Jumping rope, making up dance moves in front of the mirror, building your own world out of Lego or blocks. In chaos of the present, Play brings you back to the child within. This performance explores imagination as refuge, as necessity, as a way to gain control over what is larger than ourselves.
With Play, choreographer Ann Van den Broek dusts off her Barbies. She examines play as a vital need, as a way to escape from—or confront—what feels off. Play is not only a nostalgic longing for a lost childhood, but a sharp, physical quest exploring the tension between imagination and reality. Playing as resistance, as comfort, as an expression of the unspeakable.
The performance is raw, poetic, and direct. Through dance, performance, live video, a gritty score, and an intense physical language, the performers constantly move between inner and outer worlds. They build, climb, fall and play—where fantasy and reality touch and collide.
Play is an ode to imagination and an invitation to dare to play again.
concept and choreography Ann Van den Broek
performers Jean-Gabriel Maury, Marion Bosetti, Isaiah Selleslaghs, Yoko Haveman, Omar Karabulut, Guilherme Carvalho
interns Mira Sopart, Ana Paula Lemus Payiatsou
music Sjoerd Bruil
light and video Bernie van Velzen
scenography Niek Kortekaas
costumes Mariëlle Vos in collaboration with Ann Van den Broek
technicians Jesse Sep van Aalderen, Victor Boni
outside eye Marc Vanrunxt
photography Rio Staelens
premiere October 4, 2025, Nederlandse Dansdagen / Bordenhal, Maastricht (NL)
WArd/waRD is financial supported by the Fonds Podiumkunsten and the City of Tilburg.
WArd/waRD
| Date | City | Venue | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 Jan 2026 | Play | Amsterdam (NL), ITA | Tickets |
| 24 Jan 2026 | Play | Amsterdam (NL), ITA | Tickets |
| 16 Dec 2025 | Play | Heerlen (NL), Parkstad Limburg Theaters | Tickets |
| 01 Dec 2025 | Play | Groningen, SPOT/Stadsschouwburg – cancelled | |
| 18 Nov 2025 | Play | Delft (NL), Theater de Veste – cancelled | |
| 06 Nov 2025 | Play | Rotterdam (NL), Theater Rotterdam | |
| 05 Nov 2025 | Play | Rotterdam (NL), Theater Rotterdam | |
| 16 Oct 2025 | Play | Breda (NL), Chassé Theater | |
| 13 Oct 2025 | Play | Roosendaal (NL), De Kring | |
| 08 Oct 2025 | Play | Haarlem (NL), Schuur | |
| 07 Oct 2025 | Play | Tilburg (NL), Schouwburg Concertzaal Tilburg | |
| 04 Oct 2025 | Play | Maastricht (NL), Nederlandse Dansdagen – première | |
| 03 Oct 2025 | Play | Maastricht (NL), Nederlandse Dansdagen – try-out |
“In Play, everything revolves around the nostalgic longing to be able to play again, innocently and freely, as escapism and comfort in dark times.”
– de Volkskrant (NL)
“Play is more than a critique of contemporary work culture, and a commentary on the lack of play and imagination. This is because it’s not didactic, but rather an infectious encouragement to shake ourselves loose.”
– Etcetera (BE)
“Play is a captivating collection of dance, acting, music and live video footage.”
– Theaterkrant (NL)