The seasons

In the run-up to the Holland Festival, Eric de Vroedt will work with the actors (including Theo d’Or winner Mariana Aparicio) and artistic team on parts of the novel series, presenting their progress at the transition into the next season. De Vroedt typically rehearses for two to three months, which makes this approach unique. The director has previously appeared at the Holland Festival twice with The Nation in 2017 and 2023.

Ali Smith (Scotland, 1962) links personal stories to social themes like the refugee crisis, the rise of the far-right, and poverty. Each novel captures the essence of its respective season while touching on pressing issues like Brexit, immigration and the global pandemic. This ambitious project was praised for both its topicality and relevance. De seizoenen is a relatable and moving experience, even without having read the books.

-|-'Ali Smith wanted to write four books about our changing climate, which she titled after the four seasons. When she started in 2016, the Brexit referendum shook her country, and the cycle she wrote dazzlingly links both subjects. Nature, Brexit, art, refugee crises: everything comes together in these four novels. We follow exceptional characters who meet in unexpected, but plausible ways, become friends and continue to support each other throughout their lives.'

– Eric de Vroedt

After the books Herfst, Winter, Lente en Zomer van Ali Smith
translation Karina van Santen, Martine Vosmaer
adaption Eric de Vroedt
direction Eric de Vroedt
acting Mariana Aparicio, Nur Dabagh, Hein van der Heijden, Antoinette Jelgersma, Esther Scheldwacht, Betty Schuurman, Joris Smit, June Yanez
scenography Julian Maiwald, Léa Thomas
lighting design Julian Maiwald, Léa Thomas
music Florentijn Boddendijk, Remco de Jong
costumes Lotte de Goos
video design Lennert Esser
dramaturgy Willemijn Barelds, Remco van Rijn

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direction assistance Chyramain van Kempen
context programme Lotte De Leeuw, Laura van Zuijlen, Rehana Ganga, Mark Kalsbeek, Iselin Van Duuren
production Rodney Verhoeven
technology Ivo Pas, Lennert Esser, Koen Veldman, Gert van Elderen
hair and make-up Bärbel Scheid
wardrobe Kiswati van Keulen
costume department Iris Elströdt (head), Stef Krull, Amanda van Marion, Marijne Addink
scenery department Ruud Brouwer, Maite Kragl, Mich Krispijn, Ron van Rijn, Jelle Krug
marketing Laura Rejnders