The Pauper's paradise

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After three successful years outdoors in Veenhuizen, a trip to Royal Theater Carré and more than 175,000 visitors, Het Pauperparadijs can be seen this summer exclusively at the AFAS Theater in Leusden.

Het Pauperparadijs tells one of the most dramatic, hidden histories of the Netherlands. In the 19th century, poverty was enormous. Tens of thousands of orphans and paupers were put on a ship to Drenthe to be re-educated. But what began as an idealistic experiment to eradicate poverty ended in tragedy in practice.

In Het Pauperparadijs we follow the Amsterdam orphan boy Teunis, who is suddenly deported with his sister Aagje to the Veenhuizen institutions. Looking for a way out back home, he falls in love with guards' daughter Cato. Their forbidden love and the unequal struggle against authority make their lives impossible. In the end, they try to escape.

With great actors, spectacular scenery, impressive live music by LAVALU and the Pauper Paradise Band, and a talented ensemble.

'Chillingly beautiful'

*****

Dagblad van het Noorden newspaper

'Quirky and sincere'

*****

Allegiance

'Original and thrilling spectacle'

*****

Scenes

'Peat colony resurrects in spectacle'

****

NRC