Music theatre Hollands Diep 
MHD

The Music Theatre Hollands Diep, abbreviated MHD, in Dordrecht creates performances with contemporary new opera repertoire and adapts well-known classical pieces into original music theatre performances. MHD distinguishes itself from many opera companies because they mainly play at unique locations. MHD has asked VKOZ for help with marketing communication and creating more economic value. Many organisations in the cultural sector depend on subsidies, but also be able to demonstrate that they generate income themselves. We also worked on the programme, fundraising, donors, organisation and communication.

The new music theatre piece De Stilte van Saar, in collaboration with VOCAALLAB, tells a topical story about a girl who has lost herself because she can only see herself through the eyes of others. The world premiere took place on February 22, 2012 in the recently renovated Energiehuis in Dordrecht.

To involve young people in the new opera De Stilte van Saar, a special project has been set up in collaboration with the Cultural Education ToBe Foundation: the youth programme: It’s my Voice. The project consisted of workshops, stage performances and film presentations led by experienced coaches. At the beginning of each performance, Saar’s peers presented their own songs and films on the theme of the opera.  

MHD also performed other productions: H. van Adem, a children’s performance along theatres and schools in the Netherlands and Belgium. Pirosmani, an act for the major retrospective of the Georgian painter Pirosmani in the Dordrechts Museum. The Singing Catwalk, a theatre costume show during the Dordt monumenteel manifestation, where a few costumes were also sold by auction. Lament songs, a performance with six renowned singers with different musical styles sing together in a new composition of the Lamentations. Boris Godunov, in collaboration with the Dordrechts Museum, a new opera performance of this Russian opera by Mussorgsky. These performances could be admired all year around.

MHD creates performances with contemporary new opera repertoire and adapts well-known classical pieces into original music theatre performances. Especially for the BIES Theatre Festival! and the beach festival, MHD and VOCAALLAB created the performance Lijfmotetten: a music theatre performance based on Bach’s motets, about mind and body. With also the poetry contest Body and Spirit. During the Bach Festival, Dorderecht celebrates Johann Sebastian Bach’s birthday with various concerts and activities at indoor and outdoor locations in the historic city centre. BIES! is a public unique landscape plays an important role.