Vis-à-vis(a) is a theater performance about four Tunisian actors/puppeteers who apply for a visa to come to the Netherlands to perform this show. Instead of an audition, there is a visa procedure: All four of them are talented, and all four performers will learn the part, but only he who gets a visa can come and perform.

Vis-à-vis(a) is a duet between the Dutch puppeteer Christiaan Koetsier and the Tunisian actor (Ahmed, Fedy, Mohamed or Firas) who manages to cross the border.

However, all the performers also have a custom-made puppet that represents them. The puppets become the body doubles of the performers and will easily cross the border. They are manipulated by the performers who will be present. With puppetry, film images, text, dance and music, the players visualize their journey through the bureaucratic maze of the visa procedure.

Yentl de Lange is doing her PhD research on the Tunisian visa procedure and developed the concept for this performance. The performance casts a critical eye on the difficulties, time-intensity and complexity of visa procedures, while drawing a sharp contrast with the ease with which European passport holders can cross the world. Through puppetry and video, the audience is given a unique insight into the visa procedure for Tunisians, and opens up a new conversation about the functioning of borders.

Vis-a-Vis(a) is an international coproduction between Cat Smits Company and Centre National d’Art de la Marionnette in Tunisia.

Vis-a-Vis(a) is part of the talent development program for young puppeteers by Cat Smits Company and of the NEW PUPPETS on the BLOCK program in collaboration with Duda Paiva Company.