Working Songs Vol.1 (2021)

Documentary movie with songs about work

Work is an important element of an individual’s sense of self-worth, their quality of life and social relationships. Throughout history people have been singing together in order to endure hard working conditions. Music and labour are therefore intrinsically connected, playing a central role in the community building. In January 2021, theatre director Sanja Mitrović proposed an alternative reading of traditional working songs at an event organised at the Ancienne Belgique music venue in Brussels. In the set up reminiscent of a live concert, a number of guests were invited to interpret a selection of working songs. They included Miss Angel, DJ Rokia Bamba, Lander Gyselinck, Tarek Halaby, Ana Naqe, and Joelle Sambi – a selection representing various aspects of the contemporary ‘circum-Atlantic’ music scene in the greater Brussels region. The songs they adapted vary from those describing hardships of forced labour to the ones celebrating the workers’ communities and labour as joy. The reinterpretation of songs on the AB main stage, as well short as conversations with the participating contributors, were filmed live, without an audience due to the COVID 19 restrictions.

@ Stand Up Tall Productions
@ Stand Up Tall Productions
@ Stand Up Tall Productions
@ Stand Up Tall Productions
@ Stand Up Tall Productions

Cast And Credits

Concept and direction: Sanja Mitrović Contributing artists (in order of appearance): Lander Gyselinck with Simon Jermyn and Hendrik Lasure Miss Angel with DJ Black Mamba Ana Naque with Suhamet Latifi, Enrique Noviello and Sali Ramadan Joelle Sambi Nzeba with Nicolas Pommier Tarek Halaby with Simon Thierree and Carlos Garbin DJ Rokia Mamba Executive production: Inge Pieters French translation: Giovanni Baudonck Production: Kristof van Dijk Sound: Tom Lezaire, Andreas de Roy Studio: Stef van Alsenoy Lights: Jan van Lindt, Renaat van Hee Video and multicamera: Peter Deckers Camera: Maarten Coosemans Editing: Patrick Geeraerts, Charles Godin, Ayzo Algera, Judit Coffyn, Ylle Denutte, Laura Egghe, Felle Janssens, Cato Kustera, Josse Seghers, Wout van Assche, Claudia van Damme, Jacob van Paassen, Samuel Warnants, Anton Nicasy Sound mixing: Jan Verschoren, Hannes Demuynck, Kevin Sucaet, Geert Bynens Production: Royal Institute for Theatre, Film and Sound (Brussels), Ancienne Belgique (Brussels) and and Stand Up Tall Productions (Brussels)