Dramatic Poets: the voice of peace, embodied once more

With *Dramatic Poets*, Redo Ait Chitt and Georgios Lazakis will be presenting a new stage performance at Festival Boulevard on 6, 15 and 16 August. The premiere, on 15 August at 8.30 pm, is being staged in collaboration with Cypher HQ and Deelstof at Tent Paars, where dance, spoken word, rap and music come together in an exploration of the meaning of peace in contemporary society.

What happens to peace when words lose their weight?

Inspired by Desiderius Erasmus, ‘The Lament of Peace’ and the origins of theatre as a public space for moral reflection, the performance explores how language can lose its power when it becomes detached from physical and social consequences. At a time when war, polarisation and violence are increasingly being normalised through language, the word ‘peace’ is heard constantly, yet increasingly as an abstract concept. Dramatic Poets asks how art can help to make that responsibility tangible once more.

Between Word and Body

The performance gives rise to a physical and linguistic dialogue between the creators. Georgios Lazakis uses spoken word, rap and music as vehicles for analysis, doubt and reflection. His language moves between philosophical references and contemporary urgency.

Redo Ait Chitt takes the body as the vessel of experience and consequence. In his dance, tension, fatigue, resistance and resilience are made visible as direct physical responses to language and meaning. Together, they create a field of tension in which words and the body question and challenge one another.

Recognition and artistic practice

The creators of *Dramatic Poets* have both been recognised for their artistic and social contributions. Redo Ait Chitt was awarded a Royal Honour for his outstanding artistic achievements as a dancer and his social impact. More recently, Georgios Lazakis also received a Royal Honour for his work as a creator and performer and for his role in society as a role model for young people.

Both work within an artistic practice centred on ethics, responsibility and diligence. Their work seeks to explore layers and nuances, whilst examining complex subjects. Dramatic Poets is a collaboration between Redo Ait Chitt and Georgios Lazakis, developed with an interdisciplinary artistic team; Shailesh Bahoran as choreographer and director, Gery Mendes as stage director, Winston ‘Winne’ Bergwijn as script supervisor, and Izak Boom as composer for the production.

A poetic drama and a polyphonic form

Dramatic Poets combines classical European thought with contemporary art forms such as hip-hop, spoken word and physical performance. The dramaturgy moves from confrontation to silence. The performance ends on an open note, with the question ‘who bears the price of peace?’ The result is a poetic drama that is historically rooted yet contemporary at the same time.