Revolutie van de Rinsema's

A poetic and stirring musical theatre performance featuring exuberant marching music and disruptive jazz, tackling inequality and the transformative power of art. The breathtaking sand quarry in Nij Beets, with its towering sand hills, provides the perfect backdrop.

The peat bogs of Fryslân, 1920. One of the poorest and most neglected regions in the Netherlands. Yet, something extraordinary is unfolding. Shoemakers and brothers, Evert and Thijs Rinsema, fall under the spell of Dadaism. It is a time when hot meals are a luxury, women must fight to be heard, and the looming threat of war casts a long shadow over daily life. In the midst of this, one of Europe’s most radical art movements begins to take root.

“The Revolution of the Rinsemas is a exuberant production, beautifully balancing intimate scenes with sparkling ensemble numbers. The singing is excellent, and the music by composer Radek Fedyk is theatrical, jazzy, and melancholic. Importantly, the creators never try to overwhelm the audience with showy effects or overacting — a common pitfall in site-specific theatre.”
– de Volkskrant ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“The Revolution of the Rinsemas is dynamic, swinging, and poetic musical theatre.”
– Theaterkrant

“Playwright Geert Lageveen has crafted a delightful mix of poetry, Dadaist absurdity, and dry Frisian humour.”
– Trouw ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“A playful and fast-paced piece about the shoe- and art-making Rinsema brothers from Drachten.”
– Leeuwarder Courant ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Thanks to the actors’ dynamic performance, their engaged enthusiasm and strong conviction, The Revolution of the Rinsemas also reflects our own time — a time in which art is under pressure. That while ‘all being is art and all art is being’. At the end of the evening, that line lingers in the air in Nij Beets like a silent message carried into the morning.”
– Friesch Dagblad

get carried away

The villagers are swept up in this revolutionary wave. International artists like Theo van Doesburg and Kurt Schwitters visit Fryslân, and for a brief moment, the village becomes the epicentre of abstract art. But over time, Thijs and Evert fade into obscurity. Was their work truly insignificant, or is there more to the story?

The Revolution of the Rinsema’s is a lyrical and spirited performance where fantasy and reality collide. Created by Orkater and De Lawei, in collaboration with Arcadia, it runs from 29 May to 6 July at a sand excavation site in Nij Beets.

The performance The Revolution of the Rinsemas was created in collaboration with Orkater and De Lawei