mühleck, Lea Swaeles/Léonie Chaidron, Isaac Mathot/Noa Staes, Daryna Melnyk/Eulalie Poucet

Text and direction Anne-Cécile Vandalem freely inspired by Clément Cogitore's Braguino
Dramaturgy Sarah Seignobosc
Music Vincent Cahay, Pierre Kissling
Stage design Ruimtevaarders
Lights Amélie Géhin
Video Frédéric Nicaise
Sound Antoine Bourgain
Costumes Laurence Hermant
Make-up Sophie Carlier
Assistants direction Pauline Ringeade and Mahlia Theismann

Production Das Fraülein [Kompanie]
Co-production Théâtre de Liège, Festival d’Avignon, Théâtre national Wallonie-Bruxelles, Odéon - Théâtre de l’Europe, Le Volcan Scène nationale du Havre, Théâtre du Nord, Théâtre de Lorient, Théâtres de la ville de Luxembourg, Théâtre de Namur, Le Quai CDN Angers, Les Célestins Théâtre de Lyon, Maison de la Culture de Tournai, La Coop asbl & Shelter Prod (Brussels)
With the support of Taxshelter.be, ING, tax-shelter of the belgian federal government, Wallonie-Bruxelles International, Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles theater department, National Lottery
Costumes manufacture Ateliers du Théâtre de Liège, Ateliers du Théâtre national Wallonie-Bruxelles