Kevin • La Seizième

A high school geography class. Despite the teacher’s explanations, Kevin is unable to sort out his map based on the cardinal points drawn on the whiteboard. His teachers are at a loss: why can’t this student grasp such a basic lesson? Twenty years later, this failure marks the beginning of a series of investigations into educational success and equal opportunity.

Following their small French spelling revolution (La Convivialité), Arnaud Hoedt and Jérôme Piron take on school. Slyly casual and deliciously facetious, the two former teachers point fingers at the flaws of a multi-tiered education system. A light-hearted lecture, this playful show-slash-conference unpacks the workings of an invisible selection process that favours students with the right academic background from the outset… and leaves the others by the wayside.

Reviews

“The form is precise and playful, the message relevant and delivered with energy. By shedding light on disparities and overturning clichés, Kevin enlightens us, delights us, moves us, and educates us.” — La Libre Belgique

“Masters of documentary theatre and kings of the offbeat lecture, Jérôme Piron and Arnaud Hoedt make a powerful return. [...] Punctuated with interactive exercises, jokes, and games, Kevin takes a hard look at the Belgian school system — a champion when it comes to reproducing social inequalities.” — Le Soir

“[...] a sharp and informed reflection that challenges the idea of the school system as nothing more than a sorting machine for students.” — Libération

“[…] even audience members familiar with the work of education sociologists find themselves unsettled [...]. One can’t help but think that a play capable of provoking such reactions using statistics is a rare gem worth seeing.” — Le Nouvel Observateur

Credits

Creation and direction Antoine Defoort, Arnaud Hoedt, Jérome Piron, and the participation of Clément Thirion
Writing and performance Arnaud Hoedt, Jérôme Piron
Video, set and props design Kévin Matagne
Lighting design, stage management and technical direction Charlotte Plissart
Technical and programming advisor Nico Callandt
Assistant Marcelline Lejeune
Creation Compagnie Chantal & Bernadette (Brussels)
Development, production, distribution Habemus Papam (Alix Maraval, Apolline Paquet, Cora-Line Lefèvre et Rosine Louviaux)
Coproduction Théâtre Les Tanneurs, Théâtre de Namur, Théâtre de Liège, le Jean Vilar, l’Ancre, MAIF Social Club, Théâtre du Champ du Roy – Ville de Guingamp, La Coop asbl and Shelter Prod. With the support of centre culturel de Braine-L’Alleud. Writing residency supported by l’Agglomération Montargeoise Et rives du loing.
Financial support Bourse Rayonnement Wallonie, initiative du Gouvernement wallon, opéré par St’art sa, de la Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles, de taxshelter.be, ING et du tax-shelter du gouvernement fédéral belge
With the support of la Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles
Production photos J. Van Belle – WBI

Box Office