65 years of stories behind the scenes

Schouwburg & Concertzaal Tilburg: 65 years of stories behind the scenes

omeone’s having a birthday… and it’s us! For 65 years we have proudly formed an important part of the cultural heart of Tilburg. Thousands of performances, artists and visitors have made our theatre into what it is today: a vibrant place full of stories, encounters and unforgettable moments. And behind that rich history lie countless anecdotes, sometimes remarkable, sometimes hilarious. Our colleagues are happy to share a few of them.

In the dressing rooms: wish lists and oysters

Every artist who performs with us is given their own dressing room. Our artist staff make sure everything is ready before they arrive. “We always place a welcome basket with a mini‑Schrobbelèr, something tasty, water, a towel and a little bar of soap,” says hospitality coordinator Caroline Wiegers. “In addition, some artists have special requests. For example, Karin Bloemen prefers gluten‑free snacks, Theo Maassen likes liquorice and Najib Amhali likes… oysters.”

That love for oysters led to a memorable moment: “When Najib came for the first time, our kitchen had prepared a beautiful dish with ice and neatly opened oysters,” Caroline smiles. “But during the corona period the restaurant was closed, so I ran to the fishmonger myself. Those turned out to be unopened oysters. When Najib saw them, he asked: ‘But eh… how do you open these?’ Nobody knew. In the end he just took them home. I hope he still enjoyed them there.”

The Queen’s Circuit: distinguished visitors from the past

Above the foyer, in the direction of the Concertzaal, is the so‑called Queen’s Circuit. “At the opening of the Concertzaal, the royal couple were present,” says Caroline. “Queen Beatrix stood there with a view over the foyer. Unfortunately, I didn’t speak to her. You really couldn’t get anywhere near there. It was a very special moment.”

The stage: from polystyrene to elephants

Over the years, our technicians have truly seen everything pass by. Wim Weijters from the technical department especially remembers the polystyrene performance by Het Zuidelijk Toneel. “That set consisted of thousands of small grey balls. Years later we were still finding them in corners of the theatre.”

But it could get even crazier. “We’ve had snow, rain, leaves, rice, garden furniture, cows, horses… and yes, even an elephant on stage.”
In 1971, a circus performed in the Schouwburg, and there was simply an elephant standing in the hallway.

In the wings: third time lucky

Technician Pascal Hermans experienced a very special series of performances of West Side Story. “The set consisted of large steel construction frames,” he recalls. “It was such a large structure that the drapes that normally hang along the stage were pulled up close to a large work light.
When the work light was accidentally switched on, the drapes began to smoulder.”

The fire brigade extinguished the fire with a powder extinguisher: disastrous for steel and electronics. The performance could not go ahead, but fortunately there was a backup date. “During the second attempt the lead actor became ill. And then someone else. And someone else again. Apparently a dinner at a fish restaurant hadn’t done them any good. In the end, so many people were ill that that performance was cancelled as well.”

Fortunately, third time lucky: at the third attempt they were able to perform.

The Studio: from cinema to wedding hall

At the opening in 1961, the Studio was used as a cinema, but the space soon took on other functions. “You can see in old photos that there were billiard evenings, dance parties by AVROTROS, and that a wedding took place,” says Pascal. “We have even had funerals there in the past, although we no longer do that.”

Next to the Studio there used to be a bunker.Due to the tensions during the Cold War, a special shelter for the mayor was built as a precaution.
Now only the hinges remain. Silent witnesses to the heavy, solid door that once hung there.