August 16, 2024 | Theatre,

Welcoming Ontroerend Goed to ArtsEmerson!

ArtsEmerson is thrilled to welcome Belgium’s Ontroerend Goed to the Robert J. Orchard Stage from September 20-21 for their interactive performance of Fight Night!

Ontroerend Goed was founded in Ghent, under artistic leadership of Alexander Devriendt. Devriendt’s productions and past plays have been shown and included at exclusive events throughout the world in cities including Shanghai, Edinburgh, and throughout the United States. The group has a history of creating works that involve society, and human existence, utilizing the power of the audience with immersive techniques and other modes to engage.

Ontoerend Goed translates into English as “Feel Estate,”  which embodies the commitment the group has to produce work that connects to viewers. International recognition took off during the production “The Smile Off Your Face,” which premiered at the Edinburg Fringe Festival in 2007. The show was remade in 2022 after Covid, making the production connect with post-pandemic lives where anxieties were high around hospitalizations and being in close contact with others. The show was put to life through various disciplines including video and audience interactions.

Their latest show, Fight Night, is a one of a kind production that engages with audiences around themes of democracy. Through a series of guided prompts and questions, the show takes audiences on a journey to choose the best political candidate and as each round progresses, the audience gains more information about each candidate to help inform their ultimate vote.

Fight Night has been performed over 450 times around the world, but the show’s content has remained the same. One of the show’s writers, Angelo Tijssens, co-wrote Close, which was nominated for an Oscar for best foreign film.

Ontroerend Goed previously toured in the United States in 2023 with Are we not drawn onward to new erA, a palindromic performance about climate change and the state of the world.

Tickets for this must-see show are now on sale, both as individual tickets and within ticket packages. Do not miss your chance to see Ontroerend Goed’s exciting debut in Boston at the Emerson Paramount Center!