The interactive spectacle of Gob Squad

Andy Warhol was not only a well-known painter and artist, but he also made films. A lot of films. In the 1960s, he produced more than five hundred: short and long, silent and with sound, scripted and improvised. Warhol's films are highly regarded for their radical boundary-pushing approach. They are considered some of the most important works in the artist's career.

One of these films is 'Kitchen', a 1966 film directed by Andy Warhol and Ronald Tavel, starring Edie Sedgwick, Rene Ricard, and Roger Trudeau. The entire film takes place in the kitchen of Bud Wirtschafter, the sound man, in New York City.

Gob Squad

In 2007, the theater collective Gob Squad decided to bring the film to life on stage under the name 'Gob Squad’s ‘Kitchen’'. Gob Squad is a group of British and German artists who create performances and videos in search of beauty in the everyday. The collective, consisting of seven core members, constantly explores the intersection where theater, art, media, and real life meet. This was also the case in their rendition of 'Kitchen'.

Someone who knows all about this is Dannij Bol, head of programming at PLT. He talks about the inspiration and background of this unique performance.

What can we expect to see in Gob Squad’s ‘Kitchen’?

“‘Kitchen’ is a film where, in essence, not much happens, but it brilliantly captures the spirit of the times. It takes place in a 1960s kitchen. Gob Squad's rendition of ‘Kitchen’ is a piece that has been performed for many years and is occasionally brought back. It’s a live performance of the film, but the audience doesn’t watch the performance on stage; instead, they see it on a screen. The actors are literally behind these screens. This alone makes it quite special.”

What makes this performance unique?

“Gradually, all the roles in the performance are taken over by people from the audience. They go behind the scenes, assume the actors' roles, and are then directed via an earpiece. This makes it a highly interactive experience. Moreover, it’s fascinating for the rest of the audience to watch how people from today step into the world of the 1960s. The story is increasingly told by someone who has never experienced the piece before. You then get their own interpretation of what’s being whispered in their ear. No two performances are the same; this makes the format of this performance completely unique.”

How did this performance come onto your radar?

“Our director and head programmer, Janine, once saw the performance in New York. She was even one of the ‘lucky’ audience members selected to participate in the performance, which left a strong impression. When we learned that an Andy Warhol exhibition would be coming to SCHUNCK, there was no doubt about which performance we wanted to program alongside it. We enjoy collaborating with other cultural institutions on such projects, like us as a theater and, for example, with the Nieuwe Nor.”

Why should people see this?

“Since part of the audience eventually participates, this is a unique form of theater-making. It has also been recognized and awarded; Gob Squad’s ‘Kitchen’ (2007) won New York's Drama Desk Award for Unique Theatrical Experience in 2012. This year, the collective received the Silver Lion at the 2024 Venice Biennale. It’s truly a special performance that no one should miss.”