8 Theatre
Theater, arts and culture have an important place in Frisian society. In the capital of Fryslân, Ljouwert/Leeuwarden, the professional multilingual theater company Tryater performs multilingual theater plays since 1965. Besides that, many smaller Frisian villages have their own theater companies. The whole summer there are iepenloftspullen (open air plays) in the Province of Fryslân, played by amateur and professional actors, for example the iepenloftspul in the village of Jorwert in September 2023.
The website Visit Friesland has a continuously updated list of theater plays in Fryslân, including plays in Frisian.
Links: Staf Fryslân (Stichting Amateurtoaniel Fryslân/Foundation Amateur Theatre Fryslân), StUFT (Stichting Utjouwerij Frysk Toaniel/Frisian Theatre Publishing Foundation), Frisian cabaret Hymphamp
Interesting to know is that subsidies can be requested from the Province, both for writing new Frisian-language plays and for translating plays into Frisian. But the possibilities for subsidies go far beyond theatre pieces and also offer many opportunities for literature. More about funding opportunities in chapter 4.
FeRstival
FeRstival is a declamation contest that is held since 1942.
The 2023 November edition marks the 80th FeRstival!
At FeRstival, pupils recite a Frisian poem as beautifully as possible. Every year, around 90 secondary school pupils take part and follow the footsteps of famous Dutch writers, poets, and actors who also made their first attempts on stage at FeRstival. The booklet Fersefariaasje contains the poems from which the pupils can choose.
Pupils can compete in three categories: year 1 (Starters), year 2 and 3 (Trochsetters), and year 4 and higher (Toppers), including students from secondary vocational education (mbo) and higher education (hbo). The winners from the preliminary rounds recite once more in the final. There are prizes in all categories for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place. The first place winners receive an extra prize – a professionally produced video in which they recite their chosen poem.
See below the video of 2022 winner Marrit Boetje.
