Dates

20 Dec-7 Jan ’24

Location

Dutch National Opera & Ballet, Studio Boekman

Running time

1:00

Tickets

na

The theory of everything

Magical quest for more time (8+)

The clock ticks on and the days go by, but no one knows exactly when time will slow down or fly by. Let’s bend time: that will mean more for everyone. We’ll throw away our clocks and wade across lightyears. 

Photo: Michiel Spijkers

A magical quest for more time

The spoken-word opera The Theory of Everything follows eleven-year-old Nia’s magical and philosophical quest for more time. Her grandmother, a leading scientist, wants Nia to use her amazing mathematical skills to help her in her laboratory in a joint effort to solve the physics conundrum of the theory of everything. But Nia’s aunt, a famous dancer, sees Nia’s talent for dance and wants her to spend all her time in the dance studio so she can become a great soloist. Nia could do either and wants to do both, but she doesn’t know how to manage it. She feels forced to choose. If only she had more time... 

 

A new domain

Different worlds meet in The Theory of Everything: not only opera and ballet, but also art and science. By considering the concept of time from new perspectives, this production makes the case, in a light-hearted way, for changing how we look at the world and our lives.

 

The makers

Theatre maker Naomi van der Linden and musical director Hanne van de Vrie came up with the idea for The Theory of Everything. They previously worked together at Dutch National Opera on the Children’s Chorus Festival and the Opera Heroes project. For this family opera, they will be collaborating with the young composer Carlijn Metselaar and multidisciplinary spoken-word artist Roziena Salihu.

A performance for the whole family during the Christmas holidays

Performance information

Sung and spoken in Dutch

Libretto  Roziena Salihu

Concept and stage direction  Naomi van der Linden

Concept and musical direction  Hanne van de Vrie

Choreography  Jomecia Oosterwolde

Set and costumes  Dymph Boss

Lighting  Ianthe van der Hoek

Arrangement/composer electronic music  Jan van Eerd

Dramaturgy  Naomi Teekens

Nia  Houda Bibouda

Oma  Elena Vink

Tante  Jomecia Oosterwolde

Ensemble  Nienke Nasserian, Anna Traub, Joris van Baar

Percussion and electronics  Jan van Eerd

Piano  Charlie Bo Meijering

Cello  Geneviève Verhage

School performances

A number of performances will be given especially for schools.

Trailer

het bespreken van de theorie

5 reasons to look forward to ... The Theory of Everything

Behind the scenes

Nia in De theorie van alles
Carlijn Metselaar and Rozien Salihu

Carlijn Metselaar and Roziena Salihu talk about The Theory of Everything

In the media

To keep this youth performance (...) accessible, director Naomi van der Linden brings together various worlds: opera singing and spoken word, classical and electronic music, science and hip-hop dance. These different worlds are also cleverly reflected in the story. In creative, shifting sets, Nia switches between her duties in a laboratory full of chalkboards with formulas, and her dance life in a rehearsal room full of mirrors.

21 December
Scène De theorie van alles | Foto: Fabian Calis
Scene The Theory of Everything | Photo: Fabian Calis
Scène De theorie van alles | Foto: Fabian Calis
Scene The Theory of Everything | Photo: Fabian Calis
Scène De theorie van alles | Foto: Fabian Calis
Scene The Theory of Everything | Photo: Fabian Calis
Repetitie De theorie van alles | Foto: Fabian Calis
Rehearsal The Theory of Everything | Photo: Fabian Calis
Repetitie De theorie van alles | Foto: Fabian Calis
Rehearsal The Theory of Everything | Photo: Fabian Calis
Repetitie De theorie van alles | Foto: Fabian Calis
Rehearsal The Theory of Everything | Photo: Fabian Calis
Repetitie De theorie van alles | Foto: Fabian Calis
Rehearsal The Theory of Everything | Photo: Fabian Calis
Repetitie De theorie van alles | Foto: Fabian Calis
Rehearsal The Theory of Everything | Photo: Fabian Calis
Repetitie De theorie van alles | Foto: Fabian Calis
Rehearsal The Theory of Everything | Photo: Fabian Calis
Repetitie De theorie van alles | Foto: Fabian Calis
Rehearsal The Theory of Everything | Photo: Fabian Calis
Repetitie De theorie van alles | Foto: Fabian Calis
Rehearsal The Theory of Everything | Photo: Fabian Calis
Repetitie De theorie van alles | Foto: Fabian Calis
Rehearsal The Theory of Everything | Photo: Fabian Calis
Repetitie De theorie van alles | Foto: Fabian Calis
Rehearsal The Theory of Everything | Photo: Fabian Calis
Repetitie De theorie van alles | Foto: Fabian Calis
Rehearsal The Theory of Everything | Photo: Fabian Calis
Repetitie De theorie van alles | Foto: Fabian Calis
Rehearsal The Theory of Everything | Photo: Fabian Calis
Repetitie De theorie van alles | Foto: Fabian Calis
Rehearsal The Theory of Everything | Photo: Fabian Calis
Repetitie De theorie van alles | Foto: Fabian Calis
Rehearsal The Theory of Everything | Photo: Fabian Calis
Repetitie De theorie van alles | Foto: Fabian Calis
Rehearsal The Theory of Everything | Photo: Fabian Calis
Repetitie De theorie van alles | Foto: Fabian Calis
Rehearsal The Theory of Everything | Photo: Fabian Calis

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