Benjamin Abel Meirhaeghe | Toneelhuis

In ancient times, the Greeks had a word for it: Mantikê tékhnê – the art of divination. They read signs of the future in the flight of birds, the shapes of trees, the wandering of bees. Everything could carry meaning.

Today, our futures often feel prepackaged. We swallow ready-made dreams, repeat ideas that aren’t truly ours. It’s as if both past and future have already been decided.

'Mantike' turns that idea on its head. Writer Louise Van den Eede draws inspiration from the myth of Calypso, the goddess exiled by love. In this poetic and powerful monologue, Calypso transforms her sorrow into something new: she builds a raft from the broken pieces of her grief, helping her beloved Odysseus leave her behind.

Actress Marjan De Schutter brings Calypso to life. You may know her from the Canvas series Albatros or from previous Toneelhuis productions such as Gekken en Specialisten and Operette. She’s also making waves internationally – two series featuring De Schutter have been selected for the prestigious Canneseries festival.

Mantike is not a classic tragedy, nor a tale of doom. It’s an invitation to rethink where we’re headed and what we choose to let go of. Which stories do we carry with us, and which ones do we leave behind? And how can we shape a future that hasn't yet been written?