5 questions for actress Anouk Maas

‘It is incredibly cool that we are the founders of this original, new Dutch performance’

Pride & Prejudice, Jane Austen’s classic love story, can be seen as a musical for the first time. With an all-female cast, the musical has its premiere in the Netherlands and will then be seen in the US. The leading roles are played by Anouk Maas, Tessa Sunniva, Anouk Snel, Kemy Hooimeijer and Iris Verhaak. Maas: ‘You are taught that you have to stand in your own strength and embrace yourself with all your strange traits.’

1. What exactly appealed to you about the performance?

‘That we are making a new version of the story with original music, and also that the role of Elizabeth Bennet was a progressive lady in 18th century England. What appealed to me equally is that we tell this entire story with five women, dividing eighteen characters among five actresses.’

2. When did you first come into contact with the story?

‘That was through the film of the same name with Keira Knightley. I mainly remember the scenes of Elizabeth and Darcy, the marriage proposal and Darcy in the water. Only later did I read the book.’

3. Working with five actresses and many roles, what challenges do you encounter?

‘Once we are all Elizabeth, the ladies are the voices in my head and they all represent a piece of Elizabeth’s character traits and thoughts. It is a challenge to get this clear enough, that is what the entire work process prior to the premiere is for. And we do that with such incredible pleasure.’

4. What do you mainly want to convey with the piece?

‘You get a glimpse into Elizabeth’s mind and what she thought about the state of affairs in 1812. That as a woman you have no choice and everything is decided for you. It is also a huge female empowerment performance. You are taught that you have to stand in your own strength and embrace yourself, including all your strange traits.’

5. What was it like to create the show and then see it in the US?

‘It is incredibly cool that we are the founders of this original, new Dutch performance and I am very curious to see how it will unfold abroad. But let’s put this here in the Netherlands first!’