Tragicomic Music theatre about the question how to stand your ground in an increasingly complex world
Premiere September 27, 2025, De Flint Amersfoort (NL)
While the Nazis are sharpening their knives in the background, Charlotte Salomon's life begins to shake to its foundations for a completely different reason, when her grandfather reveals that she has been lied to by her family all these years. Her mother does not appear to have died of the flu, but committed suicide, as did a whole series of other family members. Overwhelmed by this news, 22-year-old Charlotte begins a quest. With the help of her mentor Amadeus Daberlohn, she tries to fathom what is true and what is not.
She begins to paint feverishly to create order in the chaos in her head and to reshape her life. But is that possible? Or is Charlotte's fate already sealed? She creates more than 700 gouaches (watercolour paintings) with images, texts and fragments of music. She calls the work Leben? Oder Theater? - Ein Singespiel [Life? or Theatre].
Vocal quintet Wishful Singing and the young energetic ensemble But What About present a tragicomic music theatre performance based on the true story of Charlotte Salomon. Her colourful visual history of more than 700 paintings and texts comes to life theatrically thanks to Steven Kamperman's multicoloured composition that conjures up both Charlotte's moving cries from the heart and the lively Berlin of the thirties, and the equally dynamic and humorous staging by Annechien Koerselman in which Charlotte leaves no stone unturned to get to the bottom of things. All this against the threatening sounds of a rapidly changing society.
The powerful performance Charlotte Salomon celebrates the life and work of Charlotte Salomon and tells the moving story of a young woman who manages to stand her ground despite challenging circumstances in an increasingly complex world. It is also a tribute to her work, which is still of great significance.
“ I have a task, and no power on earth can stop me from accomplishing it.” - Charlotte Salomon
Photo © Juri Hiensch
Credits Cast & Crew
Soprano & acting Maria Goetze (Charlotte) Ensemble Wishful Singing
Alto & acting Marjolein Stots (Charlotte) Ensemble Wishful Singing
Soprano & acting Anne-Christine Wemekamp (Charlotte MOC / Mother / Paulinka Bimbam) Ensemble Wishful Singing
Alto & acting Stella Brüggen (Charlotte MOC / Grandmother) Ensemble Wishful Singing
Bas-bariton & acting Florian Just (Amadeus Daberlohn)
Clarinets, baritone & acting Vincent Martig (Grandfather) Ensemble But what about
Accordion, tenor & acting Wilco Oomkes (War) Ensemble But what about
Double base, tenor & acting Benjamin de Boer (Father)
Text & Gouaches Charlotte Salomon (1917 - 1943)
Libretto Annechien Koerselman
Composition Steven Kamperman
Stage direction Annechien Koerselman
Videodesign Annechien Koerselman
Video & Surtitletechnics Daan Hazendonk
Costumedesign Stella Brüggen
Costume contributions Anne Ammerlaan
Lightdesign Annechien Koerselman
Technics Duco Feldbrugge
Preparations Soundtechnics Koen Keevel
Execution Surtitles Hanneke Hommes / Catelijn van Berkel
Organisation Wishful Singing Utrecht
Special thanks to Collection Joods Historisch Museum Amsterdam © Stichting Charlotte Salomon
CALENDAR
Houten (NL) Theater aan de Slinger September 18, 2025 Try out
Amsersfoort (NL) De Flint September 27, 2025 20.15h Septemberme Festival
Amsterdam (NL) De Kleine Komedie September 20, 2025
Enschede (NL) Wilminktheater October 03, 2025 20.00h
Laren (NL) Theater Singer October 19, 2025 18.00h
Leiden (NL) Leidse Schouwburg & Concertzaal November 06, 2025
Zutphen (NL) Hanzehof April 19, 2026
Den Haag (NL) Diligentia April 22, 2026 20.00h
Wageningen (NL) Junushoff May 02, 2026 19.30h
Amsterdam (NL) Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ May 04, 2026 22.00h
Groningen (NL) Grand Theater May 09, 2026
More information: Wishful Singing
Photo © Henry Faber
Gouache © Charlotte Salomon
