The new summer show by theatre group YoungGangsters is called The Poverty Peepshow. Poverty presented as a Disneyworld attraction park: a milliondollar ride you’ll never forget!
Many reality programmes on Dutch TV programmes like Een dubbeltje op z’n kant, Steenrijk straatarm and Uitstel van executie, to name but a few deal with poverty. They’re known as “poverty porn”, because rather than dealing with the social causes of poverty, they pander to viewers’ voyeurism, by showing juicy exaggerations of personal dramas. The Poverty Peepshow by theatregroup YoungGangsters makes use of the same mechanism: peddling the appeal of poverty.
These TV programmes reinforce the existing cliché images of poverty. In the homes of poor residents, you always see explicit shots of full ashtrays, pets and widescreen TVs, suggesting that these people spend their money on unnecessary luxuries and lead an unhealthy life. In other words, that it’s their own fault they’ve ended up in difficulties’.
Cast & crew
concept & direction > Annechien de Vocht
actors > Susannah Elmecky, Barry Emond, Linda Lugtenborg, Rutger Remkes
text > Michael Bijnens
dramaturgy > Marijn van der Jagt
sound design > Tjalling Schrik en Jeroen Roelofsen
set design > Ruben Wijnstok
costume design > Elian Smits en Eva Krammer
technician > Rik van der Veen
financial director > Tamara Keasberry
production > ‘n More productions
publicity > Lonneke van Eden
campaign photo > Casper Koster
campaign design > Esther de Boer
scene photos > Bart Grietens
thanks to > Stella de Swart, Esther Lagendijk, Emiel Martens en Wouter Oomen van expertise centre Humanitian communication, Maurice Danel, Els Annegarn, Simone van Dijk en Stichting Doras. YoungGangsters wordt structureel ondersteund door Fonds Podiumkunsten en Amsterdams Fonds voor de Kunst. The Poverty Peepshow is mede mogelijk gemaakt door Fonds21.
DATES & tickets (2022)
