Of Big Names and Dear Singers From the smash hit ‘Duurt Te Lang’: Glen Faria has more than earned his place in the Dutch music scene. Now he is taking a new step. On 27 December, his theatre concert will MAN Premiering at Theater Rotterdam, followed by a tour of the Netherlands. A musical and personal journey of discovery into the man behind the performer. With new music, poignant stories and the impressive voices of the ZO! Gospel Choir, Glen reveals a side of himself we’ve never seen before.

Glen Faria: “I’m a father, a partner, a son, a friend and an artist. And in each of those roles, something different is expected of me. Sometimes I wonder: when am I just Glen? With MAN, I want to show those different sides of myself. Even the sides I’d normally prefer to keep to myself. I find that exciting, but perhaps that’s precisely why I need to create this show.”

Who is Glen Faria when the music stops and the spotlights go out? The successful artist, the loving father, the devoted partner, the loyal friend, or the son who doesn’t want to let his parents down? Everyone expects something different from him. And Glen tries to live up to all those expectations. But how many different men can you be before you lose sight of who you really are?

At MAN Glen takes the audience back to his studio. Sitting at the piano, he tries to make music, but his thoughts won’t leave him in peace. He is constantly interrupted by different versions of himself. The artist who has to perform. The father who has to set a good example. The partner who always has to be there. The son who must show respect. They all have an opinion; they all want something from him. And they all think they know who Glen ought to be. What follows is a quest for identity, expectations and the space to be oneself that is as confrontational as it is recognisable.

From hit-maker to theatre director

Glen Faria made his breakthrough as a member of the hip-hop group Big Names and went on to become one of the most versatile songwriters and performers in the Netherlands. Among other songs, he wrote ‘Duurt Te Lang’, which became a massive hit for Davina Michelle, and ‘Zij Weet Het’, which was also a success when performed by Tino Martin. His participation in Dear Singers brought him to the attention of a wide audience. Glen is also a mentor to Dutch hip-hop icons such as Frenna, Lil Kleine and Ronny Flex, and this year he took charge of directing live projects and performances linked to the influential hip-hop collective New Wave – All Stars.

But behind the hits and the successful career lies a story that cannot be told in a single song. With MAN Glen chooses the theatre as a place to go beyond music alone. This is where his personal stories, doubts, desires and inner conflicts come together. Not hidden behind a character, but with himself at the centre.

New music with the ZO! Gospel Choir

Music is the beating heart of MAN. Glen will be performing songs from his new album live, accompanied by the renowned ZO! Gospel Choir. The choir, known for its powerful blend of gospel, soul, R&B and pop, adds an extra dimension to the music.

The result is neither a traditional concert nor a classical theatre performance, but a unique blend of the two. An evening in which music is not only heard, but also reveals what lies behind the words.

Collaboration with director Priscilla Vaudelle

For MAN Glen is collaborating with director and writer Priscilla Vaudelle. Her previous work includes, amongst other things, the successful family show Princess Arabella and Black Joy, which was selected for the Dutch Theatre Festival.

Vaudelle is known for her work, which blends hip-hop, R&B, storytelling and personal narratives. Together with Glen, she is developing a performance in which the boundaries between artist and person, reality and the inner world of experience become blurred. On stage, Glen is joined by actors Erwin Boschmans, Urvin Monte and Ozan Aydogan, who bring to life the different voices and facets of his inner world.

A story that goes beyond Glen alone

Although MAN Starting from Glen’s own life, the performance touches on a much broader issue. What does it mean to be a man today? How do the expectations of family, loved ones, friends and society relate to your own desires? And how do you remain true to yourself when you constantly have to switch between different roles?

Through humour, vulnerability, confrontational scenes and new music, Glen brings that struggle to life. It’s something men can relate to, but it’s just as interesting for anyone who has ever wondered how many versions of themselves they need to live up to other people’s expectations.

After all, who are you really when you don’t have to be anyone for a moment? 

MAN is a production by Theater Rotterdam, with which Glen Faria is affiliated as a guest director for the 2026/2027 season.

Alida Dors, artistic director of Theater Rotterdam:
“Glen Faria is a storyteller through and through. Through his music, he touches people’s hearts, across generations and backgrounds. What appeals to me about Glen is his openness and the courage to question himself. With MAN, he is taking a remarkable step as a creator. He uses theatre to look beyond the performer and reveal himself as a human being. That is precisely the kind of creative work we want to foster at Theater Rotterdam: personal, vulnerable and with the power to bring people together.”