Lieve Stad, 2023

During the sixth edition of Lieve Stad, from 17 - 26 March, ITA and Meervaart jointly present a wide variety of productions in the fields of theatre, dance, music and performance. Performances that celebrate the city and its diversity, but which also do not shy away from topics that chafe. This year with work by, among others, Theater RAST, ICK Dans Amsterdam, Abdelkader Benali & Club Classique and Luan Buleshkaj.

Sara Correia - 17 March in Meervaart

Do Coração

Sara Correia performs live Do Coração, the album nominated for the Latin Grammy 2021 and winner of the Best Fado Album at the PLAY Awards. Produced by Diogo Clemente, the album is nominated for Best Portuguese Language Roots Album.

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Theater RAST / Celil Toksöz - 18 March in ITA

Kroniek van een aangekondigde dood

Theatre RAST, which responds to what is happening in the world from its Turkish-Dutch DNA, brings a new text by Aron Goosens who took his inspiration from Chronicle of a Death Foretold, Waiting for Godot and Invisible Tales from the Valley of Ararat.

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ICK Dans Amsterdam - 18 March in Meervaart

We, the Shameless

We, the Shameless gives us a different take on a solo. Two connected bodies have their shared "bodily memory", but also their dual identities. Without any shame, they share this discord with the audience.

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we wear our wheels with pride and slap your streets with color

Club Classique / Abdelkader Benali - 19 March in Meervaart

Een nacht met Sjahrazade

The stories from a thousand-and-one nights still capture the imagination. Writer and presenter Abdelkader Benali compellingly tells the story of Shahrazade and how she manages to enchant the tyrant of Baghdad with her storytelling so much that she manages to postpone her own execution by a day each time. Abdelkader gives a modern twist to the fairy tales and Club Classique matches music and words.

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Meervaart / Amsterdam Andalusisch Orkest / George & Eran Producties - 20 March in ITA

Jihad van Liefde

Jihad van Liefde is a musical story based on the book of the same name. In it, David Van Reybrouck chronicled the moving story of Mohamed El Bachiri. This metro driver from Molenbeek, Belgium, lost his great love and mother of his three children in the terror attack in the Brussels metro on 22 March 2016.

Abhishek Thapar - 21 and 22 March in ITA

Surpassing the beeline

Surpassing the beeline delves into the stories of Amsterdam's expat community. Stories of those who are emigrants when they leave home and become immigrants elsewhere; their past, present and sense of 'home' completely intertwined. The emigrant from one country, is the immigrant from another.

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Kat op het Spek / Gerardjan Rijnders - 22 March in Meervaart

SLAKJE

SLAKJE is a theatre monologue of integrity about abuse and how it can scar your life. About people's incredible ability to keep hope, against the odds.

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Mohammad Motamedi, Tony Overwater en anderen - 23 March in ITA

Noor

Join us on a spiritual journey from Persia to Anatolia and from the Levant to Andalusia. Poems by mystical poets such as Rumi, Rabia Al Adawiya and Ibn Arabi will be recited under the leadership of world-renowned Persian singer Mohammad Motamedi, a world first.

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Tg. Winterberg / Feikes Huis - 23 March in Meervaart

Alles naar de Hemel

Alles naar de Hemel is about making an impossible choice between life and death and the inhuman quest that precedes it. An inventive and fascinating rollercoaster of emotions, in a loving ode to all people who love their children.

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Luan Buleshkaj - 24 March in Meervaart

Leeuwenkind

Luan Buleshkaj is a word artist in the broadest sense and is an established name in the spoken word scene in the Netherlands. Leeuwenkind is his first solo performance. He is supported musically by guitarist Yassine Belghanch. 'Spoken word at top level, with a touch and cabaret,' said the Amsterdam Fringe Festival jury.

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Theater Rotterdam / Well Made Productions / Romana Vrede / Alida Dors - 25 en 26 March in ITA

The Story of Travis

The Story of Travis is a new stage play inspired by Lorraine Hansberry's Broadway classic A Raisin in the Sun. About the importance of having dreams, making your voice heard in a world that doesn't seem set up for you and finding a home. In poetic monologues, recognisable family situations and spiritual dialogues, the performance questions the burden of the black (American) dream and what it is like to be sent into the world as the only hope of your family.

It takes a child to raise a village / football meets dance

ITA-junior / Esmée Begemann / Ro, Rox, Roxy, Roxana Verwey - 24, 25 and 26 March in ITA

The Money Game jr.

