Performance: The Desire for Immortality

“The Desire For Immortality” is a theatrical summer ritual where you, as the audience, together with the artists and performers, plant many seeds of ideas and stories in the beautiful gardens, forests, and lake of the WildHeart. Don’t miss this unique event—come and experience this artistic theatrical ritual where we embrace and share the power and beauty of art with one another.

The story can be read as a homosexual relationship between Enkidu and Gilgamesh. But when
you dive deeper into the story, you encounter timeless questions and discover the narrative
blueprint of our contemporary (popular) storytelling culture. The common thread throughout this
tale, about the connection of the “civilized” modern human with (the wild) pristine nature, was
the impetus to take on the challenge of designing a sensory performance tailored to the gardens
of WildHeart. Thursday, August 1, at 7:00 PM is the result of this two week performance research process.

Belgian queer theatermaker Pascal Buyse is fascinated by the story of Gilgamesh. The Epic of Gilgamesh, one of the oldest stories of humanity, follows the mortal hero Gilgamesh on
his quest for identity after the death of his friend (lover) Enkidu. His journey leads him through untapped riches and offers opportunities for reflection on the fleeting nature of life. This timeless theme of humanity’s desire to transcend death echoes through the ages.