Before the Story Starts is an experimental, immersive, one man theatre performance that takes place in the liminal moment before a (or THE) story begins.
Inspired by The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy, Being John Malkovich and Alan Watts, master storyteller Thomas Dudkiewicz travels through the subconscious of the universe, in pursuit of answers.
This story that is not yet a story has a surreal structure filled with cryptic hosts, erratic guides, and philosophical dead-ends.
As he meets his alter ego(s) he unravels the story of why, why is it that he tells stories? How is meaning built? And what happens when we confront the terrifying possibility that there may never be a final answer?
Credits
Script, concept, and performance Thomas Dudkiewicz Coach Naomi Velissariou Spatial design Marijn Alexander de Jong Sound design Tomas Loos Creative technologist Hendrik Walther Technical producer Jaap Schledorn Production manager Elise de Fooij PR & communications Pien Visser Business management Martha van Meegen and Marijn Bellaard Business assistance Denise de Hoog Production URLAND
Made possible with the support of the Municipality of Rotterdam, the Performing Arts Fund NL, and Cultuurloket DigitAll.