The Money Game jr. is an investigation into our derailed financial system made with and by a generation growing up in the middle of it. Everything has a value. Money is power. In 2023, influence has a price and the bosses of Insta, Apple and Amazon run the world. Money makes the world go round, but only for the very rich. What should the rest do with a financial system where there seems to be no way out? And is there a cost for screwing up the world?

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CONTEXT PROGRAMME

Who is actually a real Amsterdammer? Lieve Stad's daily context programme, is about the Amsterdammer, the life of the Amsterdammer, and the city. Get inspired, hear new stories and perspectives.

During the festival, we organise Talks and editions of In Gesprek accompanying various performances, and there are exhibitions to visit in both Internationaal Theater Amsterdam and Meervaart.

Opening Lieve Stad, festival

On Friday 17 March, we proudly open the festival Lieve Stad,.

Opening photo exhibition Groeipijn (Growing pains)
This exhibition is the result of a photography project with young Amsterdammers from Meervaart & Foam, given by Coco Olakunle.
From heartbreak, identity and from family history to learning to let go, the photo exhibition 'Growth Pain' shows the intimate work of eight young photographers, who tell their personal stories based on the theme of 'growing up'.
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Talk show: Dzifa Kusenuh in conversation with the makers
In a short talk show presented by Dzifa Kusenuh during the official opening of this exhibition, Coco Olakunle and the 8 young makers will take you through their personal journey and tell you more about what development they went through. What story are they telling, and why?

Presentation Lieve Stad,
Luan Buleshkaj is a word artist in the broadest sense of the word and an established name in the spoken word scene in the Netherlands. The born and bred Amsterdammer with Kosovar-Albanian roots will take us on a journey through the city during the opening.

Free admission, register via Meervaart

17 - 26 Mar, ITA Info Hall & Meervaart

PHOTOSTUDIO

Who exactly are these Amsterdammers? Dear City invites Amsterdammers to have their portrait taken in one of our mobile photo studios. Throughout the festival, you can have yourself immortalised in both ITA and Meervaart. These portraits will be projected on both locations during the festival. On Sunday 26 March, you can see the answer to the question "Who exactly are these Amsterdammers?" in both theatres.

17 - 26 March, ITA & Meervaart

LETTERS TO THE CITY

Amsterdam is a city with many faces, literally, as we live here together with many different nationalities. Lieve Stad, is about the city and all kinds of Amsterdammers it has. During Lieve Stad, Amsterdammers honour the city through a letter addressed to the city. All have their own stories, daily challenges and their own perception of the city. Join us on a journey of discovery through Amsterdam and see the city through someone else's eyes.

Lieve Stad, also invites all Amsterdammers to write a letter to the city during the festival.

17 - 26 March, ITA & Meervaart

EXHIBITION GROWING PAINS

This exhibition is the result of a photography project with young Amsterdammers at Meervaart & Foam, given by Coco Olakunle.

From heartbreak, identity and from family history to learning to let go, the photo exhibition 'Growth Pain' shows the intimate work of eight young photographers, who tell their personal stories based on the theme of 'growing up'.

Talks, In Gesprek and more


Talks

- 18 Mar: Talk - with Cecil Toksöz. ITA Salon, 19:00
- 20 Mar: Talk - with Amnesty. ITA Salon, 19:00
- 23 Mar: City Talks. ITA Salon, 18:00
- 25 Mar: Talk - The Black Archives x The Story of Travis. ITA Salon, 19:00
- 26 Mar: Talk - from Leidseplein to the theatre. Meervaart Studio, 14:45
- 26 Mar: Talk - The Black Archives x The Story of Travis. ITA Salon, 19:00
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In Gesprek
- 18 Mar: In Conversation with Robyn Orlin. ITA New Foyer, 10:20
- 21 Mar: In Conversation with Maxine Palit de Jongh. Meervaart Blue Hall, 21:30
- 22 Mar: In Conversation with Gerardjan Rijnders. Meervaart Blue Hall, 22:30
- 23 Mar: In Conversation with Marlyn Coetsier and Rob Vriens. Meervaart Blue Hall, 21:45

Open mic
- 24 Mar: Open mic for word artists. Meervaart Studio Poetry Café, 19:00

Workshop
- 26 Mar: Workshop Breaking (introduction). Meervaart Studio, 16:00