ALABAMA

Fien Leysen, 2024

In ALABAMA, Fien Leysen follows in the footsteps of her late father, reporter Kris Leysen. In 1978, on assignment for the Belgian public broadcasting company, he visited Birmingham, Alabama. He talked to young people about work and studies, about pursuing the American dream, and about the gap between rich and poor. On his first night in Alabama, Kris Leysen was immediately – and unexpectedly – named deputy sheriff. An idea of the local sheriff, so that the people in the town would trust him. Forty-five years later, Fien, now the same age as her father at the time, is travelling to Alabama. She wants to find the students and the sheriff from 1978 and revisit the town and its people. In Birmingham, she asks the questions her father left open and hopes to find answers there herself.

Together with musician Steven De bruyn, Fien shares video footage on stage from then and now, and the result of her quest. A performance about the passing of time and different stages of loss.

A production by Fien Leysen/BERLIN in coproduction with theater arsenaal

Press quotes

‘By cleverly dosing humour with poignancy, she strikes a sensitive chord. A disarming road trip … supported by wonderful music by harmonica player and all-round musician Steven De bruyn.’

— Nina Dillen, De Tijd, 02.02.2024 (in Dutch)

tour dates

07.08.24

verkadefabriek Den Bosch ^NLtheaterfestival boulevard

NL premiere

08.08.24

verkadefabriek Den Bosch ^NLtheaterfestival boulevard

09.08.24

verkadefabriek Den Bosch ^NLtheaterfestival boulevard

10.08.24

verkadefabriek Den Bosch ^NLtheaterfestival boulevard

11.08.24

verkadefabriek Den Bosch ^NLtheaterfestival boulevard

18.09.24

chassé theater Breda ^NL

25.09.24

cc strombeek Strombeek-Bever ^BE

05.10.24

cc het perron Ieper ^BE

09.10.24

spot Groningen ^NL

11.10.24

cc de schakel Waregem ^BE

18.10.24

cc lokeren Lokeren ^BE

24.10.24

gc de kluize Oosterzele ^BE

08.11.24

cc ter dilft Bornem ^BE

04.12.24

theater aan de noordkade / blauwe kei Veghel ^NL

12.12.24

cc gildhof Tielt ^BE

13.12.24

cc 't blikveld Bonheiden ^BE

22.03.24

het gasthuis Aarschot ^BE

21.03.24

cc muze Heusden-Zolder ^BE

16.03.24

emotia Erpe-Mere ^BE

13.03.24

cc maasmechelen Maasmechelen ^BE

11.03.24

de bogaard Sint-Truiden ^BE

08.03.24

de klap Deurne ^BE

02.03.24

cc ter vesten Beveren ^BE

01.03.24

cc de werf Aalst ^BE

29.02.24

cc de adelberg Lommel ^BE

27.02.24

c o r s o Berchem ^BE

20.02.24

cc hasselt Hasselt ^BE

10.02.24

theater arsenaal Mechelen ^BE

09.02.24

theater arsenaal Mechelen ^BE

08.02.24

theater arsenaal Mechelen ^BE

06.02.24

theater arsenaal Mechelen ^BE

School

03.02.24

theater arsenaal Mechelen ^BE

02.02.24

theater arsenaal Mechelen ^BE

01.02.24

theater arsenaal Mechelen ^BE

Press

How a BRT reporter became ‘deputy sheriff’ in Alabama: theatre-maker Fien Leysen retraces her father’s journey 45 years later

— Kristien Bonneure, VRT NWS, 01.02.2024

‘Alabama’, a disarming road trip

— Nina Dillen, De Tijd, 02.02.2024

Actress Fien Leysen and musician Steven De bruyn treat viewers to a tender theatrical trip to ‘Alabama'

— Els Van Steenberghe, Knack Focus, 07.02.2024

Was Fien Leysen's father once deputy sheriff in Alabama?

— Tuur Devens, Theaterkrant, 22.02.2024

Credits

direction, text, video, performance

Fien Leysen

musical composition, live music

Steven De bruyn

artistic and technical support usa

Claire Hoofwijk

camera

Claire Hoofwijk, Fien Leysen

dramaturgy

Willem De Maeseneer

outside eye

Yves Degryse

scenography and set construction

Manu Siebens

stage decorator

Ina Peeters

sound design

Arnold Bastiaanse

final mix sound film

Peter Van Laerhoven

sound technician

Arthur De Vuyst

lighting design

Jannes Dierynck, Marjolein Demey

research

Fien Leysen, Jessica Ridderhof, Sam Loncke

video support

Raf Willems, Jannes Dierynck, Geert De Vleesschauwer

production management and prop master

Jessica Ridderhof

techical direction and tour management

Marjolein Demey

touring technicians

Jannes Dierynck, Arthur De Vuyst

freelance touring technicians

Koen Goossens, Hans De Prins

interviewees

Bruno Ronsmans, S. Wideman, Tone Rødseth Bjelland, Florence Delaporte, John Morse, Drew Taylor, Lewis Shannon, Brian Rice, Peyton Grant, José Perry, captain John Mayes, Matthew Barnes, Christopher Davis, Andre Brown, Lisa McNair, , Jamal, Karalyn Harper, Tom & Valerie Pankey, Donald Carmichael, Mary Alice Beatty, Ashley Carmichael, Tony Powers, Don Veasey, Catherine Champion, sheriff Mark Pettway, Jacques Servaes, Michel van Laer, Lieve Demerre, Riet De Prins, Jan Dewinter

production aid

Jane Seynaeve

distribution

Huub Colla/Collage Producties (seizoen 23/24), Eveline Martens/BERLIN

business management

Tine Verhaert

business support

Dagmar Renders

office management

Maya Van der Brempt

communications

Sam Loncke

photography

Koen Broos

graphic design

Nick Mattan

translations

Isabelle Grynberg, Patrick Lennon, Fien Leysen

video registration

Jan Bosteels/Beeldstorm

trailer and teasers

Fien Leysen

video portrait fien

Robin Stevens

production

BERLIN

coproduction

theater arsenaal (Mechelen, BE), Theaterfestival Boulevard (Den Bosch, NL), Het Laatste Bedrijf (BE)

with the support of

the Flemish Government, Tax Shelter of the Belgian federal government, Gallop Tax Shelter, deAuteurs

thanks

VRT Archief, VRT, team theater arsenaal, Serge Jonnaert, Phara De Aguirre, Nic Balthazar, Liebie Wellens, Thidrek Van Grunderbeeck, Katrien Everaert, Tim De Canck, Linda De Leeuw, Sarah Bal, Bas de Caluwé, Joni Money, Austin Franklin, Paula Ross, Edward Feeley, Andy Urban, Truus Lostrie, Ron Holly, Jack Gray, Emma Lesuis, Ruth Lodder, Sam Hoeck, Adriaan Severins, De Floeren Aap, Karine Vandaele

duration

80 min.