On Sunday 22 November 2026, AND NOW WE’RE GOING TO REALLY LET OUR HAIR DOWN (a brilliant show) (6+) by Maas theatre and dance and Acteursgroep Wunderbaum premieres at Theater Zuidplein in Rotterdam. This is the first time that Maas and Wunderbaum have collaborated on a production for the main auditorium, and the first time that Wunderbaum has created a production for young audiences. In this musical, absurd and funny production, five performers attempt to dance their way free from everything that is dictated to them. After all, who actually decides how you’re supposed to behave? Following the premiere in Rotterdam, the production will tour Dutch theatres until January 2027.
AND NOW WE’RE GOING TO REALLY LET OUR HAIR DOWN (a brilliant show)
At AND NOW WE’RE GOING TO REALLY LET OUR HAIR DOWN (a brilliant show) We find ourselves in a little, unfamiliar dance hall where a grumpy DJ takes us on a journey through every possible style and move. There’s voguing, slow dancing, breakdancing, ‘hakking’, hip-hopping, shuffling, ‘bepopping’, TikTok dancing and stomping. But apparently, there’s always something wrong.
Five performers try to dance their way to freedom through all manner of dazzling and absurd attempts. Free from rules, expectations and notions of how one is supposed to behave. Because are you actually allowed to be completely yourself? And who decides where the line lies between normal and strange, between fitting in and being an outsider?
Through humour, music and plenty of movement, it explores AND NOW WE’RE GOING TO GO COMPLETELY WILD how we navigate society. A performance about freedom, self-expression, peer pressure and the need to just let your hair down every now and then.
TOGETHER OFF THE BEATEN TRACK
With AND NOW WE’RE GOING TO REALLY LET OUR HAIR DOWN (a brilliant show) Maas Theatre and Dance and the Wunderbaum Theatre Company are collaborating for the first time to stage a production for a large auditorium. For Wunderbaum, this is also their first production aimed at young audiences.
For years, Wunderbaum has been creating theatre about minor worries and major political issues, absurd human behaviour and the world we live in. Maas creates unconventional physical theatre and dance for children and young people. The companies work for different audiences, but share an approach to creation in which the performers’ personalities take centre stage.
Director Marleen Scholten (Wunderbaum): “Dance is a metaphor for how we navigate society. In an increasingly hostile world, where people are criticised for who they are and what they stand for, we want to pay tribute to personal freedom and authenticity. With humour and love, we tackle this complex theme and invite children to join in. Because, ultimately, dance is simply moving to music. And everyone should have the right to do so however they wish.”
According to dramaturg Sara Giampaolo (Maas), the strength of the collaboration lies precisely in the blending of the two companies’ different working practices: “Although our target audiences differ, there are similarities in how our work comes about and how we aim to engage with our audience through that work. We both draw on the personalities of the performers on stage rather than pre-conceived characters, and we take our audience seriously. At the same time, Wunderbaum dares to venture beyond the beaten track of youth theatre, whilst Maas works strongly from the perspective of physical theatre. In this performance, we blend these approaches. Wunderbaum immerses itself even more in physical work whilst bringing its own unique perspective and humour to the table. Less text. More movement. And through dance, we hope to connect with one another – together with the children in the audience.”
WHO SETS THE RULES?
Both children and adults are confronted on a daily basis with social norms, expectations and ideas about how one is supposed to behave. AND NOW WE’RE GOING TO REALLY LET OUR HAIR DOWN (a brilliant show) playfully asks who actually makes those rules. With this performance, Maas and Wunderbaum want to invite children and adults alike to find their own way of moving. To, every now and then, not do what is expected of you. And perhaps just let your hair down.
APPENDIX 1: CREDITS AND CAST LIST
CREDITS
Concept: Wunderbaum Theatre Company and Maas Theatre and Dance
Marleen Scholten and Sara Giampaolo
Directed by: Marleen Scholten
Directorial advice, dramaturgy: Sara Giampaolo
Performers: Dionisio Matias, Hali Neto, Manon Nieuweboer, Rosa van Leeuwen, Sjaid Foncé
Costumes: Calle de Hoog, Bonnie Verhoeven (assistant), Marit Hoffman (intern), Mette Klein (intern)
Lighting design: Remko van Wely
Composition: Reinier van Harten
Technical producer: John Thijssen
Education: Esther Schouten
Production: Djoeke Westdijk, Juliette Moonen (intern)
Technical team: Andrea Spoor, Frans Baudoin, Robert Nieuwenhuis
Marketing: Sanne van der Velde, Bora Sirin
Co-production: Maas Theatre and Dance & Acteursgroep Wunderbaum
With thanks to: The Wunderbaum Theatre Company
MESH THEATRE AND DANCE FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES
Maas Theatre and Dance is the largest theatre and dance company for children, young people and young adults in the Netherlands, combining the creation of physical theatre with education and its own venue in Rotterdam, the Maaspodium. Maas works towards a fairer world, so that every child has the space for play, fantasy and imagination. With an artist’s mindset, they use theatre and dance to encourage young audiences to stay true to their hearts.
PLAYLIST
NOVEMBER 2026
Fri 13 Nov 19:30 – Theater aan de Schie, Schiedam (try-out)
Sat 21 Nov 14:00 – Theater Zuidplein, Rotterdam (try-out)
Sun 22 Nov 14:00 – Theater Zuidplein, Rotterdam (premiere)
Sun 29 Nov 15:00 – Stadsschouwburg Haarlem, Haarlem
DECEMBER 2026
Sun 6 Dec 15:00 – Stadsschouwburg Utrecht, Utrecht
Sun 13 Dec 15:00 – Zaantheater, Zaandam
Sat 19 Dec 15:00 – Chassé Theatre, Breda
Sun 20 Dec 15:30 – De Flint, Amersfoort
Tue 22 Dec 15:00 – Leidse Schouwburg, Leiden
Wed 23 Dec 15:00 – Theater de Veste, Delft
Sun 27 Dec 15:00 – De Koninklijke Schouwburg, The Hague
Tue 29 Dec 15:00 – Odeon Theatre, Zwolle
JANUARY 2027
Sat 2 Jan 15:00 – Kunstmin, Dordrecht
Sun 3 Jan 15:00 – Theater aan de Parade, Den Bosch
Sun 10 Jan 14:00 – De Purmaryn Theatre, Purmerend
Sat 16 Jan 16:00 – Parktheater Eindhoven, Eindhoven
Sun 17 Jan 15:00 – De Meervaart, Amsterdam
Wed 20 Jan 16:00 – Internationaal Theater Amsterdam, Amsterdam
Sun 24 Jan 15:30 – Orpheus Theatre, Apeldoorn
Fri 29 Jan 19:00 – De Lawei Theatre, Drachten
Sun 31 Jan 15:00 – TAQA Theater De Vest, Alkmaar
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