Anke Somers & Mélissa Diarra

Is there such a thing as a perfect place in a time where Mother Earth is visibly declining? Two women are stranded in a well during their search for paradise on earth. ‘PARASITE PARADISE’ THE EARTH PARADISE White beaches, swaying palm trees, sweet fruits galore. It is quite possible that these images come to mind. But does such a perfect, carefree place actually (still) exist? And where exactly can you find it?

Two completely different women find each other along the way. Both are searching for the Earthly Paradise. But their journey comes to an end when they fall into a deep well. It is cold, empty and the water has a strange taste. With a memorecorder to hold on to, they try to come to grips with what is happening to them. Until the bubbling world that was present all along turns out to tell its own stories. It demands its role and control and is not content to merely act as a backdrop for humans.

Parasite Paradise arose from a fascination with landscapes, first degraded by man, then abandoned as empty ruins Landscapes that are then revived in extraordinary ways and form new ecologies. Parasite Paradise wonders hopefully if the relationship between man and nature can be restored.

By and with: Anke Somers, Mélissa Diarra, Anke Somers / Coaching: Wanda Eyckerman / Advice scenography: Timme Afschrift / Images: Kristof Van Perre / Sound design: Laurens Mannaerts / Lighting design: Inès Isimbi / Thanks to Artenova Mechelen, RADAR Mechelen / With the support of WIPCOOP/Mestizo Arts PlatformMélissa

Diarra is an actress, director and cultural event organizer. Her mother introduced her to the performing arts from an early age through African dance and trained her at the IAD in Louvain-La-Neuve where she graduated in 2018. She is co-founder of the non-profit organization Ravie through which she supports young dance and stage creations from Brussels. Since graduating, she has collaborated on several cinema projects and series.

Anke Somers will start a drama program at LUCA School of Arts, Leuven in 2015 where she will obtain her master’s degree in 2020. Anke is an actress and slam poet. She collaborated in productions of Ultima Thule (performance Saperlipopette), ARSENAAL/LAZARUS (participatory project Life of Mechelen) and Abattoir Fermé (recordings Hotel Poseidon). In early 2019, she founded Collective NOK with classmates. Their first performance ‘Roberto Zucco’ toured 11 cultural centers throughout Flanders.

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