“Before Higgs symmetry and boredom
after Higgs complexity, excitement and laughter.”
(Leon Lederman, in The God Particle)

Jan van den Berg; HIGGS

A lecture performance about the making of a particle also known as Higgs.

For seven whole years, Jan van den Berg kept a close track on the hunt for the 
legendary Higgs particle. As a theatre maker and filmmaker, and also as a person
 versed in the arts.
A man of the arts in the wondrous world of physics! Van den
Berg descended many times into CERN’s underground particle accelerator and asked
 dozens of Higgs hunters about their passion for the hunt – the hunt for that one
 needle in a million haystacks. A ‘needle’ which is often called the God particle. But 
why, actually?

Van den Berg also became acquainted with Professor Peter Higgs in person. The man after whom the particle is named. An extremely amiable man, it turned out, when he interviewed him for his documentary. A bond of friendship grew between the British scientist and the Dutch artist. On 30 June 2012, they were enjoying lunch together somewhere in Sicily when the telephone rang. Somebody from CERN was on the line: “I think we have it.” Would Professor Higgs please come to Geneva as soon as possible. Van den Berg immediately started editing the final version of his documentary film and then … creating his lecture performance.

HIGGS is a theatrical voyage of discovery with exclusive background stories, unique film footage and live discussions with experts. Jan van den Berg is juggling with facts and fiction about the comedy & tragedy of CERN, the Mini Big Bang and the Quest for Higgs; and how to explain it to the primordial people of Papua New Guinea, also known as Paradise Country.

Text & Performance: Jan van den Berg
Direction: Dirk Groeneveld
Design: Hannie van den Bergh

Higgs premièred at Summerhall (the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2013)

‘A mind-expanding tribute to Peter Higgs’ The Scotsman

‘A storytelling session of genius’ Broadway Baby
‘Jan van den Berg manages to capture the significance, enormity and relevance of his subject in an easily accessible way.’ Edinburgh Spotlight

______________ Tour dates HIGGS – stand up physics __________________________

2013
2 t/m 17 august 2013 — Summerhall, Edinburgh (UK)
22 t/m 26 november 2013 Theater Frascati, Amsterdam (NL) 020 . 626 68 66
23
6 dec. t/m 12 dec 2013 Podium OCW, Rotterdam (NL), http://www.podiumocw.nl
12 december 2013 Stadsschouwburg, Utrecht (NL), 030 . 230 20 23

2014
20 january 2014 De Schalm, Veldhoven (NL), 040 . 253 35 78
23 january 2014 Toneelschuur, Haarlem (NL), 023 . 517 39 10
29 january 2014 University College London (UK)
29 january 2014 Science Museum London (UK)
4 february 2014 Schouwburg Ogterop, Meppel (NL), 0522 . 254 24
2
7 february 2014 Theater Bouwkunde, Deventer (NL), 0570 . 614 075
15 february 2014 Odeon De Spiegel, Zwolle (NL), 038 . 4 288 288
18 february 2014 Stuk, Leuven, (B), +32 (0) 16 320 320
19 february 2014 Stuk, Leuven, (B), +32 (0) 16 320 320
27 february 2014 Verkadefabriek, ‘s-Hertogenbosch (NL), 073 . 681 81 60
6 march 2014 Saxion Deventer (NL), http://www.studiumgenerale.saxion.nl
13 march 2014 Parktheater, Eindhoven (NL), 040 . 2 11 11 22
18 march 2014 Theater aan het Spui, ‘s-Gravenhage (NL), 070 . 346 52 72
28 march 2014 Schouwburg Arnhem (NL), 026 . 443 73 43
1 april 2014 Studium Generale Wageningen (NL)
25 june 2014 CERN European School of High-Energy Physics (EU)
25 september 2014 Stedelijk Dalton Lyceum Dordrecht (NL) (closed meeting)
19 november 2014 Parkstad Limburg Theaters, Heerlen (NL), 045 . 571 66 07

2015
22 january 2015 Schouwburg Almere (NL), 036 . 84 55 555
22 february 2015 De Harmonie, Leeuwarden (NL), 058 . 233 0 233
27 maart 2015 Theaters Tilburg (NL), 013 . 543 22 20
18 april 2015 ISIS Conference #2 Play / Perform / Participate, isis2015.nl
19 & 20 november 2015 Art&science Festival Université de Bordeaux (FR)
23 november 2015 Theater Purmaryn, Purmerend, 0299 432205
8 december 2015 Schouwburg Cuijk
13 december 2015 Stadsschouwburg Utrecht, 030-2302023

2016
5 march 2016 Isala Theater, Capelle aan den IJssel, 010 – 458 64 00
10 march 2016 Vrijhof Cultuurcentrum Universiteit Enschede (English spoken)