Noorderzon 2025 Programma
Three verses of solitude
Het Houten Huis
Bloemsingel 10c, 9712 KZ GroningenAn intimate ‘work in progress’ studio showing of a profound, immersive performance that explores exploring the sound of solitude, in the wake of loss. Lebanese collective Zoukak team up with Australian composer Ben Frost and choreographer Lee Serle to explore a space for mourning, reflection, and creative renewal.
In Beirut they say they’ve been feeling pretty isolated in recent years. And then came Covid.
Three Verses of Solitude is an immersive performance piece that explores solitude as both a personal refuge and a collective condition, especially in the aftermath of war. Drawing inspiration from the contemplative stillness of the Rothko Chapel, in Houston, Texas the work is a quiet call for mourning, reflection, and reconnection.
It traces the emotional spectrum from solitude to loneliness, where peace gives way to aching, and isolation meets the longing for connection. Through this lens, the work invites viewers to reflect on their own relationship with solitude, while participating in a collective effort to find solace in our shared humanity and the beauty found in quiet moments. It asks: In the wake of loss, how can we be alone, together?
The piece gestures toward solitude not only as absence, but as a possibility, a creative practice touching upon boldness and joy. In stillness, new worlds can be imagined. In silence, something vibrant can begin.
This is a first studio showing in Europe of a piece that should have premiered in Beirut in November 2024. After the showing, the audience will be invited to reflect upon the work together with the makers.