Soldier of Orange (musical)

Last updated February 12, 2024

Soldier of Orange (Dutch: Soldaat van Oranje) is a Dutch musical production, based on the true story of resistance hero Erik Hazelhoff Roelfzema. In the 1970s, he wrote his experiences during World War II down in a book and director Paul Verhoeven made it into a 1977 film, starring actor Rutger Hauer.

The musical premiered on 30 October 2010, in a theatre that was purpose-built for the production: the TheaterHangaar on the former Valkenburg air base in Katwijk (in an old hangar). Queen Beatrix attended the premiere together with Erik Hazelhoff Roelfzema's widow, Karin. Soldier of Orange is produced by NEW Productions, which is a subsidiary of investment company Amerborgh Nederland.

In the autumn of 2020, an English version of Soldier of Orange was set to premier in a newly build Royal Docks Theatre near London City Airport but the plans were postponed in March 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic started.

Plot

Student Erik Hazelhoff Roelfzema and his friends are carefree, until the Germans invade the Netherlands in the early days of May 1940. The war changes everything. They can no longer take friendship and love for granted. Everybody has to make choices. Fight for the country and for freedom? Focus on studying and deny what's going on? Or join the enemy?

The book of Hazelhoff Roelfzema, with the title Cave of the Rattlesnake (Dutch: Het hol van de ratelslang), was published in 1970. It reappeared a year later under the title Soldier of Orange. Paul Verhoeven created a film version in 1977. Rutger Hauer played the character Erik Lanshoff, based on the resistance hero.

Soldier of Orange – The Musical brings the true story to the theatre. After World War II starts, Erik decides to flee to Britain. He smuggles transmitting equipment to the Netherlands and, as a pilot, is involved in bombing Germany. He becomes adjutant for Queen Wilhelmina and receives the Military William Order ('Militaire Willems-Orde'), the highest royal honour in the Netherlands, for his contribution to the resistance movement.

Background

Producer Fred Boot obtained the rights to turn the story into a musical in 2005, after meeting Hazelhoff Roelfzema the year before.

Scriptwriter Edwin de Vries wrote the musical script. American duo Tom Harriman and Pamela Philips Oland was responsible for composition and lyrics. Dutch actor and composer Frans van Deursen translated the lyrics from English into Dutch. In 2008, Boot asked theatre producer Robin de Levita to join him. Director Theu Boermans joined the team in 2009.

Location

The show takes place in a former flight hangar, that is converted into a theatre. The location of the so-called TheaterHangaar is former military airport Valkenburg between Wassenaar, Katwijk en Leiden, a suitable, historical place. A foyer with a bar and restaurant is placed in front of the hangar.

SceneAround

Producer Robin de Levita invented a new theatrical performance solution for Soldier of Orange – The Musical: a rotating auditorium in the center of a venue with 1100 seats. He named it SceneAround. The auditorium is placed on a turntable. The audience rotates from scenery to scenery, accompanied by 180 degree projections on panel screens around the auditorium. Both the auditorium and the screens are motorized and automated. The set is built around the auditorium. Almost every scenery has its own set. There is even a ‘sea’ and the runway of the airport is also part of the set.

Dakota

Queen Wilhelmina returned to the Netherlands with a Dakota. The Dakota C-47 was made available for the musical by a Dutch museum and was taken to Valkenburg in August 2010. Shortly after midnight, the plane got stuck in an overpass. It was too damaged to have it repaired on time for the premiere. The Dakota PH-ALR ‘Reiger’ from 1939 that's being used in the production now, was delivered on 23 September 2010.

