TENT&

Boulevard wholeheartedly connects with the city and its inhabitants, particularly now. We asked ten makers, whom we’ve trusted for years, to create something especially for ‘Powered by Boulevard’. These projects are made for and sometimes with specific groups from the city. Their progress can soon be followed online by everyone.

You won’t find them in the national Campsite guide. And they don’t advertise in the English magazine Bushcraft & Survival Skills, either. But in its adventurousness The100Hands goes beyond the camper’s dream of many. Especially for Powered by Boulevard this Dutch/Slovenian company developed the project TENT&. A challenging camping project, but without an entertainment team or field games. On the contrary, TENT& is an invitation to a retreat and self-exploration in a recyclable cardboard tent.

Those who want to participate, temporarily get a tent in a public place in Den Bosch at their disposal. Depending on the version this lasts for fifteen minutes or an hour. The tent is part of a larger encampment, which consists of ten to fifteen tents. In that safe place you research touch, the proximity of others and loneliness. A coach of The100Hands guides you past the different assignments, which vary from thought processes to physical work. Are you all alone? No, it’s more like you’re together at a safe distance, and headphones and microphones offer the exiting opportunity to react to each other.

Reflect on the importance of touch
Jasper Džuki Jelen of The100Hands, which previously performed at Boulevard with 25Feet and Show Me: “We make physical and interactive theater in which the audience is a participant, always. That goes for TENT& as well. On the one hand it’s an active kind of research. On the other hand it’s a mini vacation in your own town, now that many people cannot or do not want to go on their holidays.” He expects TENT& to attract a curious kind of audience. “People who like discovering things. People who come into contact with theater a lot, or people who don’t at all.”

One thing is certain: in 2020 physical contact is no longer self-evident. Covid-19 disrupts and destabilizes the degree of our physicality. “The past months have confronted us rather strongly with distance. At birthday parties and graduations, as well as at funerals. And this has a big influence on us, because touch and physical proximity are fundamental to our health,” says Jasper, choreographer and dancer who is also studying Somatic Experience. “In that sense we hope that TENT& will let you reflect on the importance of touch.”

Concept and performance
Jasper Džuki Jelen and Mojra Vogelnik Škerlj

Composition
Arthur van der Kuip

Design/costumes
Esther Sloots

Dates, locations and reservations
TENT&go - 15 min. version (location Wilhelminaplein, FREE: just pop by):
Thurs. 6 & Fri. 7 Aug  2 p.m. – 7 p.m. (try out)
Sat. 8 through Sun. 16 Aug  1 p.m. – 9 p.m.

TENT&retreat – 1.5 hour version (location, Bastion Sint Antonie, FREE: obtain a free ticket):
Fri. 7 Aug 8 p.m.
Sat. 8 Aug 4.30 p.m.
Sun. 9 Aug 9 a.m. & 4.30 p.m.
Mon. 10 Aug  8 p.m.
Wed. 12 Aug 8 p.m.
Thurs. 13 Aug  8 p.m.
Fri. 14 Aug 8 p.m.
Sat. 15 Aug  9 a.m. & 4.30 p.m.
Sun. 16 Aug  9 a.m.