Giel Pastoor on the future of the Parktheater Theatre
Being open to everything and curiously seeking out the other and ourselves. The Parktheater has embarked on this course and intends to pursue it in the coming years. In this way, we connect to the changing needs in society and reach new target groups.
"Sometimes we are an evening Carré, another evening the Stadsschouwburg or the Kleine Komedie and then again we are an evening DeLaMar. Af we are even that on one evening and so we have three or more audience groups in the house with different desires. Yes, that is a challenge at times, but I wouldn't want it any other way," says theater director Giel Pastoor.
In the 1990s, Pastoor had the opportunity to look behind the scenes at several theaters. "I discovered then that there were two types of theater directors: the director who goes full steam ahead for the arts and at the end of the year has spent a bit more money than expected, and the director who shows great figures but where you think 'was this an interesting year?' Between these I want to bridge the gap." Parktheater currently works with an artistic programmer, a commercial programmer and a programmer for young creators. There are also programmers for education, context programming and social impact. "I think we do that a little differently than other theaters. Those young makers, for example, we want to use to tell our story. That's impossible if you program through one line."
Bless the play between us
The mission that underlies the Parktheater 's course reads More than you... and focuses on showing and discovering other perspectives. It is a call to be even more in search of that other audience, that other programming and that other fellow human being. "That's pretty abstract, which is why we use the acting principle Bless the thstageetween us. By looking for each other you literally offer the other a theastageencounter. This is a concept we want to develop and continue in the coming years."
Refining your own image after a performance, feeling relieved or surprised by a new insight. In short: going out is different from the way you came in. According to Pastoor, this is the function of theater in the broadest sense. "You only get that done if you have opened up, without prejudice." It also means that programmers must look for new, exciting concepts to entice Eindhoven. For the past two years, a number of experimental performances by smaller companies have past event programmed under the label STROOM, including an aftertalk with the makers for extra interpretation and depth. "Sometimes 100 to 200 people sit there. I think that's fantastic for a small hall. Many of them stay for the aftertalk and dare to make contact with the filmmaker. That's what we want to achieve."
Diversity
The Parktheater is also responding to the increasingly diverse city of Eindhoven. "Together with the other WONKA stages, we organize the WONKA Comedy Festival with comedy from as many as ten different countries. Furthermore, we engage the international target group through 'No Dutch required' (performances that do not require you to understand Dutch)." Still, according to Pastoor, there is much to be gained. "The first movement is from us, by looking in our own network, and opening the door for new initiatives."
Parktheater 's main ambition for the coming years is to welcome more visitors. "Most growth is possible in the area of side activities such as festivals, but this must be feasible." There are also opportunities in the context of BIS (subsidized companies), according to Pastoor. "We have a good relationship with them, but I think we can expand that box even continue. So by not only offering the performance, but linking activities to it around the same theme. I would like to continue explore what is possible, of course within the possibilities of our organization."
Close to the Parktheater
Parktheater opens its doors wide for everyone, for meeting, curiosity and connection. How do we do that? Our inspired employees tell you. Read the stories about social commitment, supporting young talent, backstage at Toneeltechniek and the future vision of director Giel Pastoor!
