with pupils from the Liebfrauenschule in Oldenburg and students from the Institute of Music
In the 18th century, during the ‘era of the first potatoes in the Netherlands’, Hilletje Jans overcomes every challenge with courage, cleverness and, above all, perseverance. Following the death of her parents, she goes to live with her aunt Therèse in Amsterdam. But instead of care, she finds herself caught up in a web of intrigue. Her aunt has her sent to prison – the Spinnhaus – for seven years. Once free again, she ends up back with her aunt. When she can no longer bear her aunt’s harassment, she flees and resolves to make her way in the world disguised as a man. She becomes Jan Hille, sails the seven seas and eventually even takes command as captain aboard the ‘Good Hope’. It is only in the guise of a man that she receives the respect she lacked as a girl and young woman. Under the direction of Anke Hoffmann and Peter Vollhardt, pupils from the Liebfrauenschule and students from the Institute of Music are staging ‘The Extraordinary Life of Hilletje Jans’ by Ad de Bont, one of the Netherlands’ best-known playwrights for young people. The students not only act as performers and musicians on stage, but are also responsible for the dramaturgy, set design and musical arrangements. Anke Hoffmann and Peter Vollhardt see this as an opportunity to experience “school in a practical way and to explore its creative potential”. For the pupils, the appeal – and at the same time the challenge – lies in collaborating with the university students. The play will be performed on 26 and 29 June 2011 at 7.00 pm and on 27 June at 11.00 am in the auditorium of the University of Oldenburg. Tickets costing €5/€3 (concession) are available from Peter Vollhardt (peter.vollhardt@uol.de) and at the box office.