Als vader vechten is is based on the story of Telemachus, the son of Odysseus, who stays behind at home while his father besieges a distant city. Hendrik de Pecker writes a new text about the vulnerable, about those left behind, and about the legacy of an absent father.

Parallel to this mythical fairy tale, we follow Hendrik in his search for his own father. How do you deal with resembling someone you have never known? And how do you become a father if you never had one yourself?

Ellen Goemans and Joep Hendrikx play parent and child in Als vader vechten is. They effortlessly switch between realism and absurdism. As part of theatre company Het NUT, the duo, together with Hendrik, take you along in the story. Not as an audience member, but as an accomplice. Het NUT is known for its unique blend of documentary and fiction. In 2024, the group was named best theatre company of the year by NRC.

• text Hendrik de Pecker direction Greg Nottrot performance Ellen Goemans & Joep Hendrikx