Program booklet The Valley of the Druves

The Valley of the Druves

WE HAVE SOMETHING TO OFFER

At Van Hall Larenstein we have something to offer. We provide relevant and good educational programmes but also an atmosphere of cooperation between international and Dutch students and staff, working as a team in a creative and surprising setting.

You are about to witness something very spectacular: the opera-like production "The Valley of the Druves". An opera developed by students and staff of Van Hall Larenstein University of Professional Education. You will be surprised by the professionalism of the performance, the beautiful costumes, the music and the dedication and involvement of the students and staff. Please witness their enthusiasm and support them with your applause.

Enjoy the show!

Geartsje Oosterhof Programme Director Van Hall Larenstein Wageningen.

ITS ABOUT ENERGY AND GOOD SPIRITS

The Valley of the Druves is a Participatory Opera Project that emerged from the ambition to celebrate our 'new start' in the Forumbuildingin Wageningenwithajoint effort of the staff and students of VHL/WUR and the general Wageningen population.

In the tradition of community art, a dynamic opera has come to see the light with around 100 people engaged in acting, playing music, singing, horse riding, costume design and all other activities that are needed to realize such a production. Their tireless efforts during the spring and summer of 2007 build on the first libretto that was written by the international student group of the TREAT master course and lead up to the breathtaking première during the grand opening of the Forum Building.

The process of creating the Opera has been an exciting and rewarding way of shaping the colla-

boration between two universities and between the university and its surrounding communities. We expect this opera project to reflect the cultural diversity of these communities. In the opera we can speak a shared language of music, theatre and dance! We wish to show the energy and good spirits of all engaged in the project and of course we simply hope you will enjoy the performance!

Loes Witteveen and Ivonne de Moor

VHL lecturers and Opera Project directors

THE VALLEY OF THE DRUVES SYNOPSIS

The Druves, a peaceful, yet heroic tribe living in the Valley of the Druves in a place called Wageningen are dedicated to their farming way of life. Year after year they till and plough the soil with fear in their hearts for the Kanero's, their eternal enemies.

The story of the Druves vividly illustrates the contrasting philosophies of ploughing and tilling versus greed and destruction; hard working Druves who are fighting the elements versus the near conquest by the invaders. War, blood and flickering hate cannot resolve the problems of the Druves. Will the lovely Rose help them to fight back the Kanero's or will the Divine power come to their rescue? What interventions will bring life back to spring?

ACT ONE The creation of the valley

ACT TWO The Druves in full swing

ACT THREE The night

ACT FOUR Questions and answers

ACT FIVE Revenge

MUSIC AND LYRICS

CREATOR

Music by Jos Zandvliet

Lyrics based on a poem by

Deepak Bahadur Pyakurel

Fire in the dark

One big bang to mark

Fire in the dark

It's a dream

With power from above

The people whisper love

Whisper love

Creation in the air

The gods are everywhere

They got the key

To grow a tree

Fruits for you and me

Wild wind moves the could

Sky is screaming loud

Wild wind moves the cloud

Earth is feeding roots

Sharing all the goods

Earth is feeding roots

Water in a drop

Green is growing up

Water in a drop

PARADISE BIRDS

Music by Jos Zandvliet

Lyrics based on a poem by Todini Marecha

Our life is bright and pretty

All creatures are big and miniscule By miracle he made Harmony, Harmony, Harmony, Harmony

After planting after sowing With sunshine the beauty's growing In the trees birds are singing And all happy bells are ringing

HOPE AND HAPPINESS

Music by Jos Zandvliet

Lyrics based on a poem by Jocelyn M. Concepcion

Day has overcome the night

All the colours shining bright Share it with a friend

Hold each others hand Hold each other very tight

Moved

We are dancing to the groove It's a better day And we'll always stay In the valley of the Druves

We're excited we are chubala chubalalala

chubala chubalo

chubala chubalalala

chubala chubalo

lines and circles cross the moon children singing to the tune march together hand in hand to the rhythm of the band

CAST & CREW

PRODUCTION

Music Ivonne de Moor, Jos Zandvliet, Theatre Septimia Kuhlmann, Loes Witteveen

Equine management Nadja Fischer, Martine van Tilburg, Light, sound and settings Rolf Marteijn

Costumes, make up Greta van Beek

Graphics Loes ten Anscher, Ingrid de Vries

General support Linda Haan, Ria Meurs, Birgit van der Veken

CAST

Rose Bryndis Perdijk

Raja Ali Muchammudum

Divine Power Todini Marecha

Zing Innocent Busindi

Long Shyaka Gakuba

Long understudy Deepak Pyakurel

Druve Children Peter van Buiten, Kelly van Buiten, Hidde Deelstra, Jurre Deelstra, Marije Deelstra

Druve Grandmothers Mary Adu Kumi, Maartje Stam

General Druves Gloria Adukonu, Jocelyn Concepcion, Philaphan Khoksiamnuay, Gerrit van der Linde, Racheal Namuli, Catherine Nyaga, Ozitiru Paricia, James Rodrigo, Druve Dancers Amornrat Changkwian, Arlene Joaquin, Sovattha Neou, Rachana Rasaily, Samorn Soseepa

