What started in 1946 as a primitive theater company in the forest near Diever, has grown into a nationally known theater company in 80 years. Every year, tens of thousands of visitors flock to the forest to attend performances in the Shakespeare Theater.
About a hundred volunteers have been busy for months to get everything done for the latest theater piece. All this under the direction of director Jack Nieborg, who has also been in charge in Diever for 25 years.
Anne Peter van Muijen has been part of the ‘Shakespeare family’ since 1989. “I started there as a little boy,” says the actor in the Radio Drenthe program Cassata.
“My mother was already involved in the early 80s, and my father too at one point,” he reflects. “And my brother and I would go to the theater.” At first this was so that a babysitter did not have to be arranged, but later the brothers also started playing.
Van Muijen still does this with great pleasure: “I can see myself doing this for years to come.”
Actor Pascal van der Aa also finds it difficult to imagine life without the Shakespeare theater. “I was born and raised in Musselkanaal and at some point ended up in Diever,” he says Cassata.
Van der Aa says he immediately fell in love with Diever and immediately discovered the Shakespeare Theater. “I immediately fell in love with that,” he says.
“What you may also recognize as a loyal visitor is that you enter and feel welcome,” Van der Aa explains. “It’s very relaxed, you receive a friendly welcome, it’s a beautiful place in the forest and the pieces are just super fun to look at.” As a visitor, you can bring your own food and drinks, something that is often not allowed at other theaters. “That’s kind of part of it here.”
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