At the core of THE WOMAN DESTROYED lies a psychological tension – the paradox of women consuming true crime, not out of voyeurism or for leisurely purposes but as a means of self-education; a way to stay alert, to prepare for the worst, to anticipate harm in a world where danger is often intimate and unpredictable.
Courtney explores a shifting terrain between submission and resistance, and invites the audience to inhabit a state of uncertainty with her; events unfold in real time as she responds to the unpredictable demands of a live digital system.
Powered by sound programming and computational linguistics, the system influences the performance moment to moment, forcing Courtney into a heightened state of responsiveness. This algorithmic presence becomes both adversary and partner, mirroring the invisible systems that shape behaviour, constrain choice, and blur the line between autonomy and coercion. A charged atmosphere emerges in which vigilance becomes an oppressive survival strategy. Through the friction between body and code, between control and surrender, the work opens up urgent questions – What does it mean to be prepared? Where does safety begin and who defines it? In navigating these questions, Courtney exposes the emotional and psychological labour of navigating systems, seen and unseen, that ask women to be constantly aware, constantly calculating, constantly on guard.
THE WOMAN DESTROYED was awarded De Troffel Prijs 2020, Festival Cement’s incentive prize for young makers, and nominated for the Roel Verniers Prijs of Het Theater Festival Belgium.
No upcoming shows
16.09.2022
Grand Theater
Groningen (NL)
14.08.2022
Festival Cement X Theaterfestival Boulevard - Theater Artemis
Den Bosch (NL)
13.08.2022
Festival Cement X Theaterfestival Boulevard - Theater Artemis
Den Bosch (NL)
12.08.2022
Festival Cement X Theaterfestival Boulevard - Theater Artemis
Den Bosch (NL)
02.06.2022
CAMPO
Ghent (BE)
Belgian premiere
01.06.2022
Arnhem Stadstheater
Arnhem(NL)
*Moving Futures Festival
05.05.2022
De Vlugt
Amsterdam (NL)
*Moving Futures Festival
03.05.2022
PandP
Eindhoven (NL)
28.04.2022
Theater Rotterdam
Rotterdam (BL)
*Moving Futures Festival
20.04.2022
Theater Kikker
Utrecht (NL)
*Moving Futures Festival
07.04.2022
Frascati 2
Amsterdam (NL)
“THE WOMAN DESTROYED opens with an everyday nightmare scenario. In a staccato voice-over, creator and performer Courtney May Robertson sketches the situation: a woman is sunbathing naked on her roof terrace when suddenly a drone flies over. It is a non-punishable violation of her bodily autonomy, so what can you do about it?..
..No more nude sunbathing from now on? It is a striking example of the countless ways in which women in public spaces are forced to adjust their behaviour because of (the danger of) transgressive behaviour and sexual violence.”
Theaterkrant – Marijn Lems
CONCEPT, CHOREOGRAPHY AND PERFORMANCE Courtney May Robertson
SOUND DESIGN AND SOUND PROGRAMMING Elisa Batti
LIGHT DESIGN AND TECHNICAL DIRECTOR Loes Schakenbos
SOFTWARE DEVELOPERS Elisa Batti, Aleksandar Koruga
DRAMATURGY Lara van Lookeren, Merel Heering
TOUR TECHNICIANS Janine de Weerd, Manuel Boutreur
COSTUME MAISON the FAUX
VIDEO DESIGN Tharim Cornelisse
GRAPHIC DESIGN Bas de Geus
3D SCAN Jonathan Reus, Cybil Scott
SPECIAL THANKS Jan Martens, Klaartje Oerlemans, Milou van Duijnhoven
CO-PRODUCED BY Dansateliers Rotterdam, ICK Artist Space
SUPPORTED BY Dans Brabant, Tilburg, CAMPO, Grand Theatre Groningen
FINANCIALLY SUPPORTED BY Stimuleringsfonds, Gemeente Rotterdam, NORMA Fonds
