WAPPER! is a musical reimagining of an old Antwerp legend, created by composer Noah Senden for Casco Phil, with actress Clara Cleymans as narrator. The touring production, premiered in 2026, is a reworking of the original 2024 family production.

At the heart of the story is the giant Lange Wapper, whose shifting roles as victim and bully raise questions about bullying, power and self-reflection. Senden weaves recurring musical motifs throughout the narrative, allowing themes to evolve and take on new meanings as the story unfolds. A playful bullying tune, for instance, is concealed within Wapper’s main theme, gradually intertwining with it until the music itself becomes a reflection of the character’s journey.

Originally written for eight musicians, the score was reworked for a touring ensemble of accordion, bass clarinet and cello. This smaller instrumentation retains much of the original score’s harmonic richness while exploring new timbres and adding subtle electronic elements. The revised score also leaves greater room for improvisation and collaboration, allowing the music to respond flexibly to the rhythm of the performance.

Through the interplay of storytelling, recurring motifs and shifting sound worlds, WAPPER! brings a familiar Flemish legend to life in a fresh musical form.