At the end of the war, only destruction remained.Not only had villages been destroyed, but also families. The death of a father, son, brother or friend activated the grieving survivors. In the 1920s, thousands of them visited the Westhoek, looking for the burial place of their loved one or the battlefields where they had fought and died. This lesser-known history, one hundred years ago, is explored in this powerful immersive encounter and multi-media spectacle.
The Passchendaele Museum, the University of Kent and the Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London have collaborated to produce the immersive encounter and multimedia spectacle “De Weg Terug – The Way Back”. Starting in the dug-outs, moving through the trenches and concluding in an open-air performance spectacle in the chateau grounds, “De Weg Terug – The Way Back” is a journey incorporating intimate moments of encounter with the past and epic spectacle. Large-scale projections, live performance, original music and spoken word bring back to life the Zonnebeke of the 1920s and beyond. The scars of the war are still visible. British pilgrims, German visitors and the local population meet each other, while the ghosts of the war still haunt the landscape.
Practical
- Date: 24 until 26 May, from 6 PM onwards
- The “De Weg Terug – The Way Back” immersive encounter takes place from Friday 24 until Sunday 26 May. It starts from 6 PM onwards with timed ticket entries. The encounter takes around 40 minutes. Free access for children up to 6 years old. Entrance for children from 7 years old and adults is at € 13.00.
- The “De Weg Terug – The Way Back” evening spectacle is free and takes place on Friday 24 and Saturday 25 May, starting at 9.45 PM in the courtyard. Free access, no booking required.
- “De Weg Terug – The Way Back” is suitable for all ages. It is presented in Dutch and English.
- Buy your tickets here
This project is a part of the WWI theme year LANDSCAPES | Feel Flanders Fields, organised by Westtoer and Tourism Flanders.
This event received the label EU chairmanship in the category Culture.
The Passchendaele Museum, Gateways Partnership, University of Kent and Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London have collaborated to produce the immersive encounter and multimedia spectacle “De Weg Terug – The Way Back”. It is funded through the Arts and Humanities Research Council.
