Strangely Familiar

About a man who meets himself

Jakop Ahlbom Company and Teatro Metastasio coproduce “Strangely Familiar” in the 2024-2025 season, a surreal performance about social pressure and self-worth.

The main character in “Strangely Familiar” is not seen by his colleagues. He escapes his difficult existence by drifting away to a dreamed world where everything he desires can exist. However, he is unable to make his dreams come true.

When a new employee arrives at the office, this man turns out to be his perfect lookalike. How is it that this double receives the recognition our hero has longed for? He is confronted with everything he is not, or dares not to be, or perhaps does not want to be. His dreams turn into nightmares, seemingly taking over reality. “Strangely Familiar” depicts the struggle our hero undergoes, and we, in a sense, enter his mind with all its consequences.

Strangely Familiar is partly inspired by the dystopian reality of the series ‘Severance,’ created by, among others, Ben Stiller, and the absurd films of Roy Andersson. Dostoevsky’s novella ‘The Double’ has also been a significant source of inspiration.

Credits

Director
Jakop Ahlbom

Dramaturgy
Judith Wendel

Assistant Director
Marit Schimmel (intern)

Cast
Erwin Boschmans, Yannick Greweldinger, Silke Hundertmark/Inez Almeida, Fabio Maniglio, Luca Maniglio, Daphne Masé

Set Design
Marlies Schot, Douwe Hibma

Lighting Design
Yuri Schreuders

Music and Sound 
Leonard Lucieer, Jaïm Sahuleka en Teun Beumer

Costume Design
Esmée Thomassen, Eva Wegman (assistant)

Head of Technical department
Tom Vollebregt

Technical Production
Sanne Fransen

Technical Crew
Michel van der Weijden, Allard Vonk, Hessel Hilgersom, Arend van Gog, Bo van der Ham (intern)

Special Effects
Douwe Hibma

Decoration
Bas Peeperkorn

Special Props
Erik Hillenbrink (Robs propshop)

Head of Production
Sarah Faye van der Ploeg

Production Manager
Jitske Weijand

Assistent Production 
Sascha de Jong (intern)

Tourmanager
Ymke van Hoof

Managing Director
Marc Pil

Accountancy
Louise van der Knaap

Head of education
Laura Liefting

Head of Marketing
Jolijn van Panhuis

Content Marketing
Suzie Hagens

Photography campaign image
Léon Hendrickx

Special thanks to
Gijs Feskens, Angad Goossen, Nynke Koopmans, Siemen Versloot, Bob Walraven, Anouk Steenbakkers, Mara Patrie, Menno Kuijper

Scene Photography
Rahi Rezvani

Teaser
Studio MINSK

Trailer
Oleg Metlinski
Elena Usiatinski

Marketing material concept and design
Studio MINSK

Bookings Netherlands
Senf Theaterpartners

Made possible with the support of
Fonds Podiumkunsten, Amsterdams Fonds voor de Kunst, Fonds 21, Teatro Metastasio di Prato