HERMAN

What do you do when your partner leaves for another after 26 years of marriage? It happens to Herman. And despite, or rather thanks to, all the setbacks, he grows into a much nicer person than he was during his marriage. By trial and error, he learns to live his own life. He throws himself into adventures and, to his surprise, comes out in one piece.

HERMAN is a tragicomedy about a late bloomer: moving and hilarious at the same time. The play tells the coming-of-age story of a mid-fifties man, based on Marc van Bree's book of the same name. A married father of two grown-up children, he leads a wrinkle-free life until Annelies, his rather controlling wife, leaves him and he has to fend for himself. Who is Herman without her? And how does he stumble through life as a reluctant father and as the son of a mother who is slowly losing her grip on reality? The play is performed by, among others, top actors Stefan de Walle and Eva Van der Gucht, who will play several roles. Not only does she play Herman's wife, but also his daughter, lover and therapist. They will be assisted by two young actors.

Stefan de Walle is known to the general public for the role of son Kees in Flodder, feature film De Marathon and since 2011 he has been carrying the role of the rural Sinterklaas, succeeding Bram van der Vlugt. In 2022, he could be seen in the Omroep Max series Second Hans.

Eva Van der Gucht can be seen in BNNVARA's series Oogappels. Previously, she was also in Wie is de Mol?! and De Vloer Op, in which she regularly starred together with Stefan.

Reviews

"The plot is witty, pointed; the subject matter recognisable. De Walle goes from crying to laughing, from dead unhappy to in control and content. What a top actor. Eva Van der Gucht is rock solid in a whole battery of women's roles, which she portrays with minor adjustments. Herman is highly recommended."
8weekly ★★★★

"Title role actor Stefan de Walle has played men like Herman before and does so with verve this time too. And then you have the star of the show: Eva van der Gucht, who plays Herman's therapist, daughter, mother and new flame in addition to the ex-wife. She does so with schwung and rock-solid timing. In this way, Herman's life on stage is sometimes very much a party after all."
NRC ★★★

"Stefan de Walle goes through an unparalleled transformation in a life-changing tragicomedy. The performance takes quick turns and is surprising thanks to its many plot changes."
Theaterkrant