Theatre maker Anouk van den Berg

Anouk does not deliberately seek inspiration; she encounters it naturally. In the places she cycles past, the people she meets, or simply in the small things she experiences in her daily life. “If it keeps lingering in my head, then I know I have something.” That almost obsessive curiosity is an important gauge in her work. “The subject must interest me passionately, because if I create theatre about it, I am often still working on it for months, if not years.”

That her productions always revolve around people and stories from Breda is no coincidence. “This is my home, I feel connected to this city. When creating my performances, which are often very personal, I find that sense of connection very important. When asked ‘who am I, that I create this?’ the answer must always be: ‘I do this for Breda, the city that is also my city.’”

This ‘co-creation’ with those directly involved provides a deeper understanding of the significance of such iconic places. And it reveals stories and experiences you might not be aware of, but which have an impact for generations.

"With theatre, you create a space where perspectives can change and delicate or unconventional topics suddenly become discussable. That creates a connection. In a time when we are becoming more and more separated, this becomes even more important. Truly, we will need it more than ever.".

This connection also begins during the rehearsal process, within the group working on the production. Often, you already feel how this will affect the audience. “During a performance, you briefly find yourself in a different reality, together with the people around you. That creates a chemistry which I find hard to put into words.”