Director Tessa Smeulers leaves Boulevard after 15 years

This summer, the fortieth edition of Theatre Festival Boulevard will be celebrated in 's-Hertogenbosch, with new names and old acquaintances. For director-director Tessa Smeulers, this special anniversary year is a moment to change her tack. After 15 years, she will step down from Boulevard on 1 September.

Head and heart

"For years, my head and heart have been connected to Theatre Festival Boulevard. With great happiness and pleasure, I have had the opportunity to work with the best colleagues, inspiring creators and many committed partners of this beautiful festival. Recently, the realisation grew that, after 15 years - the vast majority of my working life - I want to broaden my horizons and grow elsewhere. The audience, the makers, the city, the colleagues and the volunteers; I'm going to miss everything," motivates Tessa Smeulers.

Smeulers started at Theatre Festival Boulevard as programme producer, then became head programme and in the last few years she formed the two-headed management together with Dana Kibbelaar. Tessa Smeulers: "Working with Dana over the past two years has been the icing on the cake for my career at Theatre Festival Boulevard. It is very nice to know that she will continue to guide Boulevard with her knowledge and passion."

Duo director Dana Kibbelaar will lead the festival in the coming months together with Daniële Streep - who is taking over ad interim. Daniële Streep has experience as interim director at Oerol Festival, as head of operations at Eurosonic Noorderslag and as a management consultant at Berenschot. Further introduction will follow.

Dana Kibbelaar, managing director:

"With her eye for quality and her warm commitment to the creators and their work, Tessa made a difference. She was tireless in her attention and appreciation for us, her immediate colleagues, and all others involved working in Theatre Festival Boulevard. Her decision to move on I think is courageous. We will miss Tessa."

Heleen Herbert, Chairman Supervisory Board:

"Theatre Festival Boulevard is carried by an experienced and dedicated team that shapes the festival artistically and production-wise. For many years, Tessa has been one of the face-lifters who developed this festival into what it is today. In the past two years, together with Dana Kibbelaar, she developed a new management model, in which continuity and multi-voicedness are guaranteed by a two-man board. This laid a strong foundation for the future. We are confident that Dana and Daniële, together with the entire team, will successfully build on this. We thank Tessa for all she has meant to Boulevard and wish her a wonderful continuation of her career." 

Boulevard 40

With the Parade as the festival heart, Theatre Festival Boulevard returns this 40^e edition back to the city centre of 's-Hertogenbosch. From 1 to 11 August, over 110 performances will take place at various locations. From the atmospheric Parade to the cosy city centre and unique locations beyond. Boulevard offers a summer festival experience for theatre fans and terrace lovers alike. With new names and old acquaintances. The network of creators associated with the festival is large and continues to grow. Different generations of audiences, curious and cordial, are loyal to us.