Pier21 abroad: ‘What soesto!’ in Friulian and Dutch, ‘Kanoet’ in Arabic to Mauritania

What soesto! is translated into Friulian, the language of that region, and played by local actors . The emigrant is played there in Frisian, with Friulian surtitles.

Freark Smink plays again in the latest version. This is a new version, adapted to the times, this time directed by Jos Thie. It will also be played forty times in Friesland this fall.

What soesto! will receive a Dutch version as Farmer I am! . It goes to the Karavaan festival in Alkmaar, among other places. This version is also played by Freark Smink, who is also the author, and wife Klaasje Postma.

Furthermore, the youth production Knot played in Arabic in April. This happens in Mauritania on the edge of the Sahara, the region where the title heroes, birds, usually spend the winter. Knot was previously translated into German, a Danish version is being worked on: along the entire route of this migratory bird.

Pier21 celebrates a modest anniversary on Thursday at De Koornbeurs in Franeker, ten years to the day after the premiere of The emigrant at the same spot. That performance was the reason for the Pier21 foundation, named after the pier in Halifax where many emigrants first set foot on Canadian soil.

More plans were announced in Franeker. There will be a performance in the garden of the Princessehof in Leeuwarden, about the abolition of slavery and its consequences and traces in Friesland. In this performance, Un dia nobo – Wan nyun dey – In new dei, works Pier21 with the Leeuwarden theater De Harmonie and the Amsterdam groups Untold and Volksoperahuis.

Opera house KASKO from Zwolle and music theater group Maanlanders from Gelderland are partners in Benno , an opera for the classroom about a snail. “Oer everything that yn de boaiem libbet”, says Pier21 founder David Lelieveld. ,,Already you have made Bernefore statements about the questions: Who are you, what is your living environment, how do you deal with it?’”