Gwendalyne van Erp & Deniz Polatoğlu

Polly & Esther is a black musical thriller comedy full of absurd humor, suspense and tragedy. Two half-sisters, both caught in their own rules and fears, care for their paralyzed father. With bathroom music and intercom dialogues, Gwendalyne and Deniz bring a story about isolation, control and the thin line between care and suffocation. A tragicomic trip that will make you laugh as well as wince – for those who love family dramas with a twist.

Deniz Polatoğlu (she/her) is an actress and creator with a love for absurd and unconventional stories. She graduated as an actress in Istanbul and worked with Belgian companies such as Laika, KVS and HETPALEIS. Since 2021, she has been active with ROESTgroep vzw, where she and Gwendalyne created the family performance Struis (6+). Polly & Esther is her first adult production in which she is both creator and actress.

Gwendalyne van Erp (she/her) is a playwright and actress with a penchant for physical humor, visual storytelling and sharp timing. She studied directing at the Maastricht Drama Academy and founded ROESTgroep vzw, where she creates performances for young audiences and community-oriented projects. In recent years, she immersed herself in the art of clowning and specialized in physical comedy. In 2022, she also earned a degree in graphic design. Polly & Esther is her first performance for adults, in which she acts as creator, writer and actress.

Credits: Concept: Deniz Polatoğlu and Gwendalyne van Erp // Play: Deniz Polatoğlu, Gwendalyne van Erp and Tim van der Linden // Coach and mentor: Sofie Sente (DeRoovers) // Music: Alec De Bruyn and Anton Geerts // Scenography: Studio Kuurjeus // With thanks to Fameus and Rataplan (?) // With support from MESTIZO ARTS PLATFORM/WIPCOOP.