Sadettin K
How I contributed to the repopulation of the Netherlands
The morning after the PVV’s election victory in 2023, the phone rings. It’s Sadettin’s ex-wife. Their 10-year-old son is afraid that his grandparents will be deported from the country. “Do you want to talk to him?” In the kitchen, Sadettin tries to reassure his son: “We belong here. Even though our name sounds different. No matter what happens, we will stay here.” In his dreams he wonders if Earth is as dangerous to his child as the planet Krypton is to young Superman.
After years of discrimination and xenophobia, does his son now have to live with that fear? Kırmızıyüz’s family speaks several languages and they celebrate Christmas, Ramadan, Easter, the Feast of the Sacrifice and Sinterklaas. Yet it feels like they have to prove again and again that they belong here, just because Sadettin’s father once came from elsewhere..
‘FIRST MAN’ is a performance about family, identity and home. About how you hold each other, even when the world makes you feel insecure.
About Sadettin Kırmızıyüz
Sadettin Kırmızıyüz (Zutphen, 1982) is an actor and theater maker. Since 2010, as artistic director of SADETTIN K, he has created performances with a strong autobiographical and documentary character. Performances in which identity, politics and history play a role and in which personal and universal themes mingle, such as Somedaymyprincewill.com, The Radicalization of Sadettin K, Citizen K, Monumental and Return of the King. Sadettin can also be seen in TV series such as Dag en Nacht, Koningshuis de Musical, Mocro Mafia and the Hour of the Wolf made a documentary about him and his family under the title Thuis bij de Familie K.
Credits
Concept, text and game: Sadettin Kırmızıyüz
Director: Nicole Beutler
Dramaturgy: Liet Lenshoek
Scenography: Emin Batman
Costume: Sacha Zwiers and Noah Warmer (internship)
Light: Gé Wegman
Technique: Henk Geurds
Production: Nikita Oldert
Business management: Albert van Andel
Marketing: Dieke van der Spek and Leonie Poot
Impresariat: Everything for the Arts
Campaign image: Ruby Cruden
House style: Joost de Haas
‘FIRST MAN’ is a co-production with Nicole Beutler Projects