25 June 2020

A small-scale summer program with theater and more, by the organisers of Boulevard

Under the name ‘Afzender Boulevard’ (Powered by Boulevard), a series of 25 productions, performances and installations pop up in the city of ’s-Hertogenbosch (NL) this summer – during the initial festival period: 6-16 August. Their shared motto is ‘Nader de ander’ (Near and dear). For, after months of seclusion, safe distance and social avoidance, the desire to draw [a bit] nearer glows.

In 2020 Boulevard celebrates the resilience of artists and audiences with a program full of live encounters. In this strange gap year we practice the forgotten art of close proximity. Intrigued by each other, intrigued by the unknown. Needless to say, we do so by taking into consideration all measures issued by RIVM (National Institute for Public Health and the Environment); therefore no busy theatres or town squares, but intimate projects, spread over time.

“This spring we were suddenly forced to distance ourselves from our normal life and from other people. The theme ‘Nader de ander’ is a call for carefully getting back together. Unfortunately not in a festival setting, but we are incredibly happy that - with the support of many partners - we have managed to put together a wonderful program of live theater after all. Our artists invite us to join them in a search for closeness and for sharing stories,” – says general director Viktorien van Hulst.
 

Live program
Under the name ‘Afzender Boulevard’ (Powered by Boulevard) productions are shown on different locations and together with different groups from our hometown new theatrical projects are developed.  Benjamin Verdonck rides his bike through town and presents a miniature theater, the makers of Building Conversation discuss the dilemmas of taking care and thoughtfulness in To Care as Caress and composers Strijbos&VanRijswijk create a soundwalk. Dries Verhoeven brings a restaging of U bevindt zich hier, Schweigman& presents a new spacious installation called Spectrum, Theater Artemis has its premiere of Happy Clappy by Willemijn Zevenhuizen, a small school run by clowns, while Francesca Lazzeri researches the social and emotional consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic in my shadow used to have a density. Other artists in the program include: Alexandra Broeder, Bart van de Woestijne, Guilherme Miotto, Minou Bosua/Minoux, Sven Ratzke & The100Hands. This program is still under development and more activities will be announced gradually in the next few weeks through online communication.
 

Visit & Tickets
Tickets can be bought for a number of titles, while other projects are made with and for specific groups of fellow townsmen and women. These can be followed online in verbal and visual reports. The organisation intents to run a small international professionals program. More information about this will follow in a later stage.
 

And more
Apart from the program by Dutch and Flemish artists, Boulevard continues its collaboration with different international partners. This summer is mainly about the distant exchange with colleagues and artists. The international program can be followed through our website. Also the organisation is in close touch with its partners of the two European projects starting in 2021: Performing Gender (Dancing in your Shoes) and apap: Feminist Futures

On Saturday 15 August, in cooperation with HONI and Gemeente ’s-Hertogenbosch, and supported by Brabant Remembers, Boulevard presents a TV broadcast about the 75th anniversary of the capitulation of Japan in the former Dutch East Indies. This program is made in collaboration with musicians and actors of East Indian an Moluccan descent.

The 36th edition of Theaterfestival Boulevard takes place in 2021.

Theaterfestival Boulevard thanks:
  • Gemeente 's-Hertogenbosch
  • Provincie Noord-Brabant
  • Fonds Podiumkunsten
  • Brabant C
  • VSBfonds
  • Fonds21
  • BankGiro Loterij
  • Cultuurfonds
  • Creative Europe Programme (EU)
  • De Versterking
  • Verkadefabriek
  • Theater aan de Parade
  • Apap
  • Performing Gender
  • Feminist Futures