Whilst Anna does everything she possibly can to survive and avoid the terror of the Polish Secret Service, Monika does her very best, and with full enthusiasm, to do her work for the Stasi. Two women behind the Iron Curtain, convinced of their own ideas, in search of a better existence. Victim and offender in an ultimate effort to protect their loved ones from the terror under which they suffer. How can you possibly remain true to yourself when having to live in a totalitarian system?

Julia van de Graaff and Gonny Gaakeer seek to find the hero and the traitor in themselves in this musical performance. They are accompanied by the multi-instrumentalist Radek Fedyk, who takes the spectator on a musical trip by way of Polish ‘rock’ and German ‘punk’. The direction is in the hands of Leen Braspenning and Johann van Gerwen.

‘The Second World’ is based on documentary material from the 1970s and 80s: on interviews with informers of the Secret Service in the former Eastern bloc. The theatrical production team makes a comparison between the past and the present-day situation within Europe.

Photography: Joost de Haas, Bowie Verschuuren and Marta Ankiersztejn.

Concept, in performance by Julia van de Graaff and Gonny Gaakeer
Text Monika after ‘Geschützte Quelle’ by Irena Kukutz and Katja Havemann
Text Anna based on interviews by Julia van de Graaff and her Polish- Russian family
Adaptation Julia van de Graaff, Gonny Gaakeer, Leen Braspenning en Johann van Gerwen
Direction & Stage design Leen Braspenning en Johann van Gerwen
Composition Radek Fedyk
Video Johann van Gerwen
Dramaturgy & Coordination Sideshow Jannet van Lange
Lighting design Nik Tenten and Robin Kiezebrink
Technicians Robin Kiezebrink and Arnon van der Worp
Singing coach Britta Duiker
Publicity Bureau tamtam
Business Advisers ’N More
Production manager Kim Eldering
Publicity and image design Joost de Haas