HET PAUPERPARADIJS – Pauperparadijs


The Pauper Paradise tells one of the most dramatic, hidden histories in the Netherlands. In the 19th century poverty was enormous. Tens of thousands of orphans and paupers were put on a ship to Drenthe to be re-educated there. But what started as an idealistic experiment to eradicate poverty turned into a drama.

In Het Pauperparadijs we follow the Amsterdam orphan boy Teunis, who is suddenly deported with his sister Aagje to the asylums of Veenhuizen. He looks for a way back home, but falls in love with the daughter of the guard, Cato. Their forbidden love and the unequal struggle against authority make life impossible for them. Eventually they try to flee.

After 2 summers on a outdoor location this musical spectacle went for 5 weeks to Carré in Amsterdam. For this show I was the show caller.