{"id":101187,"date":"2026-04-13T14:19:14","date_gmt":"2026-04-13T12:19:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/?p=101187"},"modified":"2026-04-13T14:19:17","modified_gmt":"2026-04-13T12:19:17","slug":"a-case-for-the-existence-of-god-bekroonde-voorstelling-over-hoop-en-vaderschap-keert-terug-in-de-theaters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/en\/2026\/04\/a-case-for-the-existence-of-god-bekroonde-voorstelling-over-hoop-en-vaderschap-keert-terug-in-de-theaters\/","title":{"rendered":"A Case for the Existence of God: Award-winning show about hope and fatherhood returns to theatres"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>The acclaimed show <em>A Case for the Existence of God<\/em> by director Erik Whien can be seen again in theatres in the Netherlands and Belgium from 12 May to 13 June. The production was unanimously praised by the press and selected for both the Nederlands Theater Festival and the TheaterFestival Vlaanderen.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"534\" height=\"367\" data-attachment-id=\"101188\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/en\/2026\/04\/a-case-for-the-existence-of-god-bekroonde-voorstelling-over-hoop-en-vaderschap-keert-terug-in-de-theaters\/a-case-for-the-existence-of-god-theater-rotterdam-thomas-fjodor-c-mark-bolk-1\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/A-Case-for-the-Existence-of-God-Theater-Rotterdam-Thomas-Fjodor-c-Mark-Bolk-1-.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"534,367\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"A-Case-for-the-Existence-of-God-Theater-Rotterdam-Thomas-Fjodor-c-Mark-Bolk-1-\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/A-Case-for-the-Existence-of-God-Theater-Rotterdam-Thomas-Fjodor-c-Mark-Bolk-1-.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/A-Case-for-the-Existence-of-God-Theater-Rotterdam-Thomas-Fjodor-c-Mark-Bolk-1-.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-101188\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/A-Case-for-the-Existence-of-God-Theater-Rotterdam-Thomas-Fjodor-c-Mark-Bolk-1-.jpg 534w, https:\/\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/A-Case-for-the-Existence-of-God-Theater-Rotterdam-Thomas-Fjodor-c-Mark-Bolk-1--300x206.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/A-Case-for-the-Existence-of-God-Theater-Rotterdam-Thomas-Fjodor-c-Mark-Bolk-1--18x12.jpg 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 534px) 100vw, 534px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Photo: Mark Bolk<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>In this contemporary and moving play by American playwright Samuel D. Hunter, an unexpected friendship unfolds between two single fathers. At first glance, Kevin and Bryan seem to have little in common, except that life has hit them both hard. It is precisely those setbacks that form the basis for a special connection in which something greater - perhaps even divine - becomes palpable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One father struggles with financial problems, the other with complex adoption procedures surrounding his daughter. Together they search for grip and meaning, and explore how hope can remain when life threatens to paralyse you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After previous successful performances such as <em>Sadness is the thing with feathers<\/em>, <em>Hamlet<\/em> and <em>Slaughterhouse five<\/em> Erik Whien made the first Dutch adaptation of this internationally acclaimed play. During this reprisal tour, the roles of Kevin and Bryan will be played by Thomas H\u00f6ppener and Fjodor Jozefzoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The performance was praised by the press for its understated strength and the special chemistry between the actors:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605 <em>de Volkskrant<\/em>: \u201cErik Whien makes the voices of two completely different people sound harmonious\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605 <em>NRC<\/em>: \u201cOpposites yet find each other in a sober performance\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Theatre newspaper<\/em>: \u201cHow something magical can happen between two actors\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605 <em>Dutch newspaper<\/em>: \u201cThis play shows how magical theatre can be\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>De Groene Amsterdammer<\/em>: \u201cWhat director Erik Whien is great at is staging the impossible small gesture\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>The Parool<\/em>: \u201cAn ode to friendship\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><em>A Case for the Existence of God<\/em> is a poignant and hopeful performance about humanity, connection and the power of friendship - just when all seems lost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>text<\/strong> Samuel D. Hunter <strong>direction<\/strong> Erik Whien <strong>game <\/strong>Thomas H\u00f6ppener and Fjodor Jozefzoon <strong>translation <\/strong>Vera Morina, Erik Whien <strong>dramaturgy<\/strong> Brecht De Backer <strong>scenography<\/strong> Marloes and Wikke <strong>lighting design<\/strong> Julian Maiwald <strong>costume design<\/strong> Rebekka