18.12.2024 - Docu Screening | Looking for Empathy (cinema ZED, Hasselt)

Theatre director Chokri Ben Chikha travelled to Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories early this year in preparation for his new play ‘Persians. Triumph of Empathy'. Director Jan Beddegenoodts accompanied him and made a film about the trip and some pressing questions: Can you have empathy for your enemy? And who is prideful now? Netanyahu

17.12.2024 - GKO Café: Het belang van autonomie voor de kunst en cultuursector

How free is the cultural sector today to create, speak, and act? Together with a panel of field experts, we will explore these stimulating questions in an Octavian discussion (inner and outer circle) where diverse perspectives come together. Speakers: Franky Devos (VIERNULVIER), Chokri Ben Chikha (Action Zoo Humain), Ann Overbergh (Kunstenpunt), Agnes De Maeseneir (Victoria Deluxe), Ludo De Brabander (Vrede vzw), Sara Oklobdzija (artist/researcher, e.g., Apartheid-Free Zone).

21.11.2024 - Eye on Palestine

21 nov - 20 dec | Together with several other organisations, Action Zoo Humain is part of the multi-day event ‘Eye on Palestine’. We aim to introduce audiences to Palestinian and international directors, artists, writers, musicians, scientists and activists.

13.10.2024 - New Radicalisms 2024 - DOE NEUTRAAL

Rotterdam event from 11 to 13 October 2024 - organised by (A)WAKE to explore its assumed politically neutral position within the Dutch cultural, academic and artistic spheres, with lectures, workshops, performances, visual arts and club nights.

27.01.2020 - Young performers wanted!

Action Zoo Humain is looking for young performers for 'Flemish Masters', directed by Chokri Ben Chikha. This dance theatre performance will be created in collaboration with NTGent, Theater Rotterdam, KASK & Conservatory/University College Ghent and les ballets C de la B.

26.09.2019 - Amazigh queen Dihya: the oppression continues

During the event 'African Literature Centraal', Chokri Ben Chikha finally gave Amazigh queen Dihya her voice back. Or didn't he?

18.07.2019 - Photographic report: season '18-'19

Theatre season '18-'19 is coming to an end. Action Zoo Humain looks back on a year of controversial artistic interventions, an international premiere, successful (re)performances, a farewell tour and the kick-off of its residency at NTGent.

18.06.2019 - "I resolutely choose to break the spiral of anger"

In the aftermath of the elections, artistic director Chokri Ben Chikha becomes Flanders' grief mentor.

19.03.2019 - How 'State of the Theatre' echoes in Amsterdam

"Does anyone have a lighter? The controversial final scene of State of the Theatre, with which Chokri Ben Chikha opened the Nederlands Theater Festival - ànd called on the theatre world to initiate more social action - still resonates in Amsterdam. In response to his much debated speech, the Academy for Theatre and Dance invited Chokri Ben Chikha

19.03.2019 - HUMAN(ART)ISTIC: ‘Dido and Aenaes’ in the context of 'transmigration'

Refugees increasingly end up in vulnerable situations: they stay in refugee camps, public parks, ghettos and even jungles. In organizing the forum 'Territory and migration', the Brussels arts festival Human(art)istic sounds the alarm. Action Zoo Humain is planning an artistic intervention: DNA in BXL. What form does a centuries-old opera take in

04.02.2019 - Debate | Art and nationalism: a fruitful marriage or a stillborn child?

In May 2018 the Catalan rapper Valtònyc fled to Belgium. In his homeland Spain he was sentenced to imprisonment for insulting the crown and glorifying terrorism in his texts. Can an artist make his political voice heard in his work? Who decides where art ends and propaganda begins? Some compare the authoritarian attitude of Madrid today with the

14.01.2019 - Dancer wanted!

