Four actors gather around a kitchen table, propelled by an explosive live soundtrack. With VLOEK!, de Roovers take on a modern classic with raw energy and urgency. Written during the oil crisis of 1979, the text feels uncannily prophetic today.

Curse of the Starving Class by American playwright Sam Shepard is a sharp, bittersweet portrait of a family on the edge. Despair erupts into fierce poetry, while moments of tenderness surface in the midst of brutal confrontations. This story of decline is, sadly, more relevant than ever — a powerful and passionate critique of the American Dream.

We translated the themes of VLOEK! into a restrained, tactile visual language. Four vertical woodblock prints symbolize the family members—isolated, weathered, and confined within parallel frames. The rough textures and imperfect impressions point to erosion, economic pressure, and an inescapable downward spiral.

A limited colour palette and stamp-like typography reinforce the raw, unfiltered character of the play, echoing the harsh poetry of Sam Shepard.

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