He played in a fairytale musical when he was only 11 years old Pinocchio and participated in The Voice Kids a few years ago. Now Thijmen Staps from Tilburg is on stage as Joris in the musical Efteling tells… George and the Dragonwhich premieres Sunday. He is quite proud of that. “I’ve always hoped this would happen, but it’s crazy that it has now actually happened.”
It’s going to happen this Sunday. Then the musical in which Thijmen Staps plays a leading role will officially premiere, and not just anywhere: in the Theater aan de Parade in Den Bosch. The cast then tours the Netherlands and Belgium for months.
“Very special,” Thijmen calls it. “I started in theater when I was seven and have therefore played other roles, but touring throughout the Netherlands with such a show is something different.”
Fan of roller coaster and fairy tale
The Efteling musical is about a family that is on its way to the Efteling, but has car trouble. That’s why the family tells a story in the car: that of Joris and the Dragon. It’s about a kingdom that has been terrorized by a dragon for years. Joris decides to defeat the dragon together with his good friend Rosalie.
Thijmen is a fan of the roller coaster in the Efteling that is based on the fairy tale, and of the story itself. “It is not the strongest who defeats the dragon, but the smartest. I think that is a nice message to show.”
Busy with studies
In the meantime, the young actor is still busy with his studies. He is in the final year of his musical theater course in Tilburg. “I really learned a lot. I can apply that right now.”
He has one golden, simple tip for other young people who also have a musical dream: do what you feel like. “If you want to be in a show, then go for it.”