Theatre, Music & Ballet

Theatre

Trend-setting gay Dutch playwrights are Ton Vorstenbosch and Bert Edelenbos. Vorstenbosch sometimes writes plays about the royal family: his recent Wilhelmina (about the grandmother of present queen Beatrix) was a great success. He also wrote a play about Wilhelmina's husband, prince Hendrik, who had sexual affairs with girls and boys.

The most important and strongly gay-oriented theatre group is Toneelgroep Amsterdam, led by Gerardjan Rijnders, who also writes plays, for example about men who have very bad relationships with each other. Karst Woudstra is a famous playwright. He also translated plays by the Norwegian playwright Lars Norén.

Vorstenbosch, Edelenbos, Woudstra and Rijnders only write in Dutch, so that is a pity for you! However, lesbian plays are sometimes performed in English by the Odd Girls Theatre. Information about this: Pien Produkties, tel. 633.58.32. The Queen\'s English Theatre Company, an English language theatre company, regularly brings English or American gay classics on stage like the Torch Song Trilogy.

Important theatre: Stadsschouwburg (Leidseplein 26; in the `Bovenzaal', which is a small theatre upstairs, in the same building, gay plays have been performed quite often). In the Hilton Hotel (Apollolaan 138) you can find stand up cabaret performances by an organisation called Toomler (tel. 670.74.00). Stand up comedians who perform in English can be found in the Leidseplein Theatre at the Leidseplein (for reservations: call Boom Chicago, Korte Leidsedwarsstraat 12, tel. 423.01.01).

Music

When in Amsterdam, don't miss the illustrious Concertgebouw (concert hall), where famous gay Russian pianists Vladimir Horowitz and Yuri Egorov performed (Egorov was fond of Amsterdam, and settled there). In the modern Muziektheater (opera house) at Waterlooplein, you can see opera and ballet productions.For musicals, Carré (a big, late 19-century theater at the river Amstel) is the place to go.

In the IJsbreker, where you can listen to all kinds of modern music, and the Bimhuis, specialised in jazz, have moved to a beautifull new building behind Central Station. In this 'Muziekgebouw aan het IJ', Piet Heinkade 3, they both have their own concerthall. The grand cafe on the ground floor has one of the best terrasses in Amsterdam overlooking the IJ river.

In the Melkweg (Lijnbaansgracht 234/A) you are likely to find World Music or, sometimes, female bands. Paradiso (Weteringschans 6/8) is also a centre of off-the-beaten-track music. David Bowie started some of his world tours in this theatre. And, finally, don't forget the Vondelpark Theater, an open air theatre in the park. Can be very cosy on a summer's day, especially in the weekend.

Mathilde Santing is a well-known lesbian singer, who usually performs in English. Her sound is whispery and vulnerable. She sometimes makes little jokes: she, for example changed the song `Hey, Joe' by Jimi Hendrix into `Hey, Joan'.

Ballet

As far as ballet is concerned, the language isn't too unimportant. The Nederlands Dans Theater (Dutch Dance Theater) is regarded as one of the best ballet groups in the world. Two world famous Dutch choreographers live in Amsterdam: Hans van Manen and Rudi van Dantzig. The latter, who is also a writer, is famous for his ballet Monument for a Dead Boy (1965), which was probably the first ballet ever with male homosexuality as its theme. Ballet dancer Rudolf Nureyev was a friend of Rudi van Dantzig, who created some ballets especially for him. Hans van Manen often portrayed homo-eroticism in his ballets. In an article he said: `I have made many gay and lesbian pas de deux.' He also is an accomplished photographer, often of gay-sensitive subjects.

The Muziektheater (opera house) is the place for ballet performances. Address: Muziektheater, Waterlooplein 2, tel. 551.89.11.

AUB

For information or reservations: AUB Ticketshop (Leidseplein 26, tel. 621.12.11) or their website (unfortunately not in English).