''Soldier of Orange'' ( Dutch: ''Soldaat van Oranje'') is a Dutch musical production, based on the true story of resistance hero Erik Hazelhoff Roelfzema. In the 1970s, he wrote his experiences during World War II down in a book and director Paul Verhoeven made it into a 1977 film, starring actor Rutger Hauer. The musical premiered on 30 October 2010, in a theatre that was purpose-built for the production: the TheaterHangaar on the former Valkenburg air base in Katwijk (in an old hangar). Queen Beatrix attended the premiere together with Erik Hazelhoff Roelfzema's widow, Karin. ''Soldier of Orange'' is produced by NEW Productions, which is a subsidiary of investment company Amerborgh Nederland. In the autumn of 2020, an English version of ''Soldier of Orange'' was set to premier in a newly build ''Royal Docks Theatre'' near London City Airport but the plans were postponed in March 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic started.

Plot

Student Erik Hazelhoff Roelfzema and his friends are carefree, until the Germans invade the Netherlands in the early days of May 1940. The war changes everything. They can no longer take friendship and love for granted. Everybody has to make choices. Fight for the country and for freedom? Focus on studying and deny what's going on? Or join the enemy? The book of Hazelhoff Roelfzema, with the title Cave of the Rattlesnake (Dutch: Het hol van de ratelslang), was published in 1970. It reappeared a year later under the title Soldier of Orange. Paul Verhoeven created a film version in 1977. Rutger Hauer played the character Erik Lanshoff, based on the resistance hero. Soldier of Orange – The Musical brings the true story to the theatre. After World War II starts, Erik decides to flee to Britain. He smuggles transmitting equipment to the Netherlands and, as a pilot, is involved in bombing Germany. He becomes adjutant for Queen Wilhelmina and receives the Military William Order ('Militaire Willems-Orde'), the highest royal honour in the Netherlands, for his contribution to the resistance movement.

Background

Producer

Fred Boot Fred Boot (Groningen, 1965) is a Dutch theatre producer. Career Boot started working for Joop van den Ende Theaterproducties in 1991 and was responsible for the publicity and marketing of over twenty musical productions, such as The Phantom of t ...

obtained the rights to turn the story into a musical in 2005, after meeting Hazelhoff Roelfzema the year before. Scriptwriter Edwin de Vries wrote the musical script. American duo Tom Harriman and Pamela Philips Oland was responsible for composition and lyrics. Dutch actor and composer Frans van Deursen translated the lyrics from English into Dutch. In 2008, Boot asked theatre producer Robin de Levita to join him. Director Theu Boermans joined the team in 2009.

Location

The show takes place in a former flight hangar, that is converted into a theatre. The location of the so-called TheaterHangaar is former military airport Valkenburg between Wassenaar, Katwijk en Leiden, a suitable, historical place. A foyer with a bar and restaurant is placed in front of the hangar.

SceneAround

Producer Robin de Levita invented a new theatrical performance solution for Soldier of Orange – The Musical: a rotating auditorium in the center of a venue with 1100 seats. He named it SceneAround. The auditorium is placed on a turntable. The audience rotates from scenery to scenery, accompanied by 180 degree projections on panel screens around the auditorium. Both the auditorium and the screens are motorized and automated. The set is built around the auditorium. Almost every scenery has its own set. There is even a ‘sea’ and the runway of the airport is also part of the set.

Dakota

Queen Wilhelmina returned to the Netherlands with a Dakota. The Dakota C-47 was made available for the musical by a Dutch museum and was taken to Valkenburg in August 2010. Shortly after midnight, the plane got stuck in an overpass. It was too damaged to have it repaired on time for the premiere. The Dakota PH-ALR ‘Reiger’ from 1939 that's being used in the production now, was delivered on 23 September 2010.

Cast

{, class="wikitable" , - ! Part !! Cast 2010/2011 !! Cast 2011/2012
till 14 February 2012 !! Cast 2012
from 14 February 2012 , - , Erik Hazelhoff Roelfzema , ,

Matteo van der Grijn Matteo is the Italian form of the given name Matthew. Another form is Mattia. The Hebrew meaning of Matteo is "gift of god". Matteo can also be used as a patronymic surname, often in the forms of de Matteo, De Matteo or DeMatteo, meaning " escenda ...

, ,

Julian Looman Julian may refer to: People * Julian (emperor) (331–363), Roman emperor from 361 to 363 * Julian (Rome), referring to the Roman gens Julia, with imperial dynasty offshoots * Saint Julian (disambiguation), several Christian saints * Julian (gi ...

