“One never escapes the economy of war” (J. Derrida) 

The world commemorates the start of World War I… of course, one can barely imagine how it must have been… mind-blowing. Luckily, the war ended! Or did it? Wasn’t there an update called World War II and another one called The Cold War? And what about Star Wars and Call of Duty? And that other game, the so-called War on Terror?

What’s next? The battlefield has travelled from where the concrete action takes place to the theatre of the mind… War strategies are being utilized in corporate business, marketing and politics. Spam-faced-zombies and bot militias colonize the private sphere. The whole life has turned into a battlefield on which fears need to be managed and exploited.

The Great Warmachine updates perspectives on the current economy of warfare. Covered with pixelcamouflage, and informed by 3D printed history it attempts to lock and load for the future with the wrestling spirit of the deserter. 

Text and direction
Joachim Robbrecht

With
Aitana Cordero, Tashi Iwaoka, Louis van der Waal 

Dramaturgy
Nina Aalders

Advice
Bruno Listopad

Set design
Jan Brokof

Costume design
Rebekka Wörmann

Light design
André Goos

Sound design
Stefan Schneider

Management
Denise Harleman

Marketing
Christel van Schagen

Production manager
Lique van Gerven

Technicians
Aram Visser and Hamza Ghzili

Technical preparation
Aram Visser, André Goos, Peter Swikker

Thanks to Julie Vegter, Kees van Leeuwen, J.F Hartle, Anika Schwarzlose, Nienke Terpsma, Sarah Moeremans and Tijmen Hauer.

With the financial support of Gemeente Rotterdam, Amsterdams Fonds voor de Kunst, Fonds 21, Stichting Ammodo, Fonds Podiumkunsten, Prins Bernard Cultuurfonds and van Lange fonds.