What It's Really Like: A Day of Performing with Theater Tol (From Someone Who Does It)

By Hannah Snow, performer with Theater Tol since 2016

Touring the world with Theater Tol sounds like a dream. And honestly? It is. I have been performing with the company for nine years now, and it is still a gift to fly through the air, perform in cities all over the world and be part of something this special.

What you don't see is the other side. The version where we build the show ourselves, barely sleep and go straight from a twelve-hour rehearsal to an evening show.

This is a look behind the scenes. Not the polished Instagram version, but what it is really like to make a Theater Tol show. Especially when we play in Belgium.

Touring is not always a holiday
People often think performing abroad means sightseeing and free time. Usually we fly in, sleep a little, work a full day, perform and fly back. We don't always get to see the cities that invite us. Of course, the bookings where we stay several days and can explore the city are everyone's favourites. But they are the exception rather than the rule.

Belgium: the hardest days of all
And then there is performing at home. Belgium feels familiar, but it is also where we work hardest.

When we perform in Belgium, we do everything in one day: set-up, rehearsal, show and take-down. Have you ever seen Pedaleando Hacia el Cielo? That huge truss structure rising into the sky? It is built by the dancers, singers and aerial artists you see flying that same evening.

We arrive around 8 a.m. and start with a team meeting. After that, whatever your role, you start building. There is no room for divas at Theater Tol. Everyone helps. Soprano, technician, dancer or director: you put on your work gloves and get going.

We build the truss, assemble the bikes, roll out cables, sort props and physically build the entire infrastructure of the show. It is heavy work and it takes hours.

Tech, rehearsal and safety first
After set-up we go straight into technical checks. Singers test their microphones, dancers are attached to the bikes and aerial acrobats check the rigging. The crane is on site, and we are hoisted up to test everything and make sure it is safe.

Safety always comes first. Every lift, every cable and every cue is checked and double-checked.

Then comes a full run-through. If there is a short parade in Pedaleando, we rehearse it. We fly, dance the full choreography, test the transitions and fine-tune everything to the music.

Feathers, balloons and everything DIY
Then we switch gears, literally and figuratively. We prepare everything that goes up into the air.

If you have ever seen the show, you have seen feathers drifting down. They don't just appear. Each of us fills small bags with feathers, paper hearts and other surprises. We throw them down from above during the show.

We also prepare helium balloons for the parade part, and they have to be inflated just right and on time. That alone takes forever. And yes, the director helps too. Everyone pitches in.

Hair, make-up and getting into costume
Then it is time for hair and make-up. I like to start at least 90 minutes ahead, because it is a process. We perform high above the ground, so our faces need to be visible from far away. We use white face paint, blue eyeshadow, red lips and glitter to bring out our features.

The costumes are layered, complex and physically demanding. Getting dressed can take 30 minutes or more, and you usually need help. These are not outfits. They are wearable architecture.

Curious what that looks like? Check out @theatertol on Instagram and tap the BTS highlights. I show you everything there.

And then: the show
Finally it is time to perform. With lights, fireworks and sound, most shows take place after sunset. Often at 10 or 11 p.m., sometimes even later.

We fly. We sing. We dance on bikes. We throw feathers into the air. We perform what we built together from scratch, with people we trust blindly.

But we're not done yet
After the show, the work starts again. Everything has to come down.

Dismantling the truss, taking the bikes apart, folding costumes, sorting props, loading trucks. By the time I get to bed after a Belgian show, it is usually 4 a.m.

Why we keep doing it
Because it is worth it. There is something special about standing on a square and seeing a child look up at you, eyes full of wonder. There is something unforgettable about catching your breath for a moment during the show and realising: we made this, together.

Yes, it is hard. Yes, the days are long. But that is when I feel most alive. And after nine years with this company, I can say it: I would do it all again tomorrow.

Want to see more of what this looks like?
📸 Watch BTS videos on Instagram
For bookings or info:
📧 talitha@theatertol.com
🌐 www.theatertol.com
📲 @theatertol