The Storm

contact Gonzo is from Osaka and is known for its physical, boundary-pushing performances. The Storm is a project the collective launched in 2023. In it, the creators explore how to evoke the waves of the ocean in a theater space using only their bodies and voices, without instruments or sound equipment. Through their bodies and voices, the performers convey the power and movement of nature.

For The Storm, contact Gonzo is collaborating with a group of residents from Utrecht. Prior to the performances, this group participates in a three-day workshop focused on voice, movement, and connecting with others. The workshop participants then become the performers: together with contact Gonzo, they bring *The Storm* to life during the performances.

contact Gonzo opens each performance evening with a conversation with a local researcher in oceanography. On November 27, contact Gonzo will be in conversation with Erik van Sebille (Professor in Oceanography and Public Engagement), who will address the ocean and its relationship to climate through the lens of physical science. How can we better understand the forces and movements of the ocean, and what can they teach us about living in a changing world?

On November 28, Mikki Stelder (Researcher, educator, and writer exploring oceans, among other subjects) will guide us through a cultural exploration of our relationship with the ocean. How do we imagine and talk about the sea, and how have these narratives been shaped by history? Drawing on Dutch maritime history, we will approach these questions through critical, decolonial, and queer perspectives.

This project is a collaboration between contact Gonzo, SPRING, and Het Wilde Westen.

Tickets available via Het Wilde Westen.