The announcement of the nominations for the theater prizes was the final piece of the Nederlands Theater Festival on Sunday, which took place this year in a stripped-down version and largely online.
Four young actors who together have a chance to win that one big, distinguished theater prize: the Louis d’Or – that’s unique. And perhaps also the announcement of a new era, in which collectivity and cooperation triumph over individual glory. Discussion recently flared up about the stage prizes: the distinction between male (Louis d’Or) and female (Theo d’Or) leading roles is said to be outdated, and there are no awards for ensembles or non-binary characters. With this nomination, the Dutch Theater Jury seems to be taking a step forward. In the report the jury writes: ‘Their great strength lies explicitly not in the individual acting performance, but precisely in the unconditional mutual surrender.’
Incidentally, the foursome will compete against René van ‘t Hof in Theater Rotterdam’s End Game, who is nominated on their own. The jury: ‘In his controlled interpretation, Van’ t Hof almost does the impossible: he unites the uncontrollably comic and the immeasurably sad. ‘
Other nominees
Nominated for the Theo d’Or is Lotte Dunselman, for her role in The Polish Bride at the Noord Nederlands Toneel. Sanne Samina Hanssen makes her play Angels in America from Olympique Dramatique and the Toneelhuis win the Colombina, for best female contributing role. Nominated for the Arlecchino (best male contributing role) are Louis van der Waal for his role in Basting at NTGent, and Lukas Smolders (also for Angels in America).
Due to the corona pandemic, the stage jury decided this year not, as usual, to award the stage prizes at the closing gala of the festival. The first nominations were announced at an adapted ceremony in International Theater Amsterdam. New nominations will be added next season, and next year the jury will judge the harvest of two seasons.
A few prizes were awarded. Ernestine Comvalius, outgoing director of the Bijlmer Parktheater, received the ACT Award on behalf of the ACT actors’ association. The director’s prize went to the young director Eline Arbo, again for the acclaimed hit production Down with Eddy Bellegueule.
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