Marlene Monteiro Freitas's 'NÔT' Disappoints at Kunstenfestival 2026

At the Kunstenfestival Bruxelles 2026, Cape Verdean choreographer Marlene Monteiro Freitas presented 'NÔT' at the Théâtre National Bruxelles from May 14 to 17. The piece, which premiered at the 79th Festival d'Avignon in July 2025 in the Cour d'Honneur, was commissioned by Tiago Rodrigues, director of the Avignon Festival. Freitas, now based in Lisbon, aimed to reinterpret the tale of Scheherazade from 'One Thousand and One Nights,' but the result was criticized for its disjointed pacing and obscure references. The set design by Yannick Fouassier featured white grilles creating micro-spaces, lit with stark white light. Performer Joaozinho da Costa opened with a graceful dance, but the show's long transitions and scatological scenes weighed it down. The soundtrack by Rui Antunes, blending Stravinsky's 'Les Noces,' Moroccan wedding music, Prince, and Nick Cave, was praised as the highlight, evoking a contemporary opera more than a choreography. The critic concluded that Freitas failed to replicate the magic of her earlier work 'Canine jaunâtre 3' for Batsheva Dance Company.