W\u00f6rmann <strong>music <\/strong>Thijs van Vuure <strong>pictures<\/strong> Mark Bolk<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>A Case for the Existence of God<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Theatre Rotterdam \/ Erik Whien<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>on tour in the Netherlands and Belgium from 12 May to 13 June<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>cards <a href=\"https:\/\/manage.pressmailings.com\/click\/?id=77722332&amp;url=1100213&amp;signature=hHTSIYzIj1eR2x5zZkVqQe1TEaSzvOCCOeRDVRyO6Cs\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">www.theaterrotterdam.nl\/case<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>De bejubelde voorstelling A Case for the Existence of God van regisseur Erik Whien is van 12 mei tot en met 13 juni opnieuw te zien in theaters in Nederland en Belgi\u00eb. De productie werd unaniem lovend ontvangen door de pers en geselecteerd voor zowel het Nederlands Theater Festival als het TheaterFestival Vlaanderen. In dit [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_eb_attr":"","_themeisle_gutenberg_block_has_review":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"activitypub_content_warning":"","activitypub_content_visibility":"","activitypub_max_image_attachments":3,"activitypub_interaction_policy_quote":"anyone","activitypub_status":"federated","footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[11917,8843,4759],"tags":[13539,8105],"class_list":["post-101187","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-persberichten","category-podiumkunst","category-theater-podiumkunst-2","tag-erik-whien","tag-theater-rotterdam"],"views":914,"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":93153,"url":"https:\/\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/en\/2024\/01\/het-godsbewijs-van-samuel-d-hunter-bij-theater-rotterdam-sinds-ik-vader-ben-moet-ik-hoopvol-zijn-ik-kan-niet-meer-cynisch-zijn\/","url_meta":{"origin":101187,"position":0},"title":"Samuel D. Hunter's Proof of God at Theatre Rotterdam: \"Since I'm a father, I have to be hopeful, I can't be cynical anymore.\"","author":"Wijbrand Schaap","date":"5 January 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"\"Wanneer je in Amerika twee kerels op het toneel zet, verwacht het publiek dat ze elkaar overhoop slaan, of neuken. In dit stuk gebeurt geen van beide, maar in het theater gaat het bijna altijd over twee mannen die aan het vechten of neuken zijn.\" Legendarische woorden van Samuel D.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;PODIUMKUNST&quot;","block_context":{"text":"PODIUMKUNST","link":"https:\/\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/en\/genre\/podiumkunst\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Nagesprek in foyer TR8. Vlnr: Brecht de Backer, Samuel D. Hunter en Erik Whien. foto: Wijbrand Schaap","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/IMG_20240104_220110-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/IMG_20240104_220110-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/IMG_20240104_220110-scaled.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/IMG_20240104_220110-scaled.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/IMG_20240104_220110-scaled.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/IMG_20240104_220110-scaled.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":101164,"url":"https:\/\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/en\/2026\/04\/zid-theater-presenteert-de-tiende-editie-van-het-explorez-festival-in-amsterdam\/","url_meta":{"origin":101187,"position":1},"title":"ZID Theatre presents the tenth edition of the Explorez Festival in Amsterdam!","author":"Wijbrand Schaap","date":"10 April 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Van 28 mei t\/m 7 juni 2026 verandert Amsterdam in een bruisend podium vol voorstellingen, workshops, en interactieve activiteiten. Het jaarlijkse ExploreZ Festival staat voor diversiteit, inclusie, internationale samenwerking en verrassende cross-overs tussen disciplines en lokale gemeenschappen. ZID Theater kondigt met trots de tiende editie aan van dit meerdaagse festival\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;ACTUEEL&quot;","block_context":{"text":"ACTUEEL","link":"https:\/\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/en\/genre\/nieuws\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":90423,"url":"https:\/\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/en\/2023\/04\/de-illusie-van-geluk-en-liefde-met-antoinette-jelgersma-en-erik-whien\/","url_meta":{"origin":101187,"position":2},"title":"The illusion of happiness and love with Antoinette Jelgersma and Erik Whien","author":"Peter Olsthoorn","date":"16 April 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"\u201cAnother happy day. He listens to me ...Another very happy day, he speaks to me.\u201d Life reduced to its essence, with Winnie towering womanishly above the human molehill for her final episode. Antoinette Jelgersma, in Happy Days under Erik Whien, portrays a more monty version of...","rel":"","context":"In &quot;PODIUMKUNST&quot;","block_context":{"text":"PODIUMKUNST","link":"https:\/\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/en\/genre\/podiumkunst\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Happy Days 02 \u00a9 Sanne Peper","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Happy-Days-02-%C2%A9-Sanne-Peper.