Theatre Show

My own ‘dream’ is to create a musical theatre show, inspired by the stories and encounters I have on my way. I will record the stories and impressions on my laptop and I will try to make pictures and capture some video as well. After finishing stage I of the journey in March, we started working on a theatre show for the Shanghai World Expo. The first version of this show, a compilation of stories, music, images and video, premiered at the Dutch Culture Center in China on May 25. After we return from Istanbul this summer, we will work out the complete journey into the next version of this show, which will then be performed in several locations in Utrecht, Holland and Germany from August to October 2010.

Some of the songs from the show can be downloaded here:

5. Unterwegs
Unterwegs kann zu Hause sein
Unterwegs, es gibt keine Pause nein
Unterwegs in das Leben herein.

Ich verließ meine Heimat
An diesen kalten Morgen
Ich wusste nicht wohin
das macht mir aber keine Sorgen
Ich spüre einen neuen Tag, es ist klar was er sagt
Es gibt keine Grenze, ich darf sein wer ich bin

Unterwegs kann zu Hause sein
Unterwegs, es gibt keine Pause nein
Unterwegs in das Leben herein.

So viele schöne Menschen
Zeigen mir ihren Raum
So viele schöne Menschen
Jeder mit seinem eigenen Traum
Schritt um Schritt hinaus, so könnten wir das zusammen machen
Hell und klar, stolz und wahr, so könnten wir es schaffen.

Unterwegs kann zu Hause sein
Unterwegs, es gibt keine Pause nein
Unterwegs in das Leben herein

Herkunft und Tradition (ich schaue es an)
Sprache und Religion (ich schaue es an)
Meinung und Perspektive (ich schaue es an)
Das ist von dir
Das ist von mir
Das könnte doch einfach einig sein

Unterwegs kann zu Hause sein
Unterwegs, es gibt keine Pause nein
Unterwegs in das Leben herein.

4. Spreek je uit (de juiste woorden) (Speak up (the right words))
The more the voyage progresses, the more ‘Spreek je uit’ accompanies it. A support song about putting dreams into words, carrying through and hope. Some of us say that dreams should be kept private, otherwise they don’t come true. For me, it’s different. By telling about your dreams to others, by sharing them, it comes to life, they can be made concrete. Choosing the right words, even in this, is an important aspect. Often, a limited vocabulary is used, partly from convenience’s sake. Speak up (the right words) so that life will give you what you have waited on for so long, speak up!

3. Spring (Jump)
‘Jump’ is a song about ‘taking courageous steps’. I wrote it in 2005, but it applies so much to the Caravan Hitchhiking Project, both for myself as well as for the dreams that I discuss with people, that it goes along for the voyage.

2. Omarm (Embrace)
What is loneliness?

1. Domstad (Minster City)
When I was taking a walk through the Wilhelmina-park some time ago on a winter night, I realized the depth of my ties to Utrecht. Inspired by both my own history as well as the long history of the city, I wrote the first sentences of ‘Domstad’ at home. A song which gives a frank ‘yes’, instead of a ‘yes, but’, a frank ‘yes’ instead of having a way out. A song of recognition, acknowledgment and honor. For me, the chorus “Waar ik ook heen ga, je reist met me mee [Wherever you go, I'll go there with you]” represents the belief that the things you love don’t always have to be with you in the literal sense. If you really love something, it’s always with you, in your heart.

I believe in the development of opportunities by interaction. This is the core of true freedom. I like traveling together, will you join me?