Festival season Dutch performing arts 2024 kicks off with Delft Fringe Festival

From 28 May to 9 June

Delft, Monday 15 April 2024 - From 28 May to 9 June, 28 makers will turn Delft on its cultural head for nine days and you can visit 31 locations throughout the city for cabaret, dance, family theatre, cabaret, music and everything in between. With this, Delft is kicking off the cultural festival season. Online ticket sales start on Saturday 20 April.

Delft Fringe Festival (you write it without the 'it' in front of it) is taking place for the 13th time this year. This year, 28 makers have been chosen from 410 applications and no fewer than 14 performances will premiere at the festival. This new generation of makers wants to give audiences an important message, and sometimes even a literal call to action. They are eager to be allowed to surprise, entertain, move and make you think. The themes in their work stem from fascination or social necessity. 

 On male perspective on abortion, gender rules and dating as autistic

Like the work of 18-year-old kleinkunstenaar and Tik-Tokker Wouter Haaksema, whose performance 'Thanks for listening' talks about the struggle between his homosexuality and being a Christian. Or Sophie Willemijntje who was diagnosed with autism at 21 and thus experienced a new dimension in dating. She made the performance ''Tales of the Tinderverse' about. But it covers more social issues, discussions and developments. For instance, it put Mystha Mandersloot (last year's winner) put the conversation about abortion back on the table with her performance and can be seen with a sequel this year. Whereas ABORTUSVERHALEN was all about the woman's perspective, this year the Amsterdam native is making a new creation around the topic, but from the male perspective. And yes, in this performance called 'Stories of Progenitors', emotion and humour once again go hand in hand. Amsterdam-based dance maker Liza Sulaiman grew up in an Iraqi and Belarusian family, familiar with war and political oppression. In her performance 'Iraqi Bodies' through dance and Arabic poetry, she pays tribute to every body forced to flee and leave the familiar behind.

 About Delft Fringe Festival

 Delft Fringe festival offers performing artists a space to perform and get feedback from both audiences and professionals, including impresarios and scouts. This makes Delft Fringe festival a unique kickstarter of new artistic careers. Over the past 14 years, the event has become one of the most important theatre festivals for new creators. There is a public prize (Delft Fringe Festival Award) to be won, resulting in considerable media attention. The festival organisation offers extra guidance in the artistic career of the talents. So chances are you will see the makers of today, in the big theatres next year. See also award winners.