Amsterdam (Rough Guide) - Martin Dunford [138]
Entertainment and nightlife |
Theatre, cabaret and comedy
Surprisingly for a city that functions so much in English, there is next to no English-language drama to be seen in Amsterdam, though a handful of amateur companies put on two or three English productions during the summer, and there are also occasional performances by touring groups at the theatres listed below and at other venues dotted around town.
English-language comedy and cabaret, on the other hand, has gained some ground in Amsterdam, spearheaded by the resident and extremely successful “Boom Chicago” comedy company. During the summer in particular, a number of small venues host mini-seasons of English-language stand-up comedy and cabaret, featuring touring British performers and material that’s generally targeted at visitors to the city.
Most of Amsterdam’s larger theatre companies concentrate either on foreign works in translation or Dutch-language theatre, neither of which is likely to be terribly interesting for the non-Dutch speaker. However, there are plenty of avant-garde theatre groups in the city, much of whose work relies on visual rather than verbal impact, as well as one or two companies devoted to mime. Look out also for performances at the Amsterdam Marionetten Theater. The Amsterdamse Bos Theatre (www.bostheater.nl) puts on summertime open-air performances of Shakespeare’s plays (in Dutch). It’s an atmospheric evening, with audiences picnicking before the show.
The main event to watch out for, apart from the mainstream Holland Festival (see "Classical music festivals"), is the summer-long Over Het IJ Festival (info 020/624 6380, www.overhetij.nl), a showcase for all kinds of performance arts at large, often outdoor locations in Amsterdam Noord (thus “over the IJ”). The participation of many interesting small companies pushes the standard of the average production well above that of the usual fringe festival acts. In June, the International Theatre School Festival (www.itsfestival.nl) sees the four theatres on Nes, a tiny alley running from Dam square parallel to Rokin, host productions by local and international theatre schools.
Entertainment and nightlife | Theatre, cabaret and comedy |
Major venues
De Balie Kleine-Gartmanplantsoen 10 (Grachtengordel south) 020/553 5151, www.debalie.nl. A multimedia centre for arts and culture located off the Leidseplein, which often plays host to drama, debates, international symposia and the like, sometimes in conjunction with the Paradiso next door. Also has a lovely, roomy, mezzanine bar.
Boom Chicago Leidseplein 12 (Grachtengordel south) 020/423 0101, www.boomchicago.nl. Something of a phenomenon in Amsterdam, this rapid-fire improv comedy troupe hailing from America performs at the Leidseplein Theater nightly to crowds of both tourists and locals, and receives rave reviews. Inexpensive food, cocktails and beer served in pitchers.
Carré Theater See "Venues" for more. A chunky old building on the eastern bank of the Amstel which, aside from its folk associations, hosts all kinds of top international acts, with an emphasis on hit musicals.
Comedy Café Max Euweplein 43 (Grachtengordel south) 020/638 3971, www.comedycafe.nl. Small stand-up theatre with a bar and restaurant that sometimes hosts English-language acts; look out for Sunday night’s “In Your Face”, an improv show in English.
De Kleine Komedie Amstel 56 (Grachtengordel south) 020/624 0534, www.dekleinekomedie.nl. One of Amsterdam’s oldest theatres, established in 1786, which occasionally hosts English-language shows.
Melkweg See "Clubs" for more. At the centre of the city’s cultural scene, this is often the first-choice venue for foreign touring companies.
Stadsschouwburg See "Venues" for more. Occasionally hosts productions on tour from London or New York.
Entertainment and nightlife | Theatre, cabaret and comedy |
Avant-garde and mime
De Brakke Grond Nes 45 (Old Centre) 020/622 9014, www.brakkegrond.nl. See also www.nestheaters.nl. Mainly Flemish productions.