Sien Vanmaele performed her piece Witlof from Syria at LAFS#3 back in 2018.
Theatre-maker Sien Vanmaele is deeply concerned about the planet and refuses to sit idly by. For years, she’s been asking: Can I save the world through cooking? In her previous show ZEEMAAL, she explored future-proof foods and discovered a sustainable, nutritious, and tasty alternative in seaweed and salty coastal plants.
With WIER, she now turns to the youngest generation—because children will inherit the world, and they deserve a say in how it evolves.
Actresses Sofie Joan Wouters and Laura François bring Sien’s text to life, guiding young audiences to the sea. They tell stories of mysterious deep-sea creatures, glowing plankton, and other natural wonders. They talk about the primordial soup from which all life emerged—and how it’s slowly turning into a plastic one.
But the sea is generous. It nourishes us—not just with fish.
Sofie Joan and Laura let children taste the true treasures of the ocean. Not fish fingers or fried fish, but blue mussel bread, sea lettuce pesto, and ocean gummy bears—all made with seaweed.
Slicing, chopping, steaming, and baking, they cook surprising snacks together with the children—then share them in a tasting session of unknown flavors that might just hold the key to a livable world.
concept Sien Vanmaele & Sofie Joan Wouters
text Sien Vanmaele
performance Laura François & Sofie Joan Wouters
direction Michai Geyzen
dramaturgy Mieke Versyp
costumes Jana Roos
scenography Peter De Bie
production Laika
