Shakshuka: no onions

Judith Schrijver / Theater Na de Dam Producties

On 4 May in the Netherlands we commemorate victims of war, at 9pm, theatre-makers and artists across the Netherlands dedicate themselves to adding meaning to this day. Each year, more than a hundred and thirty performances, each relating to the Second World War in its own way, play simultaneously.

This year, we present a theatrical text reading by Judith Schrijver with ITA actor Eelco Smits.

Location The Bookshop
Duration 60 min
Genre Theater
Language Dutch

Rachel Goudsmit and Michiel van Schaik meet at the editorial office of a left-wing magazine, where they share the same position and in a short time become good friends. They share the same sharp sense of humour and enjoy working together. For both, identity is an important driving force behind their writing. Michiel was recently promoted to editor-in-chief, a position Rachel would have liked to have had as well. Rachel has recently contributed several articles that have something to do with her Jewish identity; Michiel has not placed these articles for various reasons.

During a Friday afternoon drink, the two drunkenly exit the office. In the conversation that follows, painful points come to light. Rachel wants to understand why her articles have not been posted; Michiel wonders why Rachel always wants to emphasise the complexity of the situation, when to him it is rather obviously black and white. After the Second World War, she should understand, as a Jew, that what Israel is doing now is unacceptable. Shakshuka: No Onions asks what a war that is now 3000 km away has to do with a war that started 85 years ago in the Netherlands, and what the consequences of both are for a friendship between two people who have always been able to agree on almost everything else.

The reason for writing the play is Judith Schrijver's personal connection to the subject. With Jewish family in Israel and leftist, activist friends around her, she feels how the war unfolding now chafes with the stories she herself grew up with about war and persecution. How can you make the power of stories work precisely before peace, and is it possible to step over your own trauma and pain, to see the suffering of the other?

About Judith Schrijver

Judith Schrijver graduated from Amsterdam's Toneelschool- en Kleinkunstacademie in 2018. She can regularly be seen as an actor in television programmes and has appeared in several theatre productions. After graduating, she started writing more and more. In 2021 and 2023, she performed her self-written solo performance LOÏE2 and this year she will enjoy working on her play for Theatre After Dam.

About Theater na de Dam

On the evening of the National Remembrance of the Dead on 4 May at 9pm, theatre-makers and artists across the Netherlands dedicate themselves to adding meaning to this day. Each year, more than a hundred and thirty performances, each relating to the Second World War in its own way, play simultaneously.

New performances

Theatre After the Dam approaches theatre makers every year to ask them to create a new performance especially for 4 May that offers a current perspective on the Second World War and today's world. Previously, these have included VegeLijf, Gonny Gaakeer, Billy de Walle, Roziena Salihu & Momo Samwel, Bambie, Emma Lesuis, Nina Spijkers, Pierre Bokma, Igone de Jong, Nasrdin Dchar, Wende & Typhoon and Orkater. These performances are reflected in the programme as in-house productions.

Young people and Theater Na de Dam

Youth performances are an essential part of Theater Na de Dam. Together with theatre makers, young people immerse themselves in the history of their neighbourhood at the time of World War II and interview older people from the neighbourhood about their memories. They use these conversations as the basis for their performance.

Credits

Concept, acting Judith Schrijver, Eelco Smits
Text Judith Schrijver
Dramaturgical accompaniment Jaïr Stranders, Patricia Anthea Oldenhave (Theater Na de Dam)