15 Jan

20:30

Theater Bellevue

Leidsekade 90, Amsterdam

Following the successful theater campaign X Y WE, physical performer Marleen Hendrickx brings the 19th-century French intersex person Herculine Barbin to life.

Enfin, Barbin.

More info & tickets

About the Performance

Part of Theater Bellevue's Queer All Year program, this performance brings the story of Herculine Barbin, a 19th-century French intersex person, to life. The starting point is Barbin's memoirs, which were published over a century later by philosopher Michel Foucault.

With music, dance, live video, and a voice distorter, performer Marleen Hendrickx reclaims the narrative. She gives Herculine what she herself has received in recent years after coming out as intersex: love, a queer family, and applause. Above all, it's about the right to celebrate yourself when the world sees you as a problem.

About the Maker

Marleen Hendrickx distinguishes herself as a creator, performer, and expert by experience. As a creator, she starts from an intellectual and scientific interest, driven by an activist desire to contribute to social change. As a performer, Marleen brings a playful and seemingly naive quality to the stage. This openness makes her accessible, allowing the hard, factual content to resonate more deeply.

In her work, documentary elements and visual power merge, creating a layered, sensory experience that transcends mere factual communication. As the only intersex theater maker in the Netherlands, Marleen brings a story that is new, enlightening, and confrontational for many, contributing to awareness, empathy, and a change in policy and culture. Her previous solo show, X Y I, was awarded 'Critic's Choice' by Theaterkrant.

Credits