Iconic Dutch musical opens up to international audiences with innovative ‘Language No Problem’ technology
Starting August 22, the musical Soldaat van Oranje will also be available in English, thanks to a pioneering application of audio description technology via the visitor’s smartphone. This innovation makes the production more accessible and now available to international audiences, including expats and tourists. Through a dedicated app, visitors receive real-time English-language context synced with the live performance.
Now accessible to non-Dutch speakers
Since its premiere in 2010, the show has captivated over 3.7 million visitors, and holds the record for the longest-running production in Dutch theatre history. The musical tells the gripping true story of Erik Hazelhoff Roelfzema, the famous Dutch resistance fighter during World War II. His story continues to resonate today with its powerful message of courage and freedom. The audience experiences the show in a unique theatrical performance solution specially developed for this production. The audience is seated in a 360-degree rotating auditorium that turns from set to set, accompanied by 180-degree projections. For the first time, non-Dutch speakers can fully experience this iconic show thanks to a newly recorded English-language audio description, voiced by acclaimed West End and Broadway actress Celinde Schoenmaker (Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera).
Celinde Schoenmaker: “The story of Soldaat van Oranje continues to move me every time. It was an incredible honour to lend my voice to this powerful story. It’s truly special that we can now share this remarkable Dutch production with an international audience. Culture is for everyone. For me, recording the audio description was a way to contribute to more inclusive theatre. Even those who don’t speak the language can fully immerse themselves in this unique theatrical experience.”
Special collaboration: Julia Harriman performs English versions of musical numbers
As a teaser for the English-language experience, two of the show’s most iconic songs are now available in English. These include ‘No Way Back’ and ‘There’s No-One Here But Us’. These English tracks are sung by musical theatre star Julia Harriman, known from The Voice US and her role as Elizabeth in Hamilton on Broadway. She is the daughter of American composer Tom Harriman, who composed the entire score for Soldaat van Oranje. Tom previously composed music for well-known American films and TV series, including Baywatch. Together, Julia and Tom Harriman connect two generations, two worlds, and two continents to this distinctly Dutch story.
Tickets are available via https://www.soldaatvanoranje.nl.
Featured image: Annemieke van der Togt