Theater

What happens when you cross to radically different disciplines? Come to find out! The Amsterdam Storytelling Festival and the Kaboom Animation Festival requested two storytellers to see what kind of story they can tell using animation. Rod Ben Zeev and Renske Ebbers have gladly accepted the challenge and have dived into finding a new way to tell in front of the big screen!

Skip It / Rod Ben Zeev 
Get ready to rediscover the magic in everyday moments with Rod's one-of-a-kind performance! This isn’t just any show—it’s an adventure where you call the shots. Want to soak up every delightful detail, or skip straight to the good stuff? The choice is yours! And here’s the best part: Rod has a knack for bringing out the kid in everyone. By the end, you’ll feel like you’re seeing the world with the same wide-eyed wonder you had as a child. It’s playful, it’s interactive, and it’s guaranteed to leave you smiling.

Lionheart / Renske Ebbers
A girl on a beach in South Africa, retiring her Wonder Woman cape. A sister playing Mario Kart in a children's hospital.
She was known as the brave one. The oldest one of her generation, the first girl in the family that could do anything she wanted. But what remains after the dragon is slain, and she is called home empty handed? When the only person that truly sees her as a hero, is the one she just can´t save? When bravery makes way for shame, will she dare talk about it?
A girl wants to punch a mountain. Or become a lion. Or learn how to fly. Anything to keep from sitting still, waiting. 

In a personal story about the delusions of voluntourism and the magical bond between two siblings, Renske travels to the fantasy lands of childhood books, animations and video games. Because beyond a world of unfairness and misfortune, lies a place for us, if you are brave enough to play-pretend. Meet me there dearest, and I will race you on those white sanded shores. 

Rod Ben Zeev is a storyteller at heart, with a passion for weaving narratives that inspire change and spark creativity. Rod also produces "My True Story" at Mezrab, a space where authentic stories come to life, captivating audiences and connecting people through shared experiences.

Renske is a creative producer and program curator for community-based performing arts, especially passionate about social issues and international collaboration. Since 2020 she has developed as a writer and storyteller with Mezrab, bringing personal stories with a pinch of nostalgia, a twist of self-mockery, and a musical note. This is her first performance for the Amsterdam Storytelling Festival.  Listen to another of Renske Ebbers story on spotify. 

Credits: 
A collaboration with Kaboom Animation Festival
Concept and animation selection: Stijn Ebbers
Animations by: *
Stories and Performance Lionheart: Renske Ebbers 
Stories and Performance Skip It: Rod Ben Zeev