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Wijbrand Schaap

Cultural journalist since 1996. Worked as theatre critic, columnist and reporter for Algemeen Dagblad, Utrechts Nieuwsblad, Rotterdams Dagblad, Parool and regional newspapers through Associated Press Services. Interviews for TheaterMaker, Theatererkrant Magazine, Ons Erfdeel, Boekman. Podcast maker, likes to experiment with new media. Culture Press is called the brainchild I gave birth to in 2009. Life partner of Suzanne Brink roommate of Edje, Fonzie and Rufus. Search and find me on Mastodon.

Column: "As soon as they start embracing art in the PVV, right-thinking people should start watching out."

The Hague is quite complicated for those who do not visit it on a daily basis. I was there last Monday, as a spectator at the discussion of the culture and media budget, and it has taken me until now to fully understand what is going on. For that understanding, being there live was essential. After all, to understand a social system like the Lower House, you not only have to listen to what is being said, and see who is speaking, much more important are the 'listening shots': the body language and actions of those who are not speaking.

Read More "Column: "As soon as they start embracing art in the PVV, right-thinking people should start watching out."

Culture Council threatens to pronounce 'unacceptable' on cabinet plans with arts and media

"It cannot be ruled out that previous choices made by the cabinet, such as on the VAT increase and the hefty cut to the Netherlands Broadcasting Corporation's Music Centre, together with the announced cuts will do irreparable damage to the cultural sector." Of course, even though Halbe Zijlstra has thankfully banned the term "Leftist Hobby" when it comes to culture, the distinguished gentlemen... 

Read More "Culture Council threatens to pronounce 'unacceptable' on cabinet plans with arts and media

The arts subsidy system is like a house that changes hands a little too often: new cultural policy Rutte cabinet is capital destruction

Motto van de cultuurbrief van Zijlstra: "De 19e-eeuwse schilder Alma-Tadema zei: ‘Zolang ik schilder, ben ik kunstenaar, als het af is, ben ik zakenman’." Het kunstsubsidiesysteem is als een huis, dat iets te vaak van eigenaar verwisselt. De vorige eigenaar heeft in 2008 na lang vergaderen een nieuwe keuken ingebouwd, de badkamer vervangen, een nieuwe cv-ketel + vloerverwarming aangelegd en… 

Read More "The arts subsidy system is like a house that changes hands a little too often: new cultural policy Rutte cabinet is capital destruction

Order of Tax Advisers severely criticises VAT increase for performing arts: 'theatres will be in exceptional position'

The Rutte government is defending the VAT increase on admission tickets to theatres and concerts, claiming that it will straighten out an exemption for the arts. However, this does not appear to be true, according to a response from the Order of Tax Advisers to the proposal. "The Bar Association additionally points out that the explanatory memorandum notes that for the performing arts on... 

Read More "Order of Tax Advisers severely criticises VAT increase for performing arts: 'theatres will be in exceptional position'

How much darkness can a theatre-goer handle? Alize Zandwijk tests it with 'Dog days'.

Beppe Costa. Who doesn't know him. And who wouldn't go to a show he plays in without thinking for a minute? After all, the little Italian musical jack-of-all-trades is capable of winning hearts with his music. And with his presence. Well. Director Alize Zandwijk must have thought: we're going to change that image completely this autumn,... 

Read More "How much darkness can a theatre-goer handle? Alize Zandwijk tests it with 'Dog days'.

The Homecoming: Matteo Simoni and Greg Timmermans on their club (FC Bergman) and their play. #njc10

Het jonge Antwerpse gezelschap FC Bergman speelt Harold Pinters klassieke stuk ‘De Thuiskomst’ op een geheel eigen, energieke en rauwe manier. De Thuiskomst is te zien tijdens Najaarscollectie 2010 in Theater Kikker op zaterdag 30 oktober. … Je kunt nu inloggen om verder te lezen! Welkom in het archief van Cultuurpers! Als lid heb je toegang tot alle, meer dan 4000… 

Read More "The Homecoming: Matteo Simoni and Greg Timmermans on their club (FC Bergman) and their play. #njc10

Sometimes a story is beautiful enough when told: Autoroute du Soleil by Leen Verheyen demonstrates that

Ooit, heel lang geleden in een ander land dan vandaag, was er een toneeltekst over een jongen uit Bosnië die mensenmassa’s aan het huilen bracht. Ad de Bont had met Mirad, een jongen uit Bosnië niet alleen een gevoelig verhaal geschreven, maar hij vond ook de perfecte manier om dat verhaal te brengen. Het uit brieven van en aan een… 

Read More "Sometimes a story is beautiful enough when told: Autoroute du Soleil by Leen Verheyen demonstrates that

GDMW: Seven learning moments about literature, Rotterdam, Utrecht and partying

GDMW festival comes from the tube of the only literary magazine still doing a bit in the Netherlands: Passionate Magazine. A bit contrary, youthful but not juvenile and with an open eye to the many cultures in the city where it was founded: Rotterdam. The festival is a happy combo of literary content, happy poets, embarrassing displays and beer,... 

