Diabolical dilemmas in timeless theatre about the Relief of Leiden
What is freedom worth in times of hunger? ‘Beleg’ is a modern interpretation of Lucretia van Merken’s 1774 play. With five performances in Leiden’s Schouwburg theatre, the play is a prominent part of the Relief of Leiden celebrations, and Leiden alumni are playing a big role. Take a look behind the scenes at the rehearsal and enter our prize draw for a ticket.
‘The sound of the Geuzen should first come from afar, from Zoeterwoude as it were, and only then at full blast!’ Director and theatre studies alumnus Bart Vieveen is giving instructions to the players in the main hall of a community centre.
Vieveen and his company are performing a new adaptation of Het Beleg der Stad Leyden after an absence of more than 100 years. This play by Lucretia van Merken was performed annually in Leiden’s theatre around 3 October from 1774 until well into the 19th century. Then it faded somewhat into oblivion, says Vieveen.
‘But it’s a timeless drama: 1574 is also 2024. That’s what the story shows so well. I have retranslated, adapted and re-rhymed it. It captures the mixed feelings of citizens in such a siege: from mistrust towards the town council to admiration for the mayor, from despondence to defiance. It is a contemporary story about diabolical dilemmas and populism.’
Win a ticket!
We are celebrating 450 years of the Relief of Leiden this year and 450 years of Leiden University next year. So we are giving away two pairs of tickets for Beleg in Leiden’s Schouwburg theatre on Friday 20 September. (Please note: the play is in Dutch.) To enter the draw, send an email by 17 September to 450@leidenuniv.nl, with as subject: Leidens Ontzet. The winners will receive E-tickets in their inbox on Wednesday 18 September.
Decisive moment
Director Vieveen received his PhD in Leiden for a dissertation on the changing role of the father figure in Dutch literature. The focus now is on a woman, Magdalena Moons, and the decisive role she played. She is said to have asked her lover – Spanish army chief Valdez – to delay the attack on Leiden for a while, giving the Geuzen [a group of Dutch nobles opposed to Spanish rule, Ed.] the chance to liberate Leiden.
Historians still debate Moons’ exact role, and her mythical status may be the reason why she remains a great source of inspiration. Lucretia van Merken was the first to put Moons in the limelight in a play. Van Merken enjoyed great popularity in her day for her plays and was made an honorary citizen of the city of Leiden – the first woman to receive this honour.
Role of the Geuzen leader
Professor of Journalism and New Media Jaap de Jong studied together with Bart Vieveen. He plays the role of Lodewijk van Boisot, the admiral of the Geuzen fleet. ‘The university and 3 October are closely linked – and both will soon be celebrating their 450th anniversaries. As Boisot, I get to announce the foundation of the university at the end of the play. I can see similarities between teaching and acting, but as a lecturer I can improvise whereas now I have to learn my lines off by heart.’
De Jong also sings in the Zingend Hart choir, which performs during the play. ‘They are fantastic new lyrics. Such as: Hé valdez, wacht nou es – along the lines of Berg op Zoom hout ons vroom [a famous Geuzen song about the liberation of the city of Bergen op Zoom, Ed.]. Our song deserves to be a new classic sung on 3 October.’
Populist mayor
Frank van den Boom has just graduated in Classics and Literature Studies. He plays the populist mayor Van Zwieten. ‘I don’t have many lines to learn but everything rhymes and the rhythm has to be spot on, which makes it difficult to learn.’ He gained stage experience during his Classics programme, participating three times in the classical play that students translate and perform.
Magdalena Moons
Maaike Damen did her PhD at Leiden University on the evolution of galaxies and is now the star of this play, in the role of Magdalena Moons. ‘Today’s run-through was the first time it all came together: the actors and the choir, the texts and the music, the story and the mise-en-scène. It was just wow!’
Text: Minke Holleman
Photos: Danique ter Horst