Culture Guide (May 2024)
From arresting art and photography exhibits to experimental dance performances, Amsterdam has it all this May. Catch a new production of Edward Scissorhands at Theater Carre, experience the operatic power of Puccini’s Il trittico at the National Opera and Ballet, or explore Ruigoord’s cultural sanctuary during Jardin Rouge Festival.
Edward Scissorhands
For: the dance aficionado
After his wildly successful sold-out Sleeping Beauty, Tony award-winning choreographer Matthew Bourne returns with Edward Scissorhands, a dance performance based on Tim Burton’s iconic and beloved tale. Bourne’s choreography animates this moving story of the cruelty of conformity and the struggle for acceptance, exclusively on the Carré stage.
Edward Scissorhands | 29 May–2 June | Royal Theater Carré
Il Trittico
For: the (not so) old-school maestro...
This year marks a century since renowned Italian maestro Giacomo Puccini’s passing, and his creative legacy is still felt in the world of opera today. His one-act opera trilogy will be performed in the National Opera and Ballet for the first time, led by chief conductor Lorenzo Viotti, who is intimately acquainted with Puccini's work. In Il Trittico, witness Puccini's timeless exploration of mortality, love and family ties come together across three operas performed in succession.
Il Trittico | 3–19 May | National Opera & Ballet
Hatched
For: the experimental dance enthusiast
This exciting fusion of classical Western dance with traditional African movement and vocal scores is the brainchild of choreographer Mamela Nyamza. Known for her autobiographical dance compositions, Nyamza’s work explores the multifaceted nature of her identity as a mother, lesbian, and artist. Hatched is brought to life by nine ballet dancers from different backgrounds, whose movements weave a beautiful tapestry of personhood.
Hatched | 20–21 May | International Theatre Amsterdam
MOØDe: Anton Corbijn
For: the trendsetter...
For fashion lovers and photography darlings, Anton Corbijn’s exhibition at the Cobra Museum of Modern Art is an essential stop. With around 200 photos on show, all in Corbijn’s trademark high contrast and moody monochrome palette, stroll past portraits of anyone from Tom Waits to Naomi Campbell and bask in the light of fashion icons.
MOØDe, Anton Corbijn | Until 12 May | Cobra Museum of Modern Art
Manahahtáanung or Nieuw Amsterdam
For: the history buff…
Four centuries later, the legacy of Dutch colonialism looms over Manhattan, known as Manahahtáanung, to the indigenous Lenape tribe. The Amsterdam Museum, in collaboration with the City Museum of New York and members of the Lenape tribe, presents a new exhibition that sheds light on indigenous perspectives of Dutch colonialism in the area once called New Amsterdam. As a part of the exhibition, a symposium will be held on May 15th, featuring indigenous speakers who will share their stories of history, struggle and overcoming.
Manahahtáanung or Nieuw Amsterdam | 16 May–10 November | Amsterdam Museum
Lord of the Flies
For: the dramatist
William Goulding’s classic tale of boyhood lost takes to the stage of Mike’s Badhuistheater with the cast of Brussel’s English Youth Theatre. A shocking examination of human nature, Lord of the Flies tells the story of a group of boys stranded on a deserted island. Far away from watchful adult eyes, it isn’t long before civility begins to unravel, with disastrous consequences. Don’t miss this adaptation of the timeless novel that continues to fascinate and provoke even seventy years after it was first published.
Lord of the Flies | 25 May | Mike’s Badhuistheater
World Press Photo Exhibit
For: the politically-minded...
Each year, the World Press Photo exhibit captivates audiences by displaying the year’s most striking and evocative moments in photojournalism. This year is no different, with images selected from more than 61,000 entries worldwide. The pictures cover urgent global issues, telling stories of war zones, political unrest and climate change. For its premiere, the World Press Photo exhibit will be housed in De Nieuwe Kerk, Amsterdam’s oldest church, after which it begins its global tour.
World Press Photo | 19 April–14 July | De Nieuwe Kerk
Origin
For: the dancing queen…
Scapino Ballet performs Origin, a dynamic blend of classical ballet, Israeli folk, and Chinese dance, the result of a collaboration between international choreographers Xingxing Gong and Lior Tavori, who bring their diverse styles and backgrounds together in this pioneering performance. Still relatively unknown in the Netherlands, these choreographers are set to leave an indelible mark on the Dutch dance scene.
Origin | 25 May | De Meervaart Theatre
Jardin Rouge Festival
For: the cabaret connoisseur
A cultural ‘free haven’ for artists, Ruigoord will host Jardin Rouge, a two-day multidisciplinary festival featuring theatre, dance, puppetry, clowning, mime, music, and cabaret. Nestled in a leafy estate just a half hour’s drive from Amsterdam Central Station, Ruigoord beckons as a safe space for creatives and artists to share their craft.
Jardin Rouge Festival | 19–20 May | Ruigoord