The seasons

Het Nationale Theater, Eric de Vroedt

Where do you find hope in an upside-down world? De seizoenen is a theatrical marathon based on Ali Smith’s novels Autumn, Winter, Spring and Summer. In her vibrant seasonal quartet, the Scottish author interweaves societal changes with intimate personal stories. Director Eric de Vroedt will bring her poetic language to life in a seven-hour theatrical experience at ITA.

Festival Holland Festival

Run Time 480 minutes, incl. 2 intermissions
Genre Theatre
Language Dutch
Surtitles English

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

more about The seasons

about Holland Festival

The Holland Festival is the largest international performing arts festival in the Netherlands and one of the oldest festivals in Europe. Founded in 1947, Holland Festival celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2022.

The festival takes place every June, in and around Amsterdam at various locations, indoors and outdoors, large-scale and intimate, online and offline.

more about Holland Festival

Credits

after the books Herfst, Winter, Lente and Zomer by 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
-|-
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 Reijnders