Action Zoo Humain and hetpaleis are looking for a male dancer for their new theatre production Dihya, a youth performance with dance and music, played by Dahlia Pessemiers-Benamar and directed by Simon De Vos. The text is written by Rachida Lamrabet. The monologue tells the story of the Amazigh queen Dihya, situated in the seventh century, who

08.01.2019 - When Arabs Danced

How does Muslim fundamentalism influence the Arab art world? In the documentary When Arabs Danced, director Jawad Rhalib portrays the resistance of Arab artists against Islamic fundamentalism. During the creation and rehearsal process of Subjection (2017) it soon became clear to Action Zoo Humain that Islam is not an easy subject to bring to the

13.12.2018 - In the picture: 'The Truth Commission' in the Belgian Senate

The Truth Commision in the Belgian Senate in Brussels (2018) - © Kurt Van der Elst

11.12.2018 - Senate votes on policy recommendations for decolonisation

Last weekend, more than 500 spectators in the Senate voted on five policy recommendations for the processing of the Belgian colonial past. A truth commission examined the exhibition of people from Belgian Congo at the 1897 and 1958 world exhibitions in Brussels and formulated policy recommendations addressed to the authorities of our country

26.11.2018 - Children of the Colony

"I see decolonisation as stepping out of your cage or taking people out of a cage. You can only see yourself as a victim - then you put yourself in a cage - or you can put other people in a cage, for example by saying: they are Muslims and they are dangerous. I consider decolonisation to be a day-to-day practice in which you become aware of how

16.11.2018 - Catalan sister of 'Amnesty/Amnesia' premiered in Barcelona

A first for Action Zoo Humain: on 8 and 9 November the performance Amnesty/Amnesia and its Catalan counterpart AMNE(I)S(T)IA: Say Sorry were on stage simultaneously; one in Ghent, the other in Barcelona. Together with choreographer Laura Neyskens, artistic director (AZH) and researcher (KASK/School of Arts/HoGent) Chokri Ben Chikha and alumni of

15.10.2018 - The truth about Expo '58 in the Belgian Senate

This year, Brussels is celebrating the sixtieth anniversary of Expo '58, the world exhibition that attracted more than forty million visitors to the foot of the Atomium in 1958, as well as the exhibition that showed 278 Congolese from Belgian Congo as attractions in a counterfeit village. Moreover, the AfricaMuseum in Tervuren reopened its doors in

02.10.2018 - Impressions of 'The Procession'

During the opening weekend of NTGent, Action Zoo Humain laid the first stones for the Flemish pavilion at the world exhibition in Dubai in 2020. The company was looking for Flanders' most valuable export product to conquer Dubai and found that valuable asset in the interface between art and science: what makes Flanders unique is the DNA of our

10.09.2018 - State of the Theatre calls on artists to oppose

On 6 September 2018 artistic director and researcher (KASK/School of Arts/HoGent) Chokri Ben Chikha opened the Nederlands Theater Festival in Amsterdam. In his State of the Theatre he pleaded for more decisiveness in the theatre and stressed the strength of artistic truth. His speech was received by the audience with intense emotions. The speech

30.08.2018 - Chokri Ben Chikha opens the Dutch Theatre Festival 2018

At the start of the new cultural season, artistic director and researcher (KASK/School of Arts/HoGent) Chokri Ben Chikha will be launching the Nederlands Theater Festival in Amsterdam. With his State of the Theatre, the annual opening speech of the festival, he will set out his vision of the contemporary theatre landscape. Lot Vekemans, the speaker

24.07.2018 - Action Zoo Humain occupies Ostend

Action Zoo Humain also has a summer holiday. Soon we will travel with the whole team to the Belgian coast for a few days. On the 30th and 31st of July our performance Amnesty/Amnesia can be seen at Theater aan Zee (TAZ) and on the 2nd August the company organizes theatrical tours through the exhibition A conversation between collections from

