Mr. Kamishibai

1 (solo) performer

Indoor and outdoor

Actor

4 hours

In consultation

NL

The Kamishibai is an ancient, originally Indian storytelling theatre. Armed with a bicycle and lots of storytelling records, a man comes to the children and anyone who wants to be enchanted by a tempting story.

We’ve used this theater as the setting for Mr. Kamishibai. For the occasion, we’re dressed a little less “Western” and we’re arriving by bike. The theater is filled with stories (tailored to the theme, age group, or the client’s request) that can even be custom-made.

And we tell stories… not just anyhow, but with passion. It’s a treat for both the storyteller and the audience, because together we let ourselves be guided by what happens in the story. Are you ready for this multimedia-free adventure? We sure are!

The price for this act is based on a performance consisting of 4 x 40-minute sets.

Mr. Kamishibai also has a name: Patrick van Horne. He is a teacher by training. That educational background makes it easy for him to stand in front of groups and engage them. Patrick has been performing since 2000, first as a clown, and later adding statuesque performances and walking acts to his repertoire. Since 2018, being a performer has been his full-time job.

Patrick on his motivation:

“Acting and entertaining are in my blood; it’s always a thrill to deliver a successful act. I regularly try out new ideas—that’s how the living statue came about. It looks easy, but it requires a more subtle and measured approach. You want to interact with your audience, so you have to get the timing just right.”

In 2012, Patrick decided to stop performing as the clown Patje so he could devote enough energy to his living statues and walking acts. Patrick has since proven that he’s earned his stripes. With his living statue of the “textile teut,” he won the Belgian championship in 2008 and placed second in the BeNeLux championship in Lommel that same year. The act “I Wood Be (a Statue)” also won awards: in April 2014, Patrick won the Borne op z’n Best festival (Netherlands) with this act and took third place at the living statue festival in Tegelen (Netherlands). After that, “I Wood Be a Statue” went on to take first place in Den Bosch and Maastricht and was crowned the 2014 Belgian Living Statue Champion. As the icing on the cake, “I Wood Be a Statue” took home second place at Worldstatues 2014 in Arnhem.

In 2015, Patrick successfully defended his title as Belgian champion with the act “His Past, My Past.” He was not only named the best Belgian statue but also won first prize among all participating statues.

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