Read More "GDMW: Seven learning moments about literature, Rotterdam, Utrecht and partying

Art world via Facebook in action against culture cut even before Rutte-Verhagen cabinet installed

It was a pleasantly out-of-control flashmob: according to the police, there were around 3,000 people on The Hague's Malieveld at around noon. Young people, mostly: students from The Hague Art Academy and the Consevatorium. But that is not enough to make the Malieveld feel crowded. From all corners of the country, young art students were... 

Read More "Art world via Facebook in action against culture cut even before Rutte-Verhagen cabinet installed

French theatre nerds do droll version of the Big Bang at reopening Rotterdam Schouwburg

Ok, a few people might have been a tad disappointed. Who had hoped that Rotterdam's theatre would reopen with real bang, after the extremely successful upgrade of the interior by scrap artist Jan Versweyveld (suspended ceiling, marble and carpet on the stairs). But that, of course, cannot happen. After all, the Rotterdam Schouwburg only does bangers when International Choice boss Annemie Vanackere is there... 

Read More "French theatre nerds do droll version of the Big Bang at reopening Rotterdam Schouwburg

Getting a whiff of Lotte van den Berg's special approach, fresh back from Africa

What she does is vulnerable to the point of confrontation. Theatre-maker Lotte van den Berg has such a personal view of the world that, outside the safe context of theatre, it can come across as absurd. Or alienating. On Sunday 26 September, she returned with the members of her Dordrecht-based location theatre company OMSK back from a four-month stay in the Congo capital Kinshasa. A full house at Rotterdam's Gouvernestraat then got to be there when they unpacked their bags a few hours after landing.

Read More "Getting a whiff of Lotte van den Berg's special approach, fresh back from Africa

Cultuurwereld in actie op 24 september

Kunstbezoekers opgelet: de gezamenlijke vakbonden en beroepsorganisaties in de cultuursector roepen vrijdag 24 september uit tot landelijke actiedag. Die dag kunt u als bezoeker dus geconfronteerd worden met sprekende muzakanten en dansers. Op de website ‘Stop de culturele kaalslag’ roepen tal van kunstenaarsorganisaties (van FNV Kiem tot de Art Directors Club) de Haagse opnderhandelaars op om af te zien van… 

Read More "Cultuurwereld in actie op 24 september

Zestien persoonlijke verhalen geven een ontroerend beeld van Rotterdams veelkleurigheid. #dekeuze

Ze heeft 14 voornamen, omdat haar vader graag zijn hele familie wilde vernoemen en zij enigst kind was. Ze is een veelgevraagd actrice, maar Gonny Gaakeer is ook een meisje met een oma geweest. Een mooie oma, die in de laatste jaren van haar 95-jarige leven steeds vaker omviel en daar de lelijke wonden van droeg. Gonny vertelt haar verhaal, en… 

Read More "Zestien persoonlijke verhalen geven een ontroerend beeld van Rotterdams veelkleurigheid. #dekeuze

'I am Zutphenian, but also Turkish' actor Sadettin Kirmiziyüz gets jury nomination for Wilders, The Musical

Gijs Scholten van Aschat was so convincing that casting director Hans Kemna was a bit scared of him. Van Aschat did an original wilderness speech and shock went through the audience. Since he now plays the villain of villains with Orkater (Richard III), convincingly delivering a hate speech reasonably is a piece of cake for him. Two true Wilders fans found... 

Read More "'I am Zutphenian, but also Turkish' actor Sadettin Kirmiziyüz gets jury nomination for Wilders, The Musical

Impressive confrontations in humorous 'K, A Society' by Kris Verdonck #decision

The Dodo International Choice journal, episode 2: Wijbrand Schaap came, saw and was overcome by Kris Verdonck's seven installations about plighted people. It should have ended with terrible bangs, a canned fireworks display a few metres from the spectators. But that's not allowed in the Netherlands since Enschede. And certainly not with Belgian fireworks. Theatre-maker, installation artist and video jockey Kris Verdonck ended up... 

