While the regular theater season is slowly coming to an end, the outdoor theater season is just starting. This also applies to the open-air theater in Valkenburg, which kicked off the season on Saturday with a performance by Phil Bee.
Phil Bee: “This is one of the most beautiful places, possibly the most beautiful I’ve ever played.” The theater is the oldest in the Netherlands, and by far the busiest in Limburg.
Doomed
The blues musician presented his latest album during the performance. His 20th album now, but his first since he won The Voice Senior last year: “That way you actually get a bit of a name nationally. Then people know you, and that makes a difference when you go on tour through the country.”
Also read: For blues musician Phil Bee (63), career is only just beginning
Goodbye
But it was also a special evening for Jos Frusch. The director of the Open Air Theater will soon retire. It doesn’t feel like he’s putting an end to his work, he says on Saturday evening. “A feeling of excitement, it’s going to happen again, beautiful music, enthusiastic people. That’s what prevails.”
He was then at the helm of the theater for 13 years: “When I came here, the theater was doomed, the municipality slowly pulled its hands off it. But the Valkenburg population did not come either. Only about 2,000 people came then. per season. Now there are almost 22,000.” As a result, the theater has experienced significant growth in recent years, both in programming and in visitor numbers.
Steady growth
Vincent Loozen is the successor of Jos Frusch. He had his first evening since taking office as director yesterday: “A theater like this is an evolution, I hope we can continue on that footing, and continue the steady growth that has started.”
Also read: Open-air theater Valkenburg also wants to open in winter