Cast

Part	Cast I: 2010/2011 (From 10 october 2010 'til 31 july 2011)	Cast II: 2011/2012 ('til14 feb 2012)	Cast III: 2012 (From 14 feb 2012 'til 31 may 2012)	Cast IV: 2012/2013 (From 1 July 2012)	Cast V: 2013 ('til 31 July 2013)	Cast VI: 2013/2014 (From aug 2013 'til 5 jan 2014)	Cast VII: 2014 (From 28 Jan 2014 'til July 2014)	Cast VIII: 2014 (From 15 august 2014)	Cast IX: 2015 (From 28 jan 2015)	Cast X: 2015 (From July 2015 t/m 3 January 2016)	Cast XI: 2016 (From February 2016)	Cast XII: 2016 (From august 2016)	Cast XIII: 2017 (From January 2017)	Cast XIV: 2017 (From august 2017)	Cast XV: 2018 (From February 2018)	Cast XVI: 2018 (From augusts 2018)	Cast XVII: 2019 (From January 2019)	Cast XVIII: 2019 (From August 2019)	Cast XIX: 2020 (From February 2020)	Cast XX: 2020 (From September 2020)	Cast XXI: 2021/2022 (From 1 October 2021 ’til 10 July 2022)	Cast XXII: 2022/2023 (From 18 august 2022 ’til 8 January 2023)	Cast XXIII: 2023 (From 17 February ’til 16 July)	Cast XXIV: 2023/2024 (From 25 august 2023 ’til 7 January 2024)	Cast XXV: 2024 (From 16 February 2024)
Erik Hazelhoff Roelfzema	Matteo van der Grijn	Julian Looman	Dragan Bakema	Matteo van der Grijn, Robbert van den Bergh(alternate)		Matteo van der Grijn, Jord Knotter(alternate)	Matteo van der Grijn, Stefan Rokebrand(alternate)	Stefan Rokebrand, Dorian Bindels(alternate)	Dorian Bindels, Niels Gooijer(alternate)	Dorian Bindels, Jonathan Demoor(alternate)	Dorian Bindels, Thomas Cammaert(alternate)	Valentijn Benard	Valentijn Benard, Jonathan Demoor(alternate)	Sebas Berman (aug-sep), Theo Martijn Wever, Alex van Bergen	Theo Martijn Wever, Alex van Bergen	Alex van Bergen, Valentijn Benard		Alex van Bergen, Theo Martijn Wever			Alex van Bergen, Alexander Schuitema	Alex van Bergen, Alexander Schuitema, Jonathan Demoor	Alexander Schuitema, Milan Sekeris		Jonathan Demoor, Dirk van den Brand
Charlotte	Loes Haverkort, Marlijn Weerdenburg	Linde van den Heuvel				Bente van den Brand	Loes Haverkort, Bente van den Brand		Merel Baldé, Lindertje Mans		Merel Baldé, Bente van den Brand	Linde van den Heuvel, Melissa Drost		Eva van der Post		Willemien Dijkstra					Cathalijne de Sonnaville		Diana van Die
Queen Wilhelmina	Catherine ten Bruggencate, Anke van 't Hof, Petra Laseur	Anne-Wil Blankers, Sylvia Poorta,Truus te Selle	Trudy de Jong, Marisa van Eyle, Myranda Jongeling	Catherine ten Bruggencate, Myranda Jongeling, Anne-Wil Blankers, Betty Schuurman	Catherine ten Bruggencate, Myranda Jongeling, Sylvia Poorta, Marisa van Eyle	Juul Vrijdag,Jacqueline Blom, Myranda Jongeling, Marisa van Eyle	Juul Vrijdag, Jacqueline Blom, Sylvia Poorta, Myranda Jongeling	Anne-Wil Blankers, Olga Zuiderhoek, Juul Vrijdag, Myranda Jongeling	Gusta Geleijnse, Myranda Jongeling	Juul Vrijdag, Olga Zuiderhoek, Gusta Geleijnse, Sylvia Poorta	Gusta Geleijnse, Henriëtte Tol, Myranda Jongeling, Juul Vrijdag	Henriëtte Tol, Myranda Jongeling, Sylvia Poorta	Juul Vrijdag, Debbie Korper	Henriëtte Tol, Myranda Jongeling	Debbie Korper, Wivineke van Groningen	Henriëtte Tol, Gusta Geleijnse	Henriëtte Tol, Wivineke van Groningen	Henriëtte Tol (untill november 2019), Wivineke van Groningen, Debbie Korper	Debbie Korper, Barbara Pouwels		Sylvia Poorta, Barbara Pouwels, Henriette Tol			Debbie Korper, Barbara Pouwels
