On May 17th, we arrived in Boom, Antwerp with cranes, costumes, and cables – but more than anything, we came with hearts full of anticipation.
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There’s a unique kind of magic in what we do. Most of the time, we perform for people who didn’t sign up for theater. We simply arrive – floating above a city square, appearing in the middle of a festival or a marketplace – and catch people off guard. It’s one of the things that makes Theater Tol so special: we meet our audience in their everyday lives and, if we’re lucky, we grasp their hearts in an unexpected way.
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But Theater aan Twater is different. It’s a festival that people choose to attend. It draws a beautiful mix of seasoned culture lovers and total newbies. And we’ve performed here before, so there’s a sense of recognition – some know us, and maybe even came just for us.
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Performing for an audience that wants to be there brings a different kind of thrill. It feels like a warm welcome home, like a shared secret already understood. The connection starts a few steps earlier, and what builds from there is just as moving, just as electric.
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When Garden of Angels lifted into the sky, feathers began to drift down. Eyes lifted. Phones came out. But more than that – breath was held. A sense of stillness and awe settled over the crowd. The small costume changes we made especially for this show caught the light differently. Familiar, but newly alive.
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As always, we brought the unexpected. Feathers, yes. But also petals, poetry, and presence. And in return, we received wonder.
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One audience member shared: “I came to the show with my whole family – my siblings, my four-year-old brother, and our mother – so we had a wonderfully mixed group, age-wise. And yet, every single one of us was completely captivated. The performance was pure magic. The live music, the singing, the dancing – it all came together in the most spectacular way. It was visually stunning, emotionally moving, and truly unforgettable. From the youngest to the oldest, we were all in awe. Just an incredible, uplifting experience we’ll talk about for a long time.”
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These are the moments that remind us why we do this. Whether it’s a surprise encounter in a city square or a planned visit from festivalgoers – it’s always about creating connection. Creating pause. Creating magic.
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So thank you, Theater aan Twater, for letting us fly with you again in beautiful Boom.
And if you’re reading this and wondering what it might look like to bring Tol to your own town, square, or sky – don’t hesitate.
Let’s talk:
info@theatertol.com
www.theatertol.com
IG: @theatertol
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