Belgian theatre duo Silke Huysmans and Hannes Dereere are known for their documentary theatre. Based on in-depth scientific research, they conduct interviews, fieldwork, audio and video recordings, which they transform into performances that blend theatre, film, journalism, and science, with music playing a central role in their storytelling. Their work engages with social, environmental, political, and economic concerns.<\/p>\n
Between 2016 and 2022, they created a trilogy about mining that explores its many social, environmental, and economic impacts. The trilogy opens with Mining Stories<\/em> (2016), in which Silke and Hannes revisit Silke’s Brazilian hometown, which was devastated by a dam collapse in 2015 that flooded the area with toxic mining waste. In Pleasant Island<\/em> (2019), the second part of the trilogy, the story of the remote Pacific island of Nauru offers a reflection on the long-term consequences of exhaustive mining. In the final part of their trilogy, Out of the Blue<\/em> (2022), Silke and Hannes look ahead to the future of mining by exploring the emerging industry of deep-sea mining.<\/p>\n The work of Silke and Hannes can be seen on various theatres and festivals across Europe and beyond. Their latest performance In<\/em> Future Hands<\/em> premiered in May 2026 at Kunstenfestivaldesarts in Brussels.<\/p>\n