In conversation with: Rowen en Jelte

Rowen (18) and Jelte (18) from Veldhoven work together at Bold Entertainment, share a passion for theatre and are almost inseparable — both on stage and off. 

This question is actually rather redundant for you two. Do you enjoy going to the theatre? 
Rowen: “I prefer theatre to films because it’s so lifelike. The person opposite you is experiencing real emotions.” Jelte: “It’s a moment when you don’t have to worry about everything that’s going on outside for a while, but can just focus on what’s happening in front of you.” Rowen: “Not having to think for a moment is really important to me. Once the performance is over, you don’t have to take it straight back into the rest of the world.” 

Can you remember your first or most memorable theatre experience? 
Rowen: “The first thing I can remember is the Klaas Vaak show. At the end, he flew through the auditorium on an owl. I was standing there waving with all my friends. The most memorable was *The Lion King*. It was so beautiful that I thought: this is something I want to do later on. Not necessarily on stage myself, but making people happy. They had life-size animals walking through the auditorium. That really moved me.” Jelte: “What’s always stayed with me is the West End in London. In four days, we saw four musicals, including *Cabaret*. All three of us were sitting in the auditorium thinking: ‘Where on earth are we supposed to look?’ But once we got home, it all sank in and I’ve never seen such a brilliant show.” 

What appeals to you about theatre? 
Rowen: “I think horror is really cool in theatre, and that doesn’t get mentioned very often. The artist Jakob Ahlbom once created a wordless performance called *Horror*. Using special effects, they created a chilling, dark atmosphere. You’d be looking into what seemed like the interior of a house, and suddenly someone would be pulled into a sofa. Then you think: if I were to sit on that sofa, would that happen to me too? That’s what makes it scary.” 

What does the Schalm mean to you? 
Rowen: “The first time I stood on stage there was for the Year 8 musical. I was already doing theatre back then, but that was a really big venue. When I go to the theatre in Amsterdam, I probably won’t bump into anyone I know. But at the Schalm, I might bump into someone I haven’t seen for ten years and have a quick chat about the show.” Jelte: “It’s a bit like Veldhoven’s living room. When the programme arrives, my mum says to everyone: ‘You can pick one show that I’ll take you to this year.’” 

What would you say to someone who’s never been to the Schalm?
Jelte: “What on earth are you playing at, mate! Get yourself down to the Schalm straight away.”