Quintessence › Transquinquennal

Quintessence is a novel that Philippe Blasband wrote more or less as an offshoot of the history of Transquinquennial. Everything in it is referential, one might say, but the doubt is permanent. Perhaps it is a new kind of literary “biopic-fiction”, which uses real elements to establish other fantastical ones.

Whatever the references may be, what emerges is a Blasband-like story, populated by a host of colourful characters in the theatrical Brussels of the ’90s, with a good dose of humour and a tenderness that is obviously a little nostalgic, but not only that.

Transquinquennal has adapted it into a radio play, which has be performed live in Théâtre le Rideau in Brussels on 4, 5 and 6 March 2022. The recordings are broadcasted on RTBF La Première on 5, 12 and 19 September 2022.

They are also audible on the digital platform Auvio.

Part 1

Episode 1

Episode 2

Episode 3

Part 2

Episode 1

Episode 2

Episode 3

Part 3

Episode 1

Episode 2

Episode 3

Credits

Based upon the novel Quintessence by Philippe Blasband

With Lula Béry, Bernard Breuse, Coraline Clément, Kristien De Proost, Miguel Decleire, Nicolas Delalieux, Guy Dermul, Assiya El Mhaier, Bernard Eylenbosch, Bernard Graczyk, Catherine Graindorge, Abdelmalek Kadi, Blaise Ludik, Emilie Maréchal, Francesco Mormino, Stéphane Olivier, Bwanga Pili Pili, Pietro Pizzuti, Jean-Baptiste Polge, David Quertigniez, Dominique Roodthooft, Pierre Sartenaer, Emma Seine, Mieke Verdin, Peter Vandenbempt, Béatrice Wegnez, Nathalie Willame.

Direction : Transquinquennal

Adaptation for theater : Bernard Breuse

Sound creation : Zoé Suliko

Sound engineer : Matthieu Charray

Advisor sound : Raymond Delepierre

Artistic advisor : Cathy Min Jung

Technical direction : Nelly Framinet

Assistant : Ségolène Neyroud

Production : Transquinquennal

In coproduction with : Théâtre Le Rideau, La Coop asbl

With the support of : Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles / Service Théâtre, Shelterprod, Taxshelter.be, ING and Tax-Shelter du gouvernement fédéral belge

Photo (c) Céline Renchon