ZINC

PRODUCTION TDL

Premiere on 19 September 2026 at the Théâtre de Liège

In Moresnet, a neutral territory coveted by the great European powers, unfolds the extraordinary fate of an ordinary man, swept along by History, who changed nationality five times without ever moving house.

To the east of present-day Belgium once lay Neutral Moresnet, a remarkable territory that emerged after the fall of Napoleon, centred around the largest zinc mine on the European continent. Long coveted by the great European powers, this tiny territory was declared neutral and existed for almost a century in an entirely exceptional political situation. Several languages, several nationalities and multiple allegiances coexisted there, making Moresnet a European laboratory avant la lettre.

But the twentieth century and its wars overturned this delicate balance. Without ever leaving their homes, the inhabitants of Moresnet were forced to change nationality several times. They did not cross the borders: the borders crossed them.

Drawing on this fascinating history, Belgian writer David Van Reybrouck and Irish theatre company Dead Centre explore the notions of territory, neutrality and identity. On stage, languages intersect and different perspectives confront one another in a performance that combines historical storytelling, theatre and razor-sharp humour.

Known for its ability to transform theatre spaces, Irish company Dead Centre metamorphoses the stage through video mapping: projections create striking images and transport us from one era to another, turning the stage into a constantly shifting space, reflecting the ever-changing nature of our identities. Today, as borders re-emerge, identities become more entrenched and nations increasingly turn inwards, ZINC brings the history of Moresnet into dialogue with our contemporary world. The stage, in turn, becomes a neutral territory, a space where identities can move, transform and reinvent themselves…