Kantjil en de Tijger (8+)

17 Oct '25 to 28 Dec '25

Toneelmakerij / Oorkaan / Studio Figur

A grandmother with one last wish. Her brave granddaughter Indra. And the clever little deer Kantjil, who is not tall but has a black belt. Travel with Indra and Kantjil on their quest for the past: epic, vulnerable, exciting, confrontational and with a good dose of Indian humor. A performance by the Toneelmakerij, Oorkaan and Studio Figur.

Run time tba
Genre Theatre - Family
Language Dutch

Premiere Sun, Oct 19

Kantjil en de Tijger

Indra's grandmother Billy is ill. In her small living room, the whole family waits to say goodbye to her. But then Grandma turns out to have a last wish that turns everything upside down. Young Indra rushes to her aid and before she knows it, she tumbles into a hidden history.

Indra meets sidekick Kantjil, a magical Javanese little deer with the black belt. Together they put the puzzle pieces of the past together. Can you be too old to give the past a place? Or too young for your own family's history?

Every year the Toneelmakerij creates a large-scale production for the whole family in collaboration with another (music) theater company. After the success of Giselle, 1000+1 night, As You Like It, Hans en Griet and De Toverfluit, this fall we are collaborating with the full Oorkaan Ensemble and five top actors. A compelling musical theater performance for everyone aged eight and up.

Quote Paulien Geerlings (writer of Kantjil)

“In the Netherlands, around 2 million people with Indonesian roots live, spread across the country. They carry the consequences of 350 years of colonial history with them, now up to the fourth generation. There are still so many stories to tell here from various perspectives. This is necessary to make peace with the past and better understand the present. This is one of those stories. I look forward to writing it together with Melissa as a grand tale that suits the large stage: epic, vulnerable, exciting, confronting, and with a generous dose of Indo humor.”

Quote Paul Knieriem (director Kantjil):

“Every year we make a modern theatrical version inspired by a classic story, in this case Kantjil and the tiger. The great thing about the musicians of Oorkaan is that they are real theater animals. Like no other they can bring an exciting story musically to life. In this performance they are inspired by the rich Indonesian musical tradition.”

Credits

text Paulien Geerlings, Melissa Knollenburg
director Paul Knieriem
direction shadow- and puppet play Noufri Bachdim - Studio Figur
assistant director Raija Gomez Iglesias
performers Bo Bojoh, Bodil de la Parra, Veysel Dzhesur, Susannah El Mecky, Isabelle Houdtzagers, Michele Mazzini, Jan van der Plas, Robbrecht Van Cauwenberghe, Eddie B. Wahr, Michela Zanoni
dramaturgy Nina van Tongeren
music dramaturgy Caecilia Thunnissen, Robbrecht Van Cauwenberghe
composition Frieda Gustavs, Michele Mazzini, Jordy Sanger
sound design Maurits Thiel
lighting design Gé Wegman
design and building of puppets and shadow play Pluck Venema, Noor Sanders
assistant puppet building Job van Weeren
scenography Yannick Verweij
costume Design Jorine van Beek, Dymph Boss
lighting programming Mart Hielema
set construction Man met de hamer
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technical team Mart Hielema, Sophie de Hoop, Hugo van der Veldt, Maurits Thiel
production Eva van Kerkhof
education Maaike-Merel van Baarzel, Lot Houtepen, Martien Langman
marketing Selman Aqiqi, Judith Evens, Julia de Koning, Lonneke Laurant, Irit Yosef, Charlotte Brouwer
tour manager Marleen Koens, Jip Schutte
publicity image Jan Hoek
with special thanks to V-fonds, Zadelhoff Cultuurfonds, P.W. Janssen's Friesche Stichting, Stichting de Versterking