“We know more about the surface of the moon than we do about the bottom of the ocean.” This statement often comes up when it comes to the deep sea. Worldwide, only ten percent of the ocean floor has been mapped and studied. At a point in history where the planet we live on seems more or less studied, some places remain unexposed and untouched.

In the spring of 2021, three ships will converge in a remote part of the Pacific Ocean. One of them is part of the Belgian dredging company DEME-GSR. Four kilometers below sea level, their mining robot scrapes the seabed in search of rare metals. On another ship, an international team of marine biologists and geologists closely monitors the operation. A third ship completes the fleet: aboard the infamous Rainbow Warrior, Greenpeace activists protest this possible future industry.

From their small apartment in Brussels, Silke and Hannes connect via satellite to the three ships, each representing a pillar of the public debate: industry, science and activism. Through interviews and conversations, they paint an intimate portrait of an emerging industry. The performance is an attempt to capture a potential pivotal moment in Earth's history. How much deeper can mining companies dig and where are we actually digging ourselves with humanity? What are the challenges and risks? What opportunities may be up for grabs?

Silke Huysmans (°Brazil, 1989) studied drama at KASK School of Arts Ghent and Hannes Dereere (°Belgium, 1990) theater studies at Ghent University. With their performances, the two Brussels makers investigate the use of journalistic and documentary elements within the theatre. Their work is based on extensive field research with which they shape their projects. Since 2016 they have been working on a trilogy in which they conduct long-term research on mining.
 
In 2016, the first part Mining Stories premiered at the Bâtard Festival in Brussels. For this performance, Silke and Hannes returned to the place where she grew up in Brazil. In 2015, a dam burst flooded this site with toxic mining waste, causing one of the largest ecological mining disasters in recent history. The performance was selected for Circuit X/Het Theaterfestival 2017 (Belgium) and received the main prize at the Zürcher Theaterspektakel 2018 (Switzerland).
 
The premiere of their second part Pleasant Island followed in 2019 at the Kunstenfestivaldesarts in Brussels. In this performance, the island nation of Nauru holds up a mirror to the world. Nauru was once a paradise in the Pacific Ocean. After decades of colonization and mining, this island is literally standing on its own due to rising sea levels.