, , Dragan Bakema , - , Queen Wilhelmina , ,

Catherine ten Bruggencate Katherine, also spelled Catherine, and other variations are feminine names. They are popular in Christian countries because of their derivation from the name of one of the first Christian saints, Catherine of Alexandria. In the early Christ ...

Anke van 't Hof Anke is a female given name. It may refer to the following: * Anke Baier-Loef (born 1972), German speed skater *Anke Behmer, née Vater (born 1961), former East German athlete * Anke Borchmann (born 1954), German rower * Anke Brockmann (born 1988 ...

, ,

Anne-Wil Blankers Wilhelmina Cornelia Maria (Anne Wil) Blankers (born 21 October 1940) is a Dutch actress. She was awarded the Theo d'Or The Theo d'Or is a Dutch acting award, given annually to the actress with the most impressive leading role of the theater seaso ...

,
Sylvia Poorta,
Truus te Selle,

Petra Laseur Petra Laseur (born 26 November 1939) is a Dutch theatre and film actress. She has appeared in more than thirty films since 1960. Selected filmography References External links * 1939 births Living people Dutch film actresses Dutch s ...

, , Marisa van Eyle, Trudy de Jong , - , François van 't Sant , ,

Nico de Vries Naftiran Intertrade Company limited (NICO) is a Swiss-based subsidiary of the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC). NICO is a general contractor for the oil and gas industry. NIOC buys the vast majority of Iran's gasoline imports. NICO is a key pl ...

Bart de Vries Bart de Vries (29 December 1964 – 6 December 2022) was a Dutch stage and television actor. Biography De Vries was born in Rotterdam in 1964. He was the son of actor Rob de Vries and the brother of actor Edwin de Vries. He was married to actre ...

(from January 2011) , ,

Edwin de Vries (alternate) , ,

Edwin de Vries (alternate) , - , Tessa , , Margreet Boersbroek , , Melissa Drost , , Melissa Drost , - , Chris , ,

Boy Ooteman A boy is a young male human. The term is commonly used for a child or an adolescent. When a male human reaches adulthood, he is described as a man. Definition, etymology, and use According to the ''Merriam-Webster Dictionary'', a boy is "a ...

, ,

, , Thijs Steenkamp , - , Charlotte , , Loes Haverkort
Marlijn Weerdenburg (from January 2011) , ,

Linde van den Heuvel Linde may refer to: Places *Lindes and Ramsberg Mountain District, a former district in Sweden, see Lindesberg Municipality *Lipka, Złotów County, a village in Poland, called Linde before World War II Rivers *Linde (Tollense), a river of Meckle ...

, ,

, - , Ada , , Anne Lamsvelt , , Christine de Boer , , Christine de Boer , - , Anton , ,

Oren Schrijver Oren ( he, אורן) is a masculine given name, meaning 'pine' or 'ash' in Hebrew. In the Book of Chronicles, Oren is one of the sons of Jerahmeel, the first-born of Hezron, along with Ram, Bunah, Ozem and Ahijah. Oren, as a given name or surnam ...

, , Reinier Demeijer , , Robbert van den Bergh , - , Bram , , Jorrit Ruijs , , Reinier Schimmel , , Rutger Bulsing , - , Fred , ,

Tijn Docter Tijn Docter (born 25 April 1972 in Amsterdam) is a Dutch actor. After graduating from Toneelacademie (Academy of Dramatic Arts) in Maastricht he played in various Dutch films. He played in ''06/05'' (2005) directed by Theo van Gogh, ''Zus & Zo ...

, , Xander van Vledder , , Harpert Michielsen , - , Victor , , Ad-Just Bouwman , , Ad-Just Bouwman , , Raymond Paardekooper , - , Paul , , Kes Blans , , Kes Blans , , Joey Schalker

References

* http://www.avinteractive.co.uk/features/29801/case-study-dutch-masters * http://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/gi_0199-14115345/A-wheel-musical-treat-Dutch.html * http://wingsofliberation.nl/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=141&Itemid=244&lang=en * http://fohonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5019&Itemid=1 * https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/actueel/nieuws/2010/11/01/koninklijke-premiere-soldaat-van-oranje

External links

Official website
Theatre in the Netherlands Dutch musicals 2010 musicals Plays set in the Netherlands Musicals based on films Musicals based on novels Musicals about World War II Plays set in the 1930s Plays set in the 1940s Cultural depictions of spies Cultural depictions of soldiers Cultural depictions of Dutch men Cultural depictions of Wilhelmina of the Netherlands