Anton Roover	Oren Schrijver	Reinier Demeijer	Robbert van den Bergh, Oren Schrijver(alternate)	Robbert van den Bergh, Thijs Steenkamp (alternate)		Maarten Heijmans	Kevin Schoonderbeek	Thomas Cammaert	Ayal Oost	Thomas Cammaert, Ayal Oost	Jonathan Demoor	Roel Dirven		Lars Mak				Thijs Miedema				Bart van Veldhoven			Stefan de Kogel
Chris de Vries	Boy Ooteman		Thijs Steenkamp, Boy Ooteman	Thijs Steenkamp	Thijs Steenkamp, Xander van Vledder	Boy Ooteman			Zjon Smaal	Sjoerd Oomen	Dennis Willekens		Marcel Harteveld			Ludo van der Winkel				Jim Leijen
Fred van Houten	Tijn Docter	Xander van Vledder	Harpert Michielsen	Xander van Vledder	Kevin Schoonderbeek		Anne Prakke	Anne Prakke, Kevin Schoonderbeek	Anne Prakke	Joost Claes	Kevin Schoonderbeek					Ruben Brinkman		Jelle de Jong			Beau Schneider	Folkert van Diggelen		Alex van Bergen, Folkert van Diggelen(alternate)	Alex van Bergen, Folkert van Diggelen
Bram Goudsmid	Jorrit Ruijs	Reinier Schimmel	Rutger Bulsing	Rutger Bulsing, Jorrit Ruijs	Jorrit Ruijs	Roel Dirven		Roel Dirven, Jorrit Ruijs	Roel Dirven	Sjoerd Spruijt				Matthijs Pater				Eli ter Hart
Paul ten Brink	Kes Blans		Joey Schalker	Joey Schalker, Niels Gooijer	Rutger Bulsing	Daan Colijn			Alex van Bergen		Tomer Pawlicki	Marijn Klaver		Jasper van Hofwegen	Johnny Barendsen	Danny Westerweel		Ruben Kuppens	Jochem Smit					Eli Rietveld	Hayo de Kruif
Victor Versteegen	Ad-Just Bouwman		Raymond Paardekooper			Noël S. Keulen			Guido de Wijs		Johnny Barendsen		Valentijn van Hall			Johnny Barendsen								Ewout Heijbroek
Ada	Anne Lamsvelt	Christine de Boer	Christine de Boer, Anne Lamsvelt	Christine de Boer, Karolien Torensma	Karolien Torensma, Anne Lamsvelt	Sophie Schut			Sophie Höppener		Mirtele Snabilie		Lotta Sophie Bakker		Margo Verhoeven	Marle Martens		Lisse Knaappen			Julia Lammerts				Dagmar Rijff
François van 't Sant	Nico de Vries, Bart de Vries	Bart de Vries, Edwin de Vries(alternate)	Bart de Vries, Nico de Vries(alternate)	Bart de Vries	René van Zinnicq Bergmann, Nico de Vries	Nico de Vries, Maarten Wansink	René van Zinnicq Bergmann, Nico de Vries	Mark Rietman, Huub Stapel,Nico de Vries,Kees Hulst	Nico de Vries, Jaap Spijkers, Harpert Michielsen, Raymond Paardekooper	Hajo Bruins, Jaap Spijkers, Bert Geurkink	Peter Tuinman, Bert Geurkink Raymond Paardekooper	Hajo Bruins, Raymond Paardekooper, Jaap Spijkers, Bert Geurkink	Raymond Paardekooper Wil van der Meer Howard van Dodemond	Raymond Paardekooper, Peter Tuinman	Raymond Paardekooper, Paul R. Kooij, Nico de Vries	Peter Tuinman, Raymond Paardekooper	Reinier Bulder, Peter Bolhuis	Raymond Paardekooper, Genio de Groot			Raymond Paardekooper, Peter Bolhuis		Raymond Paardekooper, Genio de Groot	Tijn Docter, Raymond Paardekooper
Hofdame Tessa	Margreet Boersbroek	Melissa Drost		Melissa Drost, Margreet Boersbroek	Jennifer van Brenk					Vérie Thijssen			Sandra Jonkman			Cathalijne de Sonnaville					Dominique de Bont		Charlotte van der Plas

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References

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