the beach | 15+
hetpaleis/Sarah Vanhee
‘With your back in the sand and the sun on your face. Your beautiful best friend helps you to rub sunscreen on your body. Her hands move up and down. She smiles. You’re dying to tell her how wonderful she looks today. And how much you love her. But you’re afraid of ruining your friendship.’ // ‘Are people becoming more and more prudish about sex? Is there more polarization? Are things different in other countries? Here, gay sex is forbidden because we believe it’s against nature.’ // ‘No towel, no swimwear – can't be bothered. If you’re as confident as I am, you always have to be able to improvise. You always have to be ready to land a punch and take a hit. I’m with the bruzz, hunting for the huzz.’ // ‘That it’s not just something mysterious. Dialogue sex. Ruleless sex. Crazy sex. Wild sex.’ // ‘I want to find love without having to make love.’
Together with eleven young people, you experience a day and a night on the beach. The murmur of the waves forms the soundtrack to their thoughts on sexuality – so many desires, questions, beliefs, doubts, fantasies. Their inner, personal reflections on intimacy and eroticism become as visible as their hot skin.
‘Until my unattainable, huge, octopoid desire disappears into the depths of the dark ocean, looking for its next victim.’
The text of the beach was created over a period of five months by ten young people from Antwerp on the basis of writing sessions, improvisations, conversations and interviews. On stage, this text is embodied by eleven other young performers.
the beach is the first collaboration between hetpaleis and Sarah Vanhee, an transdisciplinary artist whose work has been shown in Belgium and abroad for more than twenty years.
performance in Dutch, with English and/or French subtitles
15 years and up
tags theatre, dance, performance
Content and trigger warnings
The performers are non-professional actors aged between 14 and 20. The texts were not written by them, but by a group of other young people. The performance contains explicit language and descriptions of sexually transgressive behaviour. A strobe light is used.
communication material
photos
- promotional images | © Navid Fayaz
- press pictures | © Navid Fayaz
video
review
- Download and read: The beach, epicentre of teenage life
credits
concept and direction | Sarah Vanhee
text | Rachel, Rein De Koninck, Isaac De Praetere, Maute Genbrugge, Eden Meire, Brik Patteet, Madelief Sannen, Ayman Sitiane, Lennert van der Made and Isadora Verzwyvel
performers | Luka Arlauskas, Alie Camara, Hajdar Hucic, David Kansuah, Eden Meire, Robin Saenen, Zoa Smets, Gloria Smits, Chahd Snoussi, Maysem Touzani and Lennert van der Made
stage design | Théo Demans
puppets and objects | Toztli Abril de Dios
composition and sound design | Ibelisse Guardia Ferragutti
sound design and engineering | Bob Hermans
lighting design | Ryoya Fudetani
lighting engineering | Nick Matthé
stage manager | Steven Brys
costume design | Louis Verlinde
set and props construction | Jente De Graef, Danny Havermans, Frederik Liekens, Tim Vanhentenryk, Vick Verachtert
costume construction | Jente De Graef, Nushi Lambreva and Vick Verachtert
outside eye | Stefa Govaart
artistic assistance | Aron Wouters
preliminary research | Sarah Vanhee and Adel Setta
educational framework | Brechtje van Bel and jc BAZZZ
general production management | Jenne Van daele
technical production management | Els Selleslach
production and technical realisation | hetpaleis
co-production | Kaaitheater, c-Mine - Genk
with the support of | the tax shelter measure of the Belgian Federal Government through BNP Paribas Fortis Film Fund and Destelheide
thanks to | Afiah Gyamenah, Sajia Latifi, Nerea and Flore
financial and technical conditions
Performance period
- premiere date: November 6th, 2025
- Tourperiod:
- November 14th - December 2nd 2025
- January 12th - 20th 2026
- Booking period season 26-27:
- January 21, 2026 through October 31, 2027, individual dates will be considered on a case-by-case basis
Technical
- medium to large hall (width: min. 11 meters, depth: min. 10 meters, height: min. 6 meters)
- crew of 15 people (11 performers, 3 technicians, and 1 assistant)
- duration: 75 minutes
- set-up time: 6 hours
- technical rider (available after the premiere)
- performance in Dutch, with surtitles in English and/or French
Age
- ages 15 and up
Contact
- Zita Epenge for more information.
