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World premiere

The Seasons

Het Nationale Theater, Eric de Vroedt

Copyright information:Anne Claire de Breij

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.


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 


In 2016, Scottish author Ali Smith wanted to write four novels about the changing climate. But when she started, the Brexit referendum shook her country. She wrote four insightful, poetic books about the current social and political turbulence: fake news, the climate, refugee crises, Covid-19 and Trump. In the midst of all this chaos, she drew hope from intimate stories, art, nature and activism. We follow seventeen quirky characters who meet wholly unexpectedly, become friends and changes each other’s’ lives forever. De seizoenen is a breathtaking theatre trip full of heartwarming friendships, forgotten artists and inspiring resistance, set against the backdrop of a changing natural world.


The story


Autumn

England, 2016. In a care home, the thirty-something Elisabeth looks back on her lifelong friendship with the over one hundred year old songwriter Daniel. In their mind, they go on an epic journey through time, past early memories, old loves, feminist pop art, war and popular music. 


Winter

England, December 2016. Sophia has invited her son Art and his girlfriend for a Christmas dinner. But Art’s relationship has reached its end, so he hires an unknown woman to play his girlfriend. Panicking, he also invites his activist aunt Iris, though she and her younger sister have been at odds for thirty years already. All the ingredients are there for a Christmas like never before.


Spring

England, 2018. Filmmaker Richard is standing on an empty platform in northern Scotland. The death of his best friend has taken a toll on him, and he wants to leave his life behind here. That same day, a magical twelve-year-old girl walks into the heavily guarded detention centre for rejected asylum seekers. She turns things upside down and together with Britt, a staff member of the detention centre, travels to the exact same station in northern Scotland.


Summer

England, 2020. The first reports of a new, deadly virus are coming in. Sacha and her thirteen-year-old brother are constantly clashing. While Robert is prone to make radical-rightwing, racist statements, Sacha is concerned with the homeless and climate. In the summer of 1940, Daniel Gluck winds up in a British internment camp as an unwelcome foreign national, while his sister Hannah is in occupied France fighting for her life.  


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dates

Fri June 27 12:30 PM

Sat June 28 12:30 PM

Sun June 29 12:30 PM

prices

  • default from € 29,50
  • CJP/student/scholar € 15

information

  • Dutch surtitles: English

  • 7 hours (met 2 pauzes)

  • The Seasons - Spring

    Anne Claire de Breij

  • The Seasons - Winter

    Anne Claire de Breij

  • The Seasons - Summer

    Anne Claire de Breij

Credits

after de boeken Herfst, Winter, Lente en Zomer van Ali Smith translation Karina van Santen, Martine Vosmaer adaptation 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 (stage) lighting design Julian Maiwald, Léa Thomas (stage) music Florentijn Boddendijk, Remco de Jong costumes Lotte 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 1st stage manager Jan Harm Wagner technology Ivo Pas, Lennert Esser, Koen Veldman, Gert van Elderen hair and makeup Bärbel Scheid wardrobe Kiswati van Keulen costume department Iris Elströdt (head), Stef Krull, Amanda van Marion, Marijne Addink scenery department Ruud Brouwer, Maite Kragl, Mick Krispijn, Ron van Rijn, Jelle Krug marketing Laura Rejnders (in collaboration with the marketing department at Het Nationale Theatre)

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