09.07.2018 - Maxime Waladi presents Le Chicon at the Gentse Feesten

The countdown can begin: in a few days, Ghent will once again be filled with music, parties and a lot of cultural activities for another week. Action Zoo Humain is also there: on 13, 14, 15 and 16 July, young theatre-maker Maxime Waladi will perform Le Chicon in NTGent Arca. Why you have to be there? The makers Zouzou Ben Chikha and Maxime Waladi

13.06.2018 - Action Zoo Humain in Barcelona

While Catalan rappers and politicians are entrenching themselves in Belgium, Action Zoo Humain is moving to Barcelona. Chokri Ben Chikha was invited by IT Teatre to direct a performance. The dance theatre play will deal with the unprocessed past and the complex past and seek out the parallels between IS fighters and Frenchmen. The auditions have

13.06.2018 - 'Amnesty/Amnesia' selected for the TheaterFestival 2018

Action Zoo Humain is already looking forward to summer: our performance Amnesty/Amnesia has been selected from 382 performances for the TheaterFestival 2018. The festival offers an annual stage to a series of special theatre and dance performances from the past theatre season. From the jury report: "With ingenious constructions Ben Chikha finds a

19.03.2018 - Cutting Edge Award

On Monday the 5th of March NTGent and Action Zoo Humain were granted the Cutting Edgde Award for Best Theatre for the piece Platform/Submission. Many thanks to all who voted for us!

06.02.2018 - We're not going to patronize the public, aren't we?

Every now and then a published article needs a reply. The same goes for the reflections in the opinion piece 'Noble anger on stage' (Mia Vaerman, in rekto:verso).

23.01.2018 - Nomination for the Cutting Edge Awards 2017

A fine boost for this new calendar year: Platform/Submission by NTGent and Action Zoo Humain has been nominated for the Cutting Edge Awards 2017 in the category 'Stage'! You can vote in no time at all!

08.01.2018 - Dear governments, Chokri has a suggestion to make

On the occasion of our most recent performance Amnesty/Amnesia, Chokri Ben Chikha crawled into his pen to wake up our Belgian government, starting from the hottest issues of production. Just before Amnesty/Amnesia premiered in NTGent Arca, the column was published in De Morgen.

17.08.2017 - Save the date

Action Zoo Humain invites you to the book launch of Zoo Humain. The Happy Return of the Barbarian. On Thursday 7 September 2017 at 8 pm Chokri Ben Chikha will present the publication with the indispensable garlands and the enthusiasm of Dirk De Wachter, Anna Luyten, Marijke Pinoy, Dahlia Pessemiers-Benamar, Maxime Waladi, Kenji Minogue, Walid Ben

02.05.2017 - Mourade Zeguendi: "De Palma: Yes, please. A role as a terrorist: no, thank you."

Mourade Zeguendi is tired of the fact that he is always cast as a 'terrorist'. He also refuses an attractive proposal by Brian De Palma with conviction. His clear message to the director was picked up by the national and international press.

21.04.2017 - "Houellebecq is taken way too seriously" - Knack

This Sunday, the 23rd of April 2017, the first round of the French presidential election coincides with the premiere of Submission (Action Zoo Humain & NTGent) in Amsterdam. Everything is a coinsidence. Nothing is a coinsidence. Chokri Ben Chikha spoke with Els Van Steenberghe (Knack, 19/04/2017).

19.02.2017 - Recht.Op.Zondag

Mayor Bart Somers of Mechelen, apparently the "best mayor in the world", lures Action Zoo Humain with The Truth Commission to the city of Maneblussers! City festival Op.Recht.Mechelen celebrates 400 years of justice in its city with the intention to defend the importance of justice and justice. Where else than in Mechelen can we therefore better

16.01.2017 - Make society playable

How can an urban theatre in the world make a difference? According to Chokri Ben Chikha, the answer lies in 'playing', in the broadest sense of the word. It is about increasing the playability in the city. This can be done in several ways. Three tips in Etcetera & rekto:verso.

