To escape from his harsh reality, 16-year-old Sajid (SK) loses himself in the violent virtual game Gambling Game, in which he is tasked with testing Europe's external borders. He draws on his experience as a young refugee n to dodge border patrols, raids and obstacles and, above all, to retain enough credits to survive.
At the same time, the brand-new director of Frontex, the European border and coast guard agency, is being called to task by the European Parliament's human rights subcommittee. Where does responsibility lie for the violence illegally tolerated at Europe's external borders?
Gambling Game shows both sides of the 'game' young migrants engage in: the side of those who come and the side of those who stand at the gate of Fortress Europe. Who is David and who is Goliath in this story? And who is ultimately at the controls? The man at the border, the man holding a high position in the system, or the man who prefers not to get his hands and thoughts dirty?
It is a performance full of contrasts: between documentary and fiction, between live and digital, between SK and Frontex, but equally between European officials, border guards and residents who, whether they like it or not, take a position in this story.
SKaGeN previously made SneakPeek Shadow Game: a documentary smartphone performance in the SneakPeek app developed by SKaGeN, in which the spectator could already get acquainted with SK's story. This performance starts from this boy's experiences and draws on other documentary material: the reports of the European Parliament's Subcommittee on Human Rights. Together, they merge into a fictional whole.
Concept: Korneel Hamers
By and with: Sajid Khan Nasiri, Clara van den Broek, Korneel Hamers, Valentijn Dhaenens, Mathijs F Scheepers (as rotating cast)
Dramaturgy & research: Elisa Demarré
Scenography, technical direction and light design: Eric Engels
Technical assistance: Jens Clerbout, Joaquin De Rycke
Sound design : Tim Vets
Unreal Engine animations: Sam Gielen
After effects: Jaak De Digitale
Graphics: Lidia Nagibina
Drone images: SKY VISION bv
Editing: Nils Janssens
Costume and props: Barbara De Laere, Julia Weisbrich
Production and administration support: Suzanne De Clercq
Production: SKaGeN & De Studio, Perpodium
With support by: The Flemish Community, Taxshelter for performing arts.
Spoken language: Dutch and English
playlist
| Wed | 20/03/2024 - 10u00 | DEStudio Antwerpen | School |
| Thu | 21/03/2024 - 20u00 | DEStudio Antwerpen | |
| Fri | 22/03/2024 - 13u30 | DEStudio Antwerpen | School |
| Fri | 22/03/2024 - 20u00 | DEStudio Antwerpen | |
| Sat | 23/03/2024 - 20u00 | DEStudio Antwerpen | |
| Thu | 28/03/2024 - 20u15 | CC Geel de Werft | |
| Tue | 16/04/2024 - 20u15 | CC Mechelen | |
| Fri | 19/04/2024 - 20u00 | De Meermin, Waasmunster | |
| Mon | 22/04/2024 - 14u00 | Cultuurhuis De Zeepziederij Bree | School |
| Tue | 23/04/2024 - 10u30 & 14u00 | Cultuurhuis De Zeepziederij Bree | School |
| Wed | 24/04/2024 - 10u30 | Cultuurhuis De Zeepziederij Bree | School |
| Thu | 30/05/2024 - 20u00 | CC De Plomblom Ninove | |
| Mon | 23/09/2024 - 20u00 | CC Sint-Pieters-Woluwe | |
| Thu | 26/09/2024 - 13u40 | CC De Spil Roeselare | School |
| Thu | 26/09/2024 - 10u00 | CC De Spil Roeselare | School |
| Tue | 01/10/2024 - 10u30 | CC De Ploter Ternat | School |
| Tue | 01/10/2024 - 14u00 | CC De Ploter Ternat | School |
| Thu | 17/10/2024 - 20u00 | CC Nova Wetteren | |
| Tue | 05/11/2024 - 13u45 | CC Netwerk Aalst | School |
| Tue | 05/11/2024 - 10u00 | CC Netwerk Aalst | School |
| Tue | 28/01/2025 - 20u00 | 30CC Leuven | |
| Tue | 28/01/2025 - 13u30 | 30CC Leuven | School |
| Thu | 27/02/2025 - 10u00 | Cultuurcentrum Kortrijk | School |
| Thu | 27/02/2025 - 14u00 | Cultuurcentrum Kortrijk | School |
| Fri | 28/02/2025 - 20u00 | CC De Factorij Zaventem | |
| Fri | 28/02/2025 - 13u30 | CC De Factorij Zaventem | School |
| Tue | 11/03/2025 - 14u30 | Cultuurcentrum Blankenberge | School |
| Thu | 13/03/2025 - 14u00 | CC Jan Tervaert Hamme | School |
| Thu | 13/03/2025 - 10u30 | CC Jan Tervaert Hamme | School |
| Tue | 18/03/2025 - 10u15 & 13u30 | CC De Steiger Menen | School |
| Wed | 19/03/2025 - 20u15 | CC De Steiger Menen | |
| Wed | 19/03/2025 - 10u15 | CC De Steiger Menen | School |
| Fri | 21/03/2025 - 20u30 | CC Willebroek - De Ster | |
| Tue | 29/04/2025 - 14u00 | CC Den Hoogen Pad Maldegem | School |
| Tue | 06/05/2025 - 13u30 | De Grote Post Oostende | School |