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Happy-Days-02-%C2%A9-Sanne-Peper.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Happy-Days-02-%C2%A9-Sanne-Peper.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Happy-Days-02-%C2%A9-Sanne-Peper.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Happy-Days-02-%C2%A9-Sanne-Peper.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Happy-Days-02-%C2%A9-Sanne-Peper.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":100279,"url":"https:\/\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/en\/2026\/01\/bij-het-overlijden-van-elsje-de-wijn-dit-was-haar-generatie\/","url_meta":{"origin":101187,"position":3},"title":"On the death of Elsje de Wijn: this was her generation","author":"Wijbrand Schaap","date":"12 January 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"'Never played the sisters myself' Last week, actress Elsje de Wijn passed away. For many Dutch theatre lovers and makers, she was a regular feature in performances on the 'smaller' theatre circuit. 21 years ago, in 2005, I spoke to Elsje de Wijn, Trudy de Jong and Els Ingeborg Smits about their careers, which were similar. From them","rel":"","context":"In &quot;FAITS DIVERS&quot;","block_context":{"text":"FAITS DIVERS","link":"https:\/\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/en\/genre\/faits-divers\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":88852,"url":"https:\/\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/en\/2022\/11\/erik-whien-beweegt-mee-op-de-inclusiegolf-in-dialoog\/","url_meta":{"origin":101187,"position":4},"title":"Erik Whien moves on the inclusion wave, in dialogue","author":"Peter Olsthoorn","date":"24 November 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Director Alida Dors is pushing for inclusion at Theatre Rotterdam. What does this mean for a 44-year-old white director with great success with traditional audiences, as now with 'Sadness is the thing with feathers'? A Q&amp;A. \"Erik Whien's theatre is all about the human being. About the head and everything that happens in it. Every human being","rel":"","context":"In &quot;ACTUEEL&quot;","block_context":{"text":"ACTUEEL","link":"https:\/\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/en\/genre\/nieuws\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Erik-Whien-door-Mark-Bolk.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Erik-Whien-door-Mark-Bolk.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Erik-Whien-door-Mark-Bolk.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Erik-Whien-door-Mark-Bolk.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Erik-Whien-door-Mark-Bolk.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Erik-Whien-door-Mark-Bolk.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":100477,"url":"https:\/\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/en\/2026\/01\/vier-de-kracht-van-de-podiumkunsten-bij-zid-theater-tijdens-het-nationaal-theaterweekend-2026\/","url_meta":{"origin":101187,"position":5},"title":"Celebrate the power of the performing arts at ZID Theatre during National Theatre Weekend 2026","author":"een van onze leden","date":"21 January 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"During the National Theatre Weekend, the whole of the Netherlands gets the chance to experience the power of performing arts and discover new venues and performances. ZID Theatre in Amsterdam also traditionally joins in, presenting a rich, groundbreaking programme that fits seamlessly with ZID's mission: to make theatre in all its forms accessible to everyone. For three days","rel":"","context":"In &quot;PERSBERICHTEN&quot;","block_context":{"text":"PERSBERICHTEN","link":"https:\/\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/en\/genre\/service\/persberichten\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Imrane-Missing-Wishing-Agnes-De-Maeseneir-2-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Imrane-Missing-Wishing-Agnes-De-Maeseneir-2-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Imrane-Missing-Wishing-Agnes-De-Maeseneir-2-scaled.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Imrane-Missing-Wishing-Agnes-De-Maeseneir-2-scaled.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Imrane-Missing-Wishing-Agnes-De-Maeseneir-2-scaled.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Imrane-Missing-Wishing-Agnes-De-Maeseneir-2-scaled.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3yKke-qk3","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/101187","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=101187"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/101187\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":101189,"href":"https:\/\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/101187\/revisions\/101189"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=101187"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=101187"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cultureelpersbureau.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=101187"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}