s.a.m. (stop annoying me)

The balance between youth, maturity and (un)fulfilled potential

S.A.M. (stop annoying me) is an immersive trip into thoughts and feelings of 16-year-old Sam, through an amalgamation of film, theater and live music. How do you find and maintain your own identity in a world that sometimes feels hostile?

In S.A.M., composer Dyane Donck and mezzo-soprano Els Mondelaers give the stage to teenager Sam. Sam, portrayed on film by singer Nina Kortekaas, shares the stage with her adult self, played live by Els. This third production by Dyane and Els as co-creators is a collaboration with the versatile Cello Octet Amsterdam. Film, music and theater come together to create a deeply personal performance about growing up and mental health.

The adult Sam follows her younger self on stage, appearing on screens, while events from their lives unfold fragmentarily. Young Sam struggles with fears and dark feelings of loneliness, misunderstanding and self-loathing. She seeks refuge in the world of film and music, where her own creativity and imagination are given space. The members of Cello Octet Amsterdam alternately play the roles of extras and musicians with music ranging from electronic pop and contemporary classical to dark, alienating soundscapes.