On 13 March 2020, almost all the theatres in the world had to close their doors because of corona. Now, one year later, on 13 March 2021, the show 'White Rabbit Red Rabbit' will be performed in more than 30 countries to commemorate this event. In theatres all over the world, from Argentina to Australia and from India to the Netherlands, actors will take to the stage to show the power of theatre. An international celebration of inspiration, imagination and proof that creativity can always withstand adversity.
In the Netherlands, actors such as Pierre Bokma, Huub van der Lubbe, Nhung Dam and Theo Maassen take to the stage to perform the play 'Wit Konijn Rood Konijn'. The text of the play is in a sealed envelope. The actor opens this envelope on the spot, on stage. With the stack of written sheets in his hand, he or she starts, completely unprepared, on a first reading which is also the final performance. This shows the power of the tenderness, the one-off and non-repeatable of theatre. Together with the audience, while reading and playing, they discover the content of the international theatre hit 'White Rabbit Red Rabbit' by Iranian writer Nassim Soleimanpour. Since its premiere ten years ago, this play has been translated into more than 25 languages, including Dutch, and has been performed thousands of times. And always by different actors. Because if you have played it once, you know it and you cannot play it again
Limburg
White Rabbit Red Rabbit will also be performed in Limburg, in De Maaspoort Venlo. The actor who will receive the sealed envelope on the spot is Merijn Scholten. Merijn Scholten is a cabaret artist, radio columnist and text writer. He wrote texts for Dit was het nieuws (The Dutch version of the news) and participated in the cabaret part of Spijkers met Koppen. Together with Thomas Gast, he formed the cabaret duo De Partizanen.
Livestreams
Because of the coronation measures, it is not allowed in the Dutch theatres to receive an audience, but through livestream De Maaspoort opens the doors. Visitors are invited to be part of a grand, international theatre experience on Saturday 13 March from the comfort of their own living room. Each theatre will start at 20.00 in its own time zone for 'White Rabbit Red Rabbit' in their own language. The power of theatre will reverberate around the globe for 24 hours, from New York to Panama City, from Minsk to Medellin, from Uppsala to Istanbul. And in more than 25 Dutch cities. The Aurora Nova Theatre in Berlin has taken the initiative for this worldwide movement.
Tickets for the performance in Venlo are free and can be ordered via this link. Guests will receive instructions for the live stream by e-mail.