THE AGE OF LOVE (BE) 2024-2025

Samuel Valor Reyes (1996, he/him – they/them) is a theatermaker graduated from Toneelacademie Maastricht/Institute of Performative Arts and a performance artist of Spanish origin. They are part of the shifting generation of artists living in-between two or more cultures with strong connections to their Andalusian roots and multicultural Limburg.

With a strong fascination for bodies and celebrating the stories and memories we carry through them, Valor Reyes tries to create electricity, disturbance and pure bliss in each movement. The artistic practice always starts from clashing or blending multidisciplinary cross-overs where imagery, shape, movement and purpose meet. Their work pushes the limits of space in relation to the performer, creating worlds that are colorful, confronting, absurd and raw. In these spaces the search for connection, queerness, identity, empowerment, spirituality, falling and jumping bodies are always highlighted.  

Their philosophy is to allow the identity of the performer and their lived experiences be the backbone of the performance. Performance is a transformative space and this space belongs to all of us. In the past few years Valor Reyes has created The Age of Love, The Age of Resurrection, The Motherf*cking End of The Fatherf*cking World, Camp X-Ray, Misfitting in, Bootylicious Bodies, FASHIONCLASH Afterparty and Ravijnenvanrimpels.  

Nata Mandaria (she/her) is a socio-cultural worker and tries to include these facets in her work as a writer and performer. Originally from Limburg, she found her home in Brussels when she was eighteen. She herself likes to say that she grew up in “Little Georgia”. Her artistic practice often starts from her story as the daughter of Georgian Orthodox, first-generation immigrants and all the limitations, blessings and curses that entails. Someone once told her that everything starts with “a feeling.” She gives that feeling back to an audience through rhythmic spoken words. Nata has previously performed with her spoken word at Outside In Festival, FASHIONCLASH, Theater Aan Zee and Europalia Georgia. As a performer, she has played parts in Samuel Valor Reyes’ The Age of Love and (The Age Of) Resurrection. After a four year break, she has delved into making theatre again with her most recent work in progress ‘moederwittevrouwen / თეთრი დედა ქალები’. 

Marie Peeters (she/her, 1996, Leuven), studied Art History, Musicology and Theatre Studies at the University of Ghent (2018) and Film and Theatre Studies at UAntwerpen (2019). During her studies, she did dramaturgy internships at fABULEUS for Merlijn of het barre land  and at Ontroerend Goed for Loopstation.  

Since graduating, she has collaborated on performances as a dramaturge for various theatre, circus and dance companies such as collectief dOFt (TWEESTRIJD, Kapottepoppenkoppen, Zozoöfzo, Dummies en FOON), Menzo Kircz (Onduidelijke Correspondenties), Hanna Mampuys/fABULEUS (Softies), Ferre Marnef/Desnor (Ponge), Ugo Dehaes/Kwaad Bloed (Simple Machines, Limp), Sofie Palmers/fABULEUS (Off the Record), Wannes Deneer/ Matter Of Sound (Speaking Characters, BALK en RrrrrRrrRrrrrrrrr), THERE THERE Company (Chaïm), Circumstances/Piet Van Dycke (EXIT en Glorious Bodies), dinsdag.org (Alice in Randomland), Callebaut en De Broeck (Ob°joie), Senne Vanderschelden, Marius Lefever en Jef Van der Burght (Silly Symphonies), Piet Van Dycke/ fABULEUS (Beyond the Edge), jong theatergezelschap TINT (Q & A) Jakobe Geens (Organiek Mechaniek) and Anouk Friedli (Dans Dans Dans, een spel in bijna tienduizend woorden).  

Marie has been part of the artistic team of fABULEUS since 2023.