In conversation with: Miao

Miao Zhang (41), married, mother of a 4-year-old daughter, works as an engineer at ASML.

What sort of theatre-goer are you?

“Since I’ve been living in Europe, I’ve been going to the theatre less often. That’s partly down to the culture – not only is the language different, but so is the content, and as a result it doesn’t always appeal to me. At the moment, the three of us mainly go to family shows. Before we had a daughter, the two of us would sometimes go together. I tend to prefer music to a theatre performance, because music is a universal language.”

Can you still remember your first theatre performance? 

“I still remember my parents taking me to a show about a magical flower when I was very young. The flower’s magic only worked on good children, and a villain who was trying to catch the magical flower walked right through the audience. That was unforgettable. When we were in China, I took my daughter to see that musical too. Even though she was so young, she still remembers that cat.”

What makes a night out a success for you? 

“I really love the fact that you’re sharing an experience with so many people. When I go to the Schalm, as an expat, I feel more part of the Veldhoven community. I feel a real sense of connection then. I also think the beauty of theatre is that the actors and the audience are in the same space. Everything that happens takes place in the moment, and you experience it together. And it’s nice that I also bump into other parents at De Schalm.”

De Schalm aims to be a place that brings people together. How do you see that? 

“They’re successful at that. I really feel it. It’s special that they bring so many people together. Veldhoven is becoming more international, and I think De Schalm can really play a part in bringing people together. We went to a Christmas concert by the Kempenkoor once. Although I’m not religious, I do enjoy Christmas, and this concert really gave me a warm feeling. At the end, we all sang ‘Midden in de winternacht’ together. It felt as though we were all family.”

Who would you recommend De Schalm to? 

‘I’d particularly recommend De Schalm to other parents. It’s a warm place where you feel welcome.’

Which performances are not to be missed in the coming theatre season? 

‘I love the Philips Symphony Orchestra and Concert Curieus. Concert Curieus took me back to my student days. Back then, I was part of a group like that myself. I was in charge of the lighting. We performed in a small theatre and experimented. So I’d love to see a few more experimental shows on the programme alongside Concert Curieus.’