KVS

Minefield

Lola Arias
Wed 30.06.2021 and Thu 01.07.2021
30.06.2021
and
01.07.2021

Lola Arias, world renowned Argentinian writer, visual artist, performer and director, welcomes you onto a film set – or is it a time machine? – into which she has catapulted veterans of the past. They reconstruct memories of their war and its aftermath. The only thing the men have in common, is that they are all veterans. But what is a veteran? A survivor, a hero, a madman? 

Minefield investigates the traces the war between Argentina and England in the eighties has left, as well as the relation between experience, fiction, and the thousands of ways to shape memories. Experience starts with how we name things, people, places, … For example, in Europe the war is known as the Falklands War, while the Argentines only know the relevant islands as Las Islas Malvinas, and therefore talk about the Malvinas War.

Lola Arias confronts various visions of war with one another and unites former enemies to tell one story, all together. "War was present in my life since childhood. My generation grew up singing the Malvinas anthem at school, learning with maps in which the Malvinas were considered part of Argentina, remembering the Malvinas’ dead every 02 April. In Argentina, that nationalistic fervour is transmitted to kids since primary school. It is a powerful discourse, but it does not explain exactly what happened at war or the consequences of war for those who lived it. This play made me rethink the relationship I had established with Malvinas. The play encourages us to rethink the ways in which that relationship was constructed over the years. For me, one of the most interesting things about the project was to realize how little we know about it. By interviewing Argentine and British war veterans I reassessed the image I had of war."

This documentary theatre performance, which evokes a rare and moving humanity, toured worldwide and was amply praised. The performance will be showed for the last time at KVS.

Meet the veterans

Lou Armour was on the cover of every newspaper when the Argentines captured him on 2 April. Today he is a teacher for children with special needs.

Rubén Otero survived the ARA General Belgrano shipwreck – the ship was torpedoed by a British nuclear submarine – and now plays in a Beatles tribute band.

David Jackson intercepted and transcribed radio codes during the war. Today he listens to other veterans’ stories in his psychology practice. 

Gabriel Sagastume refused to fire a gun as a soldier and is a criminal justice lawyer today.

Sukrim Rai was part of the Ghurkha brigade, a division of men from Nepal and West-Bengal who served the British army. He knew his way around a knife like no one else, and works as a guard now.

Marcelo Vallejo was a mortar marksman during the war. Today he is a triathlon champion. 

Credits

GESCHREVEN & GEREGISEERD DOOR / ÉCRIT & MISE EN SCÈNE PAR / WRITTEN & DIRECTED BY Lola Arias MET / AVEC / WITH Lou Armour, David Jackson, Gabriel Sagastume, Ruben Otero, Sukrim Rai, Marcelo Vallejo ONDERZOEK & PRODUCTIE / RECHERCHE & PRODUCTION / RESEARCH & PRODUCTION Sofia Medici, Luz Algranti DECOR / DÉCOR / SET DESIGN Mariana Tirantte MUZIEK / MUSIQUE / MUSIC Ulises Conti LICHT / LUMIÈRES / LIGHTING David Seldes VIDEO / VIDÉO Martin Borini REGIE GELUID / RÉGIE SON / SOUND DIRECTION Roberto Pellegrino, Ernesto Fara KOSTUUMS / COSTUMES Andy Piffer ONDERZOEKSASSISTENT UK / ASSISTANT RECHERCHE UK / RESEARCH ASSISTANT UK Kate O’Connor FIRST COMMISSIONED BY LIFT Festival COPRODUCTIE / COPRODUCTION Brighton Festival, Royal Court Theatre, Universidad Nacional de San Martín, Theaterformen, Le Quai Angers, Künstlerhaus Mousonturm, Maison des Arts de Créteil, Humain Trop Humain / CDN de Montpellier