La Monnaie / De Munt LA MONNAIE / DE MUNT
© Christopher Backholm
Dance

White Box
Sabine Theunissen

Presentation
Dance

Anatomy of a failed polar expedition 

On 11 July 1897, the young photographer Nils Strindberg sets off on a scientific expedition to the Arctic led by Swedish engineer Salomon Auguste Andrée. Their mission? To fly over the North Pole in a hot air balloon to Canada or Russia, depending on where the wind would bring them. The explorers were waved off by excited politicians, international journalists and a brass band. Shortly after, all trace of them vanished – until thirty-three years later, when their bodies were found by chance in the ice of Kvitøya, the ‘White Island’, together with a box full of undeveloped film rolls …  

WHITE BOX is the directorial debut of Belgian set designer Sabine Theunissen, known for her collaboration of many years with William Kentridge (Lulu, Wozzeck, The Nose). Together with choreographer Gregory Maqoma, she distils the epic adventure of the polar travellers into a metaphorical comedy about scientific exploration, one man’s quest for fame, and human hubris in the face of nature.  

Dates & tickets

29 & 30.10.2025

Location

Malibran room (La Monnaie Workshops)

Prices

Start ticket sale 26.6.2025

€35

Gallery

Gallery

© Christopher Backholm
© Christopher Backholm
© Christopher Backholm
© Peter Chenot
© Christopher Backholm
Dates & tickets

Dates

Cast
Cast

Concept, direction & set designSABINE THEUNISSEN ChoreographyGREGORY MAQOMA Composer & musicianCATHERINE GRAINDORGE

Costume design GRETA GOIRIS Lighting designELLEN RUGE DramaturgyFOOT NEWTON Mechanical prop design JONAS LUNDQUIST Scientific consultantsTYRONE MARTINSSON, LIZA MALONG Research & Historical MaterialADELAIDE DE CATERS

Executive Producer THE OFFICE performing arts + film Co-productionORIONTEATERN STOCKHOLM

Special thanks to the generous support of the Josefsson Foundation and the Swedish Arts Grants Committee. White Box was developed in residence at Brown Arts Institute, La Monnaie / De Munt and the Orionteatern.

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