🥹 How is it already over? | ✨ Plans for 2026 ✨
Looking back & looking forward 🧡
Hey there,
The festival is over.
Every morning I still wake up thinking I will jump on my bike, arrive in the sunny courtyard, and a workshop/rehearsal/show will happen soon.
[melancholic sigh] 🥹
But no…
In this email, a thank you letter to everyone who made it happen. (Also a fun read if you didn’t make it this year)
Also: ✨ NEW plans!✨
We couldn’t do without…
Our volunteers
A festival cannot run without lovely people who show up to carry, to check, to point, to pour, to charge, to trash, to drive, to pick up, to drop off, and to tell you have 1 minute left before the show starts. (“Thank you, one.”)
And so many did. We see you Kathy, Joe, Brooke, Jim, Dionysis, Rosanne, Van, Hadass, Lorna, Berfin, Jeroen, Kevin, Véro, Julie, Nina, Shane, Marie-Océane, Stéphane, Mik, Pieter, Mark, Willem, Liron, Chiara, David, Mash, Reeti, James, Ran, Anastasia, Vasco, Francis, Erica, Urko, Ádria, and spontaneous helpers.
Our partners
We got such a lovely collection of partners, that make our festival extra good. All these companies, big and small, are run by actual humans who said: I am going to support what you do. And that feels pretty great.
Vegan Bear Chef - for feeding us all during the week and cooking the closing dinner
Amsterdam Farm Lodge - for hosting our guests, supporting the festival, and bringing the best housemates 🐓🐥
Treehouse NDSM and its residents - for letting us take over the area for a week
Oedipus Brewery - for the best beers, the coolest fridges, and for introducing me to my favorite new summer beer.
De Lokatie - for the set and props, and for making the world a better place with what they do.
Fréderic Bikes - for helping our guests with discounted bikes and helping one show with just the handlebars
Beatzone - for being a great partner year-round and now again as our festival workshop location
Baux Pastry and Koffie van Kees - for offering discounts on pastries and coffees so our guests could have lovely breakfasts
Pépin wines - for letting us order their fancy French wines, while we are the smallest little company
Trafo Chips - for sponsoring us with a wide array of salty, typical Dutch snackies. So happy we have some left!
Chocolatemakers - for making the cutest little bags for us with the best fair chocolate. We have some left. For now…
Our funds
We're probably preaching to the choir here, but art and culture don't just come out of nowhere. It requires blood, sweat, tears, and -well yeah- money. Otherwise, festivals like ours don't just come to be.
And honestly, in these times, we are just so very grateful for art and culture to... Happen. That's it.
So, a big thank you to the funds backing us up: Cultuurfonds and All Capital Charity.
Our organizing team
So much of the work, is unseen. And yet, these 4 stepped into the task anyway: Gael Doorneweerd-Perry, Laura Doorneweerd-Perry, Tanine Dunais and Thom Roelofs.
If you had a good time, they/we always love hearing that their work in the shadows was appreciated. (Also a great general reminder) To them in DM, as a reply to this email, or proudly in public via a Google review.
Pictures
Our socials are filling up with pictures ánd Babette’s drawings from the shows. Stay updated on Instagram or Facebook to see them all. (P.S. A non-social media option for pictures is in the works)
What is next?
For internationals
In a year from now, we will do a different, big international event: the 50-hour Improvathon.
Laura and Gael (Flock Theatre) will collaborate with Liam and Chris (Pretend Company) in this epic marathon show with a stellar cast.
Mark 26-28 June 2026 in your calendar. Maybe cross off a few days earlier (we will probably add some workshops). And stay on this mailing list to be the first to hear more details.
For locals
With Flock Theatre, we are changing in an exciting way. We are starting weekly shows on Thursdays from 18 September onwards.
Come see a show, spread the word, and bring a friend! We would love to see you (again) and have you support this big leap we’re taking.
The signups for our new courses are now also open! From total beginners to advanced, we have some awesome options for you. Check them here.
I am missing the festival, and its amazing visitors, with all my heart. But I am also excited for what is next.
Feel free to hit reply if you have anything to ask or share.
Talk soon,
Laura
P.S.
We’re doing many cool workshops and big events at Flock for international friends, like you. Through this very newsletter, I will keep you posted on them.
Hope you’ll like them. And that we get to meet (again)! 🧡