Kanero Children Gijs Bekkers, Amerens Bekkers, Diego Payán Witteveen

Kanero Warriors Sylvie Beekman, Lennart Denkhaus, Nurdahalia Lairing, Thessa Mobach, Bas Tinhout, Wilg van der Wal

Kanero Horse Riders Nelson Duijvestijn, Lichelle van Engelen, Silvia Noordman, Evelien Rijnhout, Dominique Rippe, Monique in 't Veer, Marijke Verbiest

Orchestra

Director Jos Zandvliet

Director september 8th Peter de Boer

Bass Tuba Martijn Pepping

Clarinet Vit Kohout, Ivonne de Moor, Flute Lianne Duijs, Nicolien Overbeek

Guitar Anuchit Numsri, Dirk Zandvliet

Percussion Sam Soekhram

Saxophone Nadia Inderfurth, Leen Moraal, Jeroen Sluijsmans

Trombone Alfons Hoitink

Trumpet Judith van den Broek, Frans Zoon

Choir:

Female Voices Janna Barel, Fauzia Haji, Lyda de Jong, Abeltje Diepersloot, Stefanie de Groot, Krista Jansen, Theresia Kamphuys, Margreet van Kuijk, Gerda Makop, Anneke Meijer, Ivonne van Prehn Wiese, Juliette Stout, Annemarie Zijlmans

Male Voices Abuto Bejigo, Christoph Alink, Jan Burema, Ronald Essenstam, Johan Kamphuys, Gjalt van der Kooi, Emiel van Leeuwen, Steef van Oers, Albert van Prehn Wiese, Ad Tiemens, Marco Verschuur, Ayichalim Goshu-Zewdie

Stagehands

Bruno Ligthart, Sjef Moling, Judith Risse, Saskia Vermij

Thanks to

Adelien van Beek, Choir Tarantella Ede, Annie Deelstra, Foundation Art, Community & Culture ACCU, Bas Eman, Boukje de Gooijer, CvB Van Hall Larenstein, Martin Jansen, HP Lagerwerf, Kleis Oenema, Geartsje Oosterhof, Ubo Pakes, Milán Payán Witteveen, Proefbedrijf De Ossekampen, Ard van Rijn, Elisa Salentijn, The Tinker Horses, Unifarm Wageningen, Tom Wiggers, Sanne van Wijk, King Wullur

Sponsored by Supercoop Biologisch

Gamma Wageningen

Natuurboerderij Veld & Beek, zuivel en vlees

Het Masker, sportprijzen en feestartikelen

The Valley of the Druves is not just fun to see, but it is fun to be part of.

Rachana Rasaily, Nepal, student, Van Hall Larenstein Wageningen

This Opera project is our vehicle for the expression of emotions and ideas, a means for exploring and appreciating formal elements for their own sake.

Nurdahalia Lairing, Indonesia, student, Van Hall Larenstein Wageningen

Initially, I did not want to join this opera project because I did not want it to disturb my study. But one day I passed by while other students were doing the performance, then I found that it was very interesting and relaxed from my study. I decided to join them. Being a Druve and a Thai dancer, I've got so much fun especially I am proud to show my Asian traditional Dance.

Neou Sovattha, Cambodia, student, Van Hall Larenstein Wageningen

There are rumours about my tribe that they hate us! Have they forgotten that we cannot grow any crops in the mountains? We have to steal from the Druves now that they went to live there. They stole our valley!

Wilg van der Wal, the Netherlands, student Van Hall Larenstein Velp

It is next to impossible to combine my 'normal' job with my opera 'job' where we still have to finalise the impregnation of props, inflate the second harvest tree and organise the paddocks for the horses and oxes. But it's fun and with my crew members we'll make sure to get it all ready before the premiere.

Rolf Marteijn, Programme director Nutrition & Health, Educational institute Wageningen University

When I started designing the costumes for this intriguing project, the Druves and the Kaneros were unknown tribes to me. And now, there are lots of people, known and unknown faces, from different countries, walking around in those same costumes! We have created the Kaneros and the Druves and they have become like a dear family to me...

Greet van Beek, Consultant countryside and real estate Van Hall Larenstein Velp

We created the narratives of this opera in the media module of our course inspired by poetry and art works as experienced by participants of various cultures and values across the globe. I am overwhelmed by the innovativeness and creativity of the project participants, integrating all ideas of everyone.

Mary Adukumi, Ghana, student, Van Hall Larenstein Wageningen

Participatory Opera Project van Hall Larenstein

The Valley of the Druves

Opera in five acts based on a libretto by TREAT students, Septimia Kuhlmann, Ivonne de Moor, Loes Witteveen

All compositions by Jos Zandvliet

Première Wageningen, September 4th 2007

Van Hall Larenstein University of Professional Education P.O.Box 411 6700 AK Wageningen The Netherlands