In the series Let’s play with… we ask a duo of creator and young person about a form of Play Around and how they recognize themselves in it.
Today we speak with theater makers Emma van den Elshout and Just van Bommel about Play Like a Boss. Together with Lennie Tromp, actress and photographer, they come to beautiful insights. ”Sometimes it’s okay to just be, too.”
”What a cool hat you have Lennie!” says Emma enthusiastically. She and Just, are back at the Art Yard. Next to them is Lennie Tromp, actress and photographer. Every week she performs theater at Theater De Steeg and loves to have a camera attached. Today, the trio talks about one of Jonge Harten sub-themes: play like a boss. Doing what you want to do. Being your own boss. Sometimes letting things be things for a while. ”Having the confidence that you can come up with something bizarre. That you dare to try,” Just said. Lennie nods. ”Sometimes I have the feeling of tension before a performance, but it’s not so bad afterwards. Then I think to myself: it went really well, it was unnecessary. Then I give myself a pat on the back.”
This year Emma and Just are on stage at Jonge Harten with their play The Spectacular. A piece with both textual and visual aspects. About the seemingly small things of life, which at the same time are part of the gigantic whole. About your place in this world. And how to deal with it. ”In that, it ties in with Play Around,” Just explains. ”Playing with the overwhelming idea that everything is going on at the same time. ”We also kind of call it the big zoom in and zoom out show,” Emma adds. ”We’re all flying after a burning gas bubble (the sun) in a wide universe. In that same moment of realization, you can enjoy a simple cup of coffee. It doesn’t always have to be about the big thought. Sometimes you can also just be for a moment.”
For her part, Lennie is on stage on her own during Jonge Harten. A brave step. A step like a boss. She will be there, later, talking about the now. She asks herself the question: what is actually now? ‘’Because of the constantly ticking clock, the now can never be grasped,‘’ she explains. But she says it also depends on how you deal with it. ‘’On how much time you give to the now. Indeed, sometimes I want to do all things at once, but I don’t succeed. Then I tell myself: keep thinking positively, it will work itself out.‘’ According to Lennie, this mindset is crucial for creating order out of chaos. To be in charge of your own thoughts – and therefore yourself. ‘’Positivity creates motivation and energy. And in this, you are not alone. Let’s do it together.‘’
The trio not only plays the boss on stage, but also in everyday life. But winning things means letting go at the same time. Knowing that things will work out. ‘’You don’t control everything,‘’ Just explains. ‘’Precisely by realising that you are small, you can feel great. You define your own framework.‘’ Lennie agrees. Feels the same way herself. ‘’Of course you want to do everything right, to control everything. But that doesn’t always work out. Even if things don’t go the way you want for a while, you can be proud of yourself. You are in charge of that yourself.‘’
Jonge Harten 2024 has a playful mindset: Play Around. An invitation to blow up existing frameworks, to claim your own place.To make your own choices and try out new things. In short: to play around! Because then you will see that you will come to new insights and experiences. And play, of course, can be done in many different ways.
Play around