“In terms of comedy in the theater, I dare to go further with my characters and their statements.”
Robin Hood, a brand new musical theater spectacle, is now touring the country. With Yamill Jones, Erik van Muiswinkel, Howard Komproe and musicians from Phion. The piece was written by Ilse Warringa (The Lice Mother, New Pain). “If the rich only get richer and the poor only get poorer, what is fair?”
1. What convinced you to adapt this piece?
“The director of Theater Sonnevanck, Daniël van Klaveren, asked me two years ago to write a piece about Robin Hood because of the poor/rich theme. In Enschede, the home town of Theater Sonnevanck, there are many people who live below the poverty line. In these times, when the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer, we thought it would be good to make a piece about those differences and what that does to people’s self-esteem.”
2. What does the story of Robin Hood represent for you personally?
“Robin Hood immediately brings up a current ethical issue: if the rich only get richer and the poor only get poorer, what is fair? The results of the recently held elections show that many people in the Netherlands first want to think about themselves and only then are they prepared to put themselves in the shoes of someone else. Robin Hood stole from the rich to give to the poor: at first glance, stealing is wrong, but isn’t that also very understandable? The millionaires in the Netherlands are so filthy rich that it is disproportionate. So what is fair then?”
3. Do you use a different ‘muscle’ by writing for theatre?
“I tap into the same muscle for writing for theater as I do for TV. The great thing about theater is that it doesn’t all have to be as logical and chronological as for TV. And in terms of comedy in the theater, I dare to go further with my characters and their statements. A theatrical translation of a character is much more likely to be picked up. But this also applies: as long as it is played credibly, you can go very far.”
4. What does theater give you that film or TV doesn’t?
“I generally find being on stage more difficult than acting for TV. A take can always be redone on TV. That’s a completely different tension. On stage you have to maintain a tension span of two hours, it has to be done right the first time, it requires supreme concentration and musicality. And when things go well, you witness something magical.”
5. What would you like to give visitors after the performance?
“I want the people in the audience to try to imagine Robin Hood’s motives for stealing. He was a freebooter and he had courage: he stood for his ideals. Just think about it during this time in the Netherlands. Pieter Omtzigt seemed like an idealist, but he also finds it difficult to stand up for his ideals when power and party interests play a role. Robin Hood is a family show for young and old: it contains many satirical references to today, as well as political statements. For children, the show is a cheerful, funny and easy-to-follow story about the adventures that Robin experiences. There is a lot to laugh about, there is love involved and there will probably be a few tears shed as well! And of course it ends well; I want the audience to leave the theater with a feeling of hope.”
Text: Jorrit Niels | Image: NL Image