06.12.2016 - The Flemish Pavilion in Dubaï

“Een Vlaming kan zich goed relativeren, staat met beide voeten stevig in de kleigrond, waaruit na noeste arbeid een baksteen wordt gemaakt.” Maar wat vindt u? Met dank aan vele enthousiaste Waregemnaren verzamelden we opnieuw goeie ideeën over de Vlaamse identiteit voor het Flemish Pavilion in Dubaï (2020). Woensdag 21/12 om 20u sluiten Chokri Ben

24.11.2016 - Award ceremony Théatrales de Carthage

In November 2016, at the Journées Théâtrales de Carthage, we awarded the Artists Without Borders Prize to the talented Tunisian choreographer Hafedh Zallit with his production "Les ergs du Sable". The international jury (Chokri Ben Chikha (KASK/SCHOOL OF ARTS/HOGENT), Dave Schwab (PRODUCTIEHUIS ROTTERDAM), Cees Vossen (MOUSSEM) & Meriam Bousselmi

30.09.2016 - Chokri Ben Chikha - "I feel very Belgian, despite my dual nationality"

Chokri Ben Chikha was a news guest at Radio 1. Last summer he listened with amazement to N-VA politician Zuhal Demir. After the coup in Turkey and the subsequent riots in Belgium, she proposed to let people with dual nationality choose one of the two. If Chokri had to choose between his two nationalities, what would he choose? Tunisian or Belgian?

01.12.2015 - Thank you for aids

On the occasion of World Aids Day, Action Zoo Humain made an awareness film for the Province of East Flanders. Thank you for AIDS!

23.10.2015 - Join the Revolution: a try out at the international theatre festival in Tunis

Today Action Zoo Humain performed at the international festival Journées théâtrales de Carthage in Tunis with a work-in-progress of the new performance Join the Revolution. The performance's subject is Tunisia. This makes the show in Tunis a special moment. The interaction with the local Tunisian artists and their vision on the Arab Spring are

29.03.2015 - AZH at the Hart boven Hart parade!

AZH was happy to support the initiative of HART BOVEN HART and TOUTE AUTRE CHOSE. On Sunday 29 March 2015, the Grand Parade passed through Brussels with a colourful and critical parade of citizens, families and organisations who are concerned about the direction of the current policy. Despite the rain we sang and danced with 20,000 enthusiasts the

23.03.2015 - Chokri on The State of the Book - Flemish Parliament

How diverse do we read? These and several questions were put to several prominent speakers at the Symposium on the State of the Book in the Flemish Parliament on 23 March. We could count on many lively and inspiring debates.

11.03.2015 - Dancer and choreographer Chantal Loïal receives an accolade from François Hollande

The dancer and choreographer Chantal Loïal (to be seen in 'The Truth Commission, 2013', among other places) has proudly received the highest French distinction 'L'insigne de Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur' for artistic merit. None other than President Hollande honoured her with this award. We congratulate Chantal Loïal on her incredible merit!

20.01.2015 - Day of Culture Education

Flemish Pavilion was presented at deSingel (Antwerp) on the Day of Culture Education, thanks to Canon Cultuurcel, Kader Abdollah en Bleri Lleshi. Read the full interview with Chokri Ben Chikha below.

14.05.2014 - Applying for jobs with a different skin colour

Have you seen the movie 'How it feels to apply for a job with a different skin colour'?

13.05.2014 - Week of debates at Vooruit - PSWX TALKS FOR STUDENTS

Together with his brother Walid Ben Chikha, Chokri Ben Chikha formulated a pointed thesis about the elections. This presentation in Vooruit's theatre according to the TED formula: PSWx was set up for first-year students of the Faculty of PSW (Political and Social Sciences) of Ghent University.

08.04.2014 - Chokri Ben Chikha: candidate for Minister of Culture

Dear democratic party chairmen, May I start off right away with your permission? It is telling that in this election campaign the emphasis is on the economic crisis, employment, pensions, health care, education, justice, etc. All quite rightly so. But can I say that culture is hardly mentioned, if at all? As if there is no room for culture in this