KMSKA LATE - Mayken by Veroline Vanderbeek

During KMSKA LAAT, the museal version of Mayken will premiere, a musical theatre production by Veroline Vanderbeek and Abel Baeck.

Mayken takes its cue from the forgotten story of Mayken Verhulst, matriarch of the Brueghel family and one of the greatest female artists of the 16th century. All her own paintings and miniatures have been lost. The performance depicts the absence of women in history and all the emotions that such a void entails.

In this museum-based performance, Mayken appears as a hybrid figure, aware of her disappearance from history. From this vantage point, she speaks, sings and shouts a contemporary confession set to electronic music. The theatre performance forms a diptych with the ‘white cube’ presentation for museums, thereby granting ‘Mayken’ a place in the museum five centuries later.

‘uw moeder schildert verkoopt publiceert tekent schetst produceert
uw moeder is een vakvrouw
een businesswoman
een kunstenares of beter een kunstenaar
mayken
een man wordt ge
een vrouw zijt ge
als ge enkel bij het zijn blijft
dan gebeurt er niets’

About the actors

Veroline Vanderbeek holds a Master’s degree in Acting from the Antwerp Conservatoire and a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from KU Leuven. She has created and performed in the following productions: ‘Het groeien van de bomen’ (Monty, nona arts centre), ‘ROGGBIV’ (hetpaleis) and ‘How would you like your coffee, Sir?’ (Kavka summer studios). She has also appeared in works by Barbara T’Jonck, Myriam Van Imschoot and SOCHA. She is active in film as well and will soon be appearing in ‘Omhelzing op de Eiermarkt’ by Pieter Solta.

Abel Baeck holds a Master’s degree in music composition from the Antwerp Conservatoire. His work is multifaceted: ranging from classical ensemble music and theatre projects, which he releases under his own name, to electronic dance music, which he releases under the stage name NO LABEL. Since 2023, he has been working closely with the SOCHA collective. He has composed and performed in productions including ‘Hannibal’ (KVS, Teatre Nacional de Catalunya) and ‘Burning City’ (hetpaleis, KVS, De Warande, cc Kortrijk, cc De Factorij).

Credits

Concept, text & performance
Veroline Vanderbeek

Composition, music & performance
Abel Baeck

Vocal coaching & sound engineering
Athal Melchior Vervliet

Dramaturgy
Elisa Demarré

Performance coaching
Kato Cornil

Technical dramaturgy
Gertjan Biasino

Set design
Eurudike De Beul

Costumes
Lena Mariën

Historical consultancy
Leen Huet

Lighting design & technical direction
Erro Rasker

Outside eye
Rudi Laermans

Production management, business administration & scheduling
Eline Dewaele

Production
Bibiana vzw

With the support of the Flemish Government, deAuteurs and the City of Leuven, in collaboration with Tristero, M Leuven, Kunstenwerkplaats Brussels, KVS, De Grote Post, Museum Dr Guislain and CC Brasschaat, with thanks to RADAR Mechelen and Begga Festival.