UP YOUR ASS
In collaboration with Lieselot Siddiki, Up Your Ass the notorious 1965 comedy by American writer and radical-feminist author Valerie Solanas, was staged for the first time in Europe.
New York, the Sixties. The protagonist Bongi Perez — a stand-in for Solanas herself — is a foul-mouthed con artist and sex worker. She hangs around the streets with a whole cast of eccentric figures, filling her days with vulgar diatribes, freeloading and hitting on women passers-by.
When she meets Ginger and Russel — a daddy's girl and a male narcissist — a chain of absurd (anti-)intellectual arguments about the state of society erupts at once. Bongi, Ginger and Russel shamelessly spit their convictions at one another — with unthinkable and grotesque situations as the result.
Valerie Solanas is best known today for her attempt on Andy Warhol's life, but her literary legacy comprises important radical-feminist works, such as the SCUM Manifesto and Up Your Ass. After Andy Warhol refused to produce Up Your Ass, Solanas tried to shoot him.
Nona and Lieselot came into close contact with Solanas' last living relative and were the first to be granted permission to stage Up Your Ass in Europe.
Trigger warning: The performance contains nudity / sexual acts / verbal and physical aggression / misogyny / weapons / blood.
IN ENGLISH WITH DUTCH SURTITLES
PERFORMANCE DATES
8–9–10 Nov 2023 – Ghent, CAMPO (premiere)
5–6 Mar 2024 – Ghent, CAMPO
27 Apr 2024 – Munich, Radikal Jung
4 May 2024 – Antwerp, De Studio
5 May 2024 – Antwerp, De Studio
7 May 2024 – Genk, C-mine
10 May 2024 – Ostend, De Grote Post
11 Jun 2024 – Leuven, 30CC
1 Aug 2024 – Ostend, Theater Aan Zee
15 Sep 2024 – Het TheaterFestival
18 Oct 2024 – Brussels, KVS
19 Oct 2024 – Brussels, KVS
24 May 2025 – Aarschot
26 May 2025 – Aalst, CC De Werf
28 May 2025 – Wilrijk, CC De Kern
30 May 2025 – Beveren, CC Ter Vesten
31 May 2025 – Tielt, Theater Malpertuis
12–24 Aug 2025 – Edinburgh, ZOO Southside Fringe Festival
PRESS
Horny, violent, magnificent theatre.
★★★★★ De Morgen
The most sensual, shocking and free-spirited production of the year is called Up Your Ass.
★★★★☆ Knack
…a tour de force in substance.
Etcetera
A rollercoaster — gloriously over-the-top, rock 'n' roll, in your face.
Jury quote, Het TheaterFestival
Young makers who stand out!
De Theaterkrant
SELECTIONS
Het TheaterFestival 2024
Winner of the Acting Award Ensemble Category
Radikal Jung, Festival für junge Regie am Münchner Volkstheater, Munich
Edinburgh Festival Fringe
Nominated as one of the best productions of 2023 — De Morgen
CREDITS
by Nona Demey Gallagher & Lieselot Siddiki
with Sophia Bauer, Bavo Buys, Lucie Plasschaert & Lucas Van Der Vegt
direction Nona Demey Gallagher
set design Eva Demulder & Lieselot Siddiki
text Valerie Solanas
text adaptation Nona Demey Gallagher
translation Benjamin De Roover
music Bart Demey & Tania Gallagher (Nid & Sancy)
jailbait Nona Demey Gallagher & Lieselot Siddiki
technique Kato Stevens, Margy Regniers & Geeraard Respeel
lighting design Kato Stevens
set construction Margy Regniers
costume Lieselot Siddiki
stage costume Feiran Zhang
outside eye Rodrigo Batista
wigs Tibau Beirnaert
production management Jarne Van Loon
executive producer detheatermaker
co-production CAMPO, Kunstenwerkplaats vzw, De Grote Post, C-Mine & De Studio
with the support of Café VenTura, Sabam for Culture & the Flemish Government
with thanks to Gouvernement, Karen L.B., Nelleke Janssen
