Anyone walking into the courtyard of the Citadel this summer will suddenly find themselves in the middle of Den Bosch’s history. It is in this very historical spot that ‘Komt Dat Zien!’ is performed, the new open-air production by the creators of ‘Broeders – De val van Den Bosch’. The show premiered during Theaterfestival Boulevard and is exclusively showing in Den Bosch until September 13.
The performance ‘Komt Dat Zien!’ is set in the year 1629, during the siege of Den Bosch by the troops of Prince Frederick Henry. This time, the focus isn’t on princes and generals, but on ordinary people from Brabant.
In ‘Komt Dat Zien!’, a traveling theater group journeys with a ‘Wagon of Wondrous Arts’ through a land torn apart by war for generations. The performers bring music, jokes, and entertainment, but they also carry the consequences of that struggle themselves. When they are commissioned to create a propaganda show for the States Army troops, doubt arises. Can you tell the powers that be what they want to hear when you know firsthand what war does to ordinary people? In this way, ‘Komt Dat Zien!’ gives a voice to the people of Brabant who often remain in the background of history books. The performance also touches on a question that can still be a sensitive subject in Den Bosch: was the city liberated or occupied in 1629?
“At the Citadel, you don’t have to invent history,” says director Albert van Andel: “It’s already there. We just add humor, music, and imagination.”
Writer and actor Alexander de Bruijn adds: “We didn’t want to create a heavy history lesson. There’s plenty of laughter, special effects, and catchy songs. But beneath that cheerfulness lies a real story of Den Bosch and Brabant.”
With five actors—namely Xander van Vledder, Kiki Jaski, Alexander de Bruijn, Akim Moiseenkov, and Can Günkan—who together form both the theater group and the live orchestra, ‘Komt Dat Zien!’ is a summer location performance full of theater, music, and history. A special lead-up to the year 2029, when the siege of Den Bosch will have taken place exactly four hundred years ago.
Ticket sales
‘Komt Dat Zien!’ can be seen until Sunday, September 13, in the courtyard of the Citadel at Zuid-Willemsvaart 2 in Den Bosch. For additional information about the performance and ticket sales, visit Komt dat zien!
