“In Conversation With Veldhoven” interview series
The now-famous Veldhoven-based graffiti artists Niels and Kaspar from Studio Giftig remain a major source of inspiration for us. For this theatre season, we took their artwork ‘Bound as one’ on Peter Zuidlaan as our starting point. This artwork brings together the eleven neighbourhoods of Veldhoven.
"This mural depicts the sense of community at the heart of Veldhoven, a municipality that originated from four villages and has grown into a single, diverse community. Eleven portraits represent the neighbourhoods and depict people of different ages and backgrounds interacting with one another. Their expressions and gestures reflect the bonds between generations, cultures and neighbourhoods. The lime tree, a traditional meeting place, recurs throughout as a unifying symbol and illustrates how diversity fosters cohesion and continuity within a close-knit community."
That idea inspired a series of interviews with a diverse range of Veldhoven residents. The series features various residents and their perspectives: from young to old, from newcomers to long-standing residents. Remco and Isabelle, a couple from Veldhoven, also appear in Studio Giftig’s artwork.
Among other things, we asked them what theatre and De Schalm mean to them. And, of course, which performances they are looking forward to in the 2026–2027 season.
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In 2016, Studio Giftig created De Schalm’s standout feature: a gigantic, colourful design measuring 42 by 10 metres, incorporating all manner of theatrical elements, which to this day adorns the theatre’s glass rear façade. Elements of these designs can also be found in the dressing rooms, the performers’ foyer and the office.
With thanks to Bianca Kuijpers for her contribution to the creation of this series.
The various interviews can also be read in De Schalm’s 2026–2027 theatre magazine.