ITA–Ensemble

My Heavenly Favourite

My Heavenly Favourite
30 Nov '23 to 17 Dec '23
ITA Ensemble / Ivo van Hove

Lucas Rijneveld received the prestigious International Booker Prize for the English edition of his debut De avond is ongemak. The translation rights of his widely acclaimed second novel Mijn lieve gunsteling have so far been sold to fourteen countries. Ivo van Hove is the first director to adapt this heartbreaking and at the same time terrifying novel for the stage.

Run time 140 minutes
Genre Theater
Language Dutch
Surtitles English on Thu 30 Nov, Thu 7 Dec & Thu 14 Dec

In Gesprek Fri 1, 8 & 15 Dec

Please note this performance is about an adult who is sexually attracted to a minor and contains sexual violence. The performance uses strong lighting effects including stroboscope and the set uses a large amount of straw.

My Heavenly Favourite


A novel that the author himself thought no one would ever want to read, but which became a bestseller in a short time. A 49-year-old vet develops a forbidden love for a farmer's underage daughter during a sweltering summer.
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A love that quickly becomes an obsession. A story with moving but also intense scenes in which the adult man and the 14-year-old girl grow closer and closer until the boundary lines are crossed.

Lucas Rijneveld and Ivo van Hove, photographed by Jan Versweyveld for My Heavenly Favourite (Mijn lieve gunsteling) at Internationaal Theater Amsterdam (ITA). See the play in December in Amsterdam.

About My Heavenly Favourite

"I am very honoured that the grand master of the stage, Ivo van Hove, is performing Mijn lieve gunsteling on the stage. I have every confidence that it will be a wonderful adaptation. The cow in the spotlight! And the love, of course, the love." - Lucas Rijneveld

"Lucas Rijneveld treads the slippery slope of a forbidden relationship between an adult man and an underage girl in an idiosyncratic, beautifully written and important book. A rollercoaster of emotions: ecstasy, deep unhappiness, loneliness, guilt, jealousy, craving, nightmares and sex." - Ivo van Hove

CAST

Language NP Language no problem Eefje Paddenburg Eefje Paddenburg
Language NP Language no problem Hans Kesting Hans Kesting
Language NP Language no problem Katelijne Damen Katelijne Damen
Language NP Language no problem Steven Van Watermeulen Steven Van Watermeulen
Language NP Language no problem Achraf Koutet Achraf Koutet
Camillia / Mother Kurt
Father Meisje / Freud / Hitler
Brother Meisje / Son Kurt

In the press

Trouw

'My Heavenly Favourite is an impressive performance that resonates.'

De Volkskrant

'My Heavenly Favourite on stage, there's no way to escape it.'

Hans Kesting and Eefje Paddenburg, photographed by Jan Versweyveld for My Heavenly Favourite (Mijn lieve gunsteling), written by Lucas Rijneveld, was directed by Ivo van Hove at Internationaal Theater Amsterdam (ITA). See the play in December in Amsterdam.

DIGITALE BROCHURE

Read more about the production's author, direction, music, scenography and costumes in our digital brochure.

READ THE BROCHURE
Hans Kesting and Eefje Paddenburg, photographed by Jan Versweyveld for My Heavenly Favourite (Mijn lieve gunsteling), written by Lucas Rijneveld, was directed by Ivo van Hove at Internationaal Theater Amsterdam (ITA). See the play in December in Amsterdam.

IN GESPREK

After the performance, come and think, listen and chat at In Gesprek. We invite a guest to further explore the themes of My Heavenly Favourite and to exchange experiences. If you have any questions, this is the perfect time to ask them. In Gesprek is free of charge and starts shortly after the performance in one of our foyers, is conducted in Dutch and lasts about half an hour.

SEXUAL ASSAULT CENTRE

If you feel the need to talk after the performance, you can always contact the Sexual Assault Center (Centrum Seksueel Geweld). You can call (0800-0188) or chat completely anonymously.

MORE INFO
Hans Kesting and Eefje Paddenburg, photographed by Jan Versweyveld for My Heavenly Favourite (Mijn lieve gunsteling), written by Lucas Rijneveld, was directed by Ivo van Hove at Internationaal Theater Amsterdam (ITA). See the play in December in Amsterdam.
Ivo van Hove
Director
Ivo van Hove

Ivo van Hove was director of Internationaal Theater Amsterdam from 2001 till 2023.

In season 23|24, his directing of The Damned, My Heavenly Favourite and Who Killed My Father will be reprised.

View Profile

CREDITS


based on the book by Lucas Rijneveld
direction and adaptation Ivo van Hove
accompaniment adaptation and dramaturgical advice Bart Van den Eynde
scenography and lighting design Jan Versweyveld
song lyrics Lucas Rijneveld
composition songs Wende Snijders and Koen van der Wardt
music and sound design George Dhauw
video design Christopher Ash
costumes An D'Huys

cast Hans Kesting, Eefje Paddenburg, Katelijne Damen, Steven Van Watermeulen, Achraf Koutet
musician Roos van Tuil, Tosca van der Waals
cows Dora and Trix

private producer Marcelle and Joost Kuiper, Hans Peter Sauerwein
supported by Ammodo

This performance is supported by

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