Read More "Impressive confrontations in humorous 'K, A Society' by Kris Verdonck #decision

Director Thomas Ostermeier argues for 'dramatic non-dramatic' theatre in his masterclass #tf2010

Ze is net terug van een lange vakantie in haar geboorteland Noorwegen en, al vinden veel Noren Ibsen tegenwoordig saai, zelf houdt ze van zijn werk. Maren Bjorseth is derde-jaars regiestudente aan de AHK. Haar Nederlands is vlekkeloos; het is moeilijk te geloven dat ze hier pas twee jaar woont. Maren is een van de vier regie-studenten die is uitverkoren om een masterclass te volgen van de Duitse regisseur Thomas Ostermeier, artistiek leider van Schaubühne Berlin. Vorig jaar was in de Stadschouw...

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True theatre is like Storm and Cappuccino: irresistibly sublime, says Adelheid Roosen on #tf2010

'It is a wonderful thing, for instance, that every day, my body shows the same eager desire for a keigoeie kappoetzjino. That every 24 hours the desire to 'want to taste' is born in me and wants to hit me again. And I don't have to do anything for that, that desire drags me into the shower and saliva starts foaming... 

Read More "True theatre is like Storm and Cappuccino: irresistibly sublime, says Adelheid Roosen on #tf2010

NNT's 11 minutes not only makes you lose the desire to laugh, but all lust. My wife regrets that. #tf2010

Ola Mafaalani. That's a very fierce one. So you can never ignore that. The human is so full of passion and emotion that all her stage work, because she is a director, cannot possibly leave you cold. At least, so it was until recently, with me personally finding her last play at Toneelgroep Amsterdam 'Hemel boven Berlijn' the most beautiful, because it was also the most... 

Read More "NNT's 11 minutes not only makes you lose the desire to laugh, but all lust. My wife regrets that. #tf2010

Opening #TF2010: 'Theatre should be at the forefront of discussion on society, instead of being dictated to by prevailing mores.'

On 2 September 2010, actress, writer, theatre and television producer Joan Nederlof opened the Dutch Theatre Festival with a speech that was as entertaining as it was provocative. As it was her turn to pronounce the annual 'State of the Theatre', Nederlof, born in 1962, seized the opportunity to call on her own generation to take a stand in the social debate. She did so in her own relatable way, known for her roles on TV (Deer Park) and in the theatre (Inside Out):

Read More "Opening #TF2010: 'Theatre should be at the forefront of discussion on society, instead of being dictated to by prevailing mores.'

Benjamin Verdonck opens Flemish Theatre Festival: artists must be environmentally aware #tf2010

We had completely forgotten about the environment. While the streets in the Netherlands are flooded and some Dutch people are already talking about Pakistani conditions, here the talk is mainly about looming austerity measures and disintegrating Christian Democrat power blocks. 'Artists of today must relate to environmental issues' is therefore a comment we do not expect to hear from an artist in the Netherlands. We... 

Read More "Benjamin Verdonck opens Flemish Theatre Festival: artists must be environmentally aware #tf2010

This is my father: flaming stab at anti-Semitism to be seen on #tf2010

In This is my father, young theatre-maker Ilay den Boer (1986) literally puts his own father in the spotlight. He does so by giving his father the lead role in a performance that is all about him. This results in intimate and voyeuristic theatre.
Before the performance, you will be given a booklet describing the life of Gert den Boer. Based on dates and events, visitors can ask questions to the men on stage. Father and son answer, open doors and tell anecdotes. But what if it turns out that they handle some events very differently? Where Jewish Ilay sees signs of anti-Semitism, his own reformed father recognises an innocent incident. How differently do father and son view issues like discrimination or hatred?

Read More "This is my father: flaming stab at anti-Semitism to be seen on #tf2010

Branden: legendary top theatre to be seen again in Amsterdam #tf2010

The destructive power of war and hatred
Writer Wajdi Mouawad (b. 1968) fled his native Lebanon at the age of nine. At the time, a brutal civil war had been raging there for years. Together with his family, he ended up in Canada via France.
There, he develops into an internationally renowned playwright. His work is now performed all over the world. The Ro Theatre introduced Mouawad to the Netherlands for the first time this theatre season.
Regisseur Alize Zand...

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Spektakelgroep Vis à Vis geeft alle ruimte aan de fantasie en overtreft zichzelf in droomspektakel Silo8

Vliegende verpleegsters. Daar kijken we niet meer van op. We hebben allemaal Mary Poppins gezien. Dat ze bij Vis a Vis, bij het strand van Almere, in plaats van onzichtbare touwtjes een vijftig meter hoge bouwkraan inzetten voor zo’n speciale opkomst is dan spectaculair en leuk, maar meer ook niet. Kwestie van geld en middelen. De volgende show heeft wel… 

Read More "Spektakelgroep Vis à Vis geeft alle ruimte aan de fantasie en overtreft zichzelf in droomspektakel Silo8

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