In the Middle of Nowhere

Why is the middle of the train always fuller than at the ends?
Is the middle of the herd the safest place for every herd animal?
Where does the average person live?
How do you determine the middle of the ocean?
What is the middle of infinity?

In In the Middle of Nowhere Kristien De Proost and the Brazilian Frederico Araujo focus on the paradox of the middle: how people want to belong to others and at the same time stand out from them. In a world increasingly governed by data, standards and averages, the theme is more relevant than ever.

It is a performance in which going along with the majority makes life easier.
In which popular songs become more popular because they are popular.
In which more and more people watch fewer and fewer YouTube videos.
In which people prefer to give the power to people who look like them.
Where critical thinking is purely economically loss-making because it demands computing power from the brain and eats up more energy than it brings in.
In which the middle goes astray as the edges change.
In which everything starts to move.

Is the middle synonymous with the norm? With uniformity? Is it radically opposed to nuance and variety? From their different backgrounds on both sides of the Atlantic, De Proost and Araujo reflect on the theme. The more they try to map out where the middle lies, the more infinite everything around it seems to be.

Premiere: Sept 28 2022 at CAMPO Ghent

In Dutch / 70 minutes

zoom Kristien & Fred.m4v from CAMPO on Vimeo.

press

Do you also sometimes think the equator runs through your ass? You are not alone, soothe Kristien De Proost and Frederico Araujo. Believing oneself to be the centre of things is human nature, albeit a little more Western. In the Middle of Nowhere rattles that limited perspective.

De Morgen - Evelyne Coussens, 03-10-22

The research underpinning this performance is impressive, the secure elaboration is thoughtful. The enjoyment of the play is clear. And the 'message' crystal clear

Knack Focus - Els Van Steenberghe, 06-10-22

In the middle of nowhere is both a stimulating thought exercise and a physical and verbal balancing act

De Standaard - Gilles Michiels, 03-10-22

Theatre-makers Kristien De Proost and Frederico Araujo don't leave it in the middle.

BRUZZ - Michaël Bellon, 05-10-22

In the Middle of Nowhere is a playful and layered performance that places a critical note on what we see as the middle and the average.

e-tcetera.be - Jasper Delva (SPOILER ALERT!), 05-10-22

Theatre-maker Kristien De Proost and her Brazilian colleague Frederico Araujo explore the strange human tendency to want to belong, to be average while also wanting to stand out

Radio piece Espresso (Klara), 28-09-22

credits

with Frederico Araujo & Kristien De Proost text Kristien De Proost scenography & costumes Marie Szersnovicz lighting design Ezra Veldhuis music Benjamin Dousselaere dramaturgy & outside eye Sara Vanderieck technique Babette Poncelet production CAMPO co-production Perpodium with the support of De Grote Post & the tax shelter of the Belgian Federal Government via Cronos Invest