Welcome in UTOPIA!
A neighbourhood you never have to leave
because it has everything you desire
Light, air and room to live
A neighbourhood with a view.
A view of happiness
Sixty years ago Parkwijk was designed as a residential paradise for the ordinary man. Haarlem felt the need to build a rejuvenated housing estate just like other major cities. The motto was: light, air and room for everyone. By 2013 Parkwijk had gained a reputation as a deprived neighbourhood and regularly got a negative press. Can happiness be designed on the drawing board? Or does everyone construct his own Utopia?
For two years theatremakers collected stories by local residents and council officials. They used the material to develop a scenario for UTOPIA! Five characters work to realize a better life for themselves; the pioneer, the eternal volunteer, the immigrant, the teacher and the boy. What binds them is their aim to create their ideal community.
artistic direction
Titia Bouwmeester
acting coach
Dorien Folkers
scenario advice
Tjeerd Bisschop
artistic team
Danielle van Vree, Abdelkarim el Baz, Brigitte Defaix, Has Drijver, Maureen de Jong
music
Ben Lammerts van Bueren, Ted van Leeuwen
costumes
Dieuweke van Reij
technicians
Kees van Zelst, Wouter Helmond
general manager
Ilse van Dijk
production manager
Mireille Visser
public relations
Miska Aksular
design
Verse Beeldwaren
thanks to
Peggy Meulman, Maria Hoed, Gabrielle Venix, Rozien Salah, Geja Muffels, Kirsten van Wieringen, Bernard Felix, Edwin Hein, Mida Koelman, Marjolein Dompeling, Lies van Eeken, Mieke Alders, Mimouna Senoussi, Rob Jordaan, Aad van Ake and all the others.
