This event is wheelchair accessible.
This event has induction loop.
English (Surtitles in German)
He is a professor with a left-wing past; she is a publicist associated with the New Right. At first glance, they seem to have little in common. Yet the two protagonists of this evening are a couple in love. With dark humor, calculated role-playing, and plenty of trigger warnings, this «docufiction» becomes a family portrait that highlights the deep divisions in society between left and right. A guaranteed conversation starter!
The acclaimed yet highly controversial production opens this year’s festival: Josse De Pauw and Kristien De Proost portray a couple inspired by a real-life model: the relationship between a left-wing cultural theorist and a New Right author. Three Times Left is Right is a risky attempt at dialogue in an age of growing polarization, showing how easily the moral compass can begin to spin out of control.
Julian Hetzel transforms this premise into a provocative two-person play that brings global political questions to the kitchen table. As the evening unfolds, it increasingly turns into a relentless duel about political convictions, family intimacy, and social fractures — a balancing act between closeness and conflict, understanding and incompatibility.
Language: English (Surtitles DE)
Duration: 90 Minuten
26.8: Aftertalk after the performance
Part of Theaterfestival Basel
Biografie
Julian Hetzel works as performance maker, visual artist and musician. He creates performative experiences for theatres and galleries that have a political dimension and a documentary approach. His works are produced and presented internationally.
Julian Hetzel is born in the Black Forest (DE), currently based in Amsterdam (NL). He studied at Bauhaus University Weimar (DE) with a focus on visual communication. In 2013 he graduated from DasArts Amsterdam, an artistic research laboratory for new forms of theatre and performing arts. Hetzel is a founding member of the electro pop band Pentatones and he performed with the group until 2016. Between 2014-2016 Hetzel was associated artist at SPRING Performing Arts Festival Utrecht (Niewue Maaker). Since 2014, Hetzel collaborates with Frascati Theater Amsterdam. In 2016, Hetzel established Stichting Ism & Heit in Utrecht to realise and produce his artistic work under the label Studio Julian Hetzel. In 2017, The Automated Sniper received the VSCD-Mimeprijs. Since 2018 Hetzel works in close collaboration with the Gent based art center CAMPO (BE). Both their joint productions All Inclusive(2018) and Mount Average have been selected for the Nederlands Theaterfestival (2019 / 2021). Hetzel has presented three works at the Venice Biennale Teatro in 2019. The performance Installation SELF has been selected as the Dutch National entry at the Prague Quadrennial in 2019. In 2024, two productions by Studio Julian Hetzel were selected for the Dutch Theater Festival: Diarrhea is My Favorite Color (in collaboration with Theater Artemis) and SPAfrica (in collaboration with Ntando Cele). Diarrhea is My Favorite Color was nominated for the VSCD Mime/Performance Award 2024, and Willemijn Zevenhuijzen won the Golden Cricket 2024 for the most impressive stage performance in youth theater for her role in this production. Ntando Cele was nominated for the prestigious Theo d’Or 2024 for the most impressive acting performance in a leading role in SPAfrica. Finally, SPAfrica won the directing award for the most impressive direction of the season.
Credits
Direction: Julian Hetzel
Performers: Josse De Pauw, Kristien De Proost
Dramaturgy: Miguel Melgares, Sodja Lotker
Artistic collaborator: Kristien De Proost
Video & light design: Bahadir Hamdemir
Music & composition: Frank Wienk
Technical coordinator: Aengus Havinga
Production coordinator: Jakob Proyer
Touring production: Yola Parie, Zarah Ruwhof
Sound & Programming: Tom Doeven
Tour technicians: Tom Doeven, Ruben Lijbers, Koen van der Heijden, Harm Bredero
Creative Technology: Timm Burkhardt
Directors assistant: Esmée Begemann
Scenography: Julian Hetzel, Django Walon
Costume assistant: Farah Nehme
Set builder: Edd Vossen
Mechatronics: Merijn Versnel
Special effects and props: Chaja Hertog, Carly Heathcote
LED technician: Daniel Pauselius
Intern: Sophia op ten Berg
Poster boys: Koen Van Der Heijden, Harm Bredero, Aengus Havinga, Yola Parie, Jakob Proyer
Production: Studio Julian Hetzel
Coproduction: Wiener Festwochen (AT) Schauspiel Leipzig (DE)
Partners creation, research and context programme: CAMPO Gent (BE) De Balie Amsterdam (NL) SPRING Festival Utrecht (NL)
With the support of: City of Utrecht (NL) Performing Arts Fund (NL) Ammodo Art (NL) Fonds ZOZ (NL) K.F. Hein Fonds (NL)
