The world premiere of AFTER MOURNING, BEFORE VAN GOGH, opened at Shadow Theatre in Edmonton, AB, this past March/April 2025.
Directed by: John Hudson and Lana Michelle Hughes
Older Johanna: Lora Brovold
Younger Johanna: Donna-Leny Hansen
Yassine El Fassi El Fihri: Dries, Johan
Steven Greenfield: Theo
Andrew Ritchie: Vincent, Vincent Willem
Gina Moe: Stage Manager
Leona Brausen: Costume Design
Dave Clark: Sound Design
Matt Shuurman: Projection Design
Ami Farrow: Set and Lighting Design
Tianna Mclean: production Manager
Morgan Yamada: Intimacy Director
In 1891, Johanna Bonger was Theo Van Gogh’s wife for only 2 years, and their young son Vincent Willem, was a year old when Theo died – 6 months after his older brother, Vincent. They were now the custodians of Vincent’s art (paintings and drawings, numbering over 600 all told), as his own family didn’t believe in him. Johanna was devastated, having watched her Theo slowly succumb to his own madness in an asylum. She was told by most of her family and friends to just get rid of the art, as it was deemed worthless and Johanna was educated as an English teacher, not an art dealer. She refused.
Instead, Johanna decided to take up Theo’s mission to bring Vincent’s art to the world, fueled by a deep love for her husband and inner drive and passion that most people underestimated. As a widowed single mother, she opened a boarding house, determined to support herself and young son on her own. She curated and translated Vincent’s letters, slowly began loaning Vincent’s art to different galleries across Europe, selling a few here and there to cover the immense costs.
For 35-years up to her death in 1925, she was unwavering in her efforts. Johanna Bonger, the woman who saved Van Gogh.
The production received some press and blog posts that highlight the need to tell this story and celebrate what Johanna Bonger achieved. Even those that have a strong knowledge of Van Gogh the artist, know little about the backstory and all the people that made ‘Van Gogh’ possible.
**Photos by Marc J Chalifoux
https://edmontonjournal.com/entertainment/shadow-theatre-after-mourning-before-van-gogh-edmonton
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