Key decisions:

• The Committee put forward a motion that, due to the rising cost of theatre productions, membership fees should rise. This was approved.

• Changes to the make-up of the Committee were also approved. Lou Grutter-Dyer steps in as Chair, Viv Erwich as Vice-Chair and Business. They replace Henri Colens (who will chair the FEATS sub-Committee) and Kyle Buijs, who steps off the Committee. Also stepping down from the Committee is Stephanie Hazejager-Sng.

• A variety of AATG Awards were handed out and the list of winners can be found here.

Chairman’s Report:

The 2024-25 season started with the second iteration of Night on Broadway at Theater Warenar, directed by Jenny Hall. This was a fantastic show, showcasing so much talent and energy, on stage, in the band, back stage, front of house, young and old. By the way, Night on Broadway 3 will be playing next weekend, so if you haven’t booked tickets, please do so!

2024 saw the AATG continue to broaden its horizons. Another example of this was the 48hr Film Project, which took place from Friday to Sunday 11-13 October. We received our compulsory elements on Friday evening, and by Sunday we were pushing send on a “finished” short movie, A Clockwork Killer. Huge credit must go to Michael and Vincenzo, and all our cast and crew.

Peter Pan finished off the calendar year in early December at Theater aan het Spui. Directed by Jenny Hall, it was a tremendously entertaining show. The writer may have been ‘lazy and out of ideas’, but after several twists and turns, Peter, Wendy and Tinkerbell managed to restore the source of the pixie dust and defeat mean ol’ Captain Hook, with the help of Mrs Smee and the Faerie Queen, scarecrows, zombies, stroopwafels, mobile phone technology and, of course, all the boys and girls.

2025 began with a flurry of activity… A Warehouse clean-up was followed by the first of three staged playreadings at De Kunsthut on 7 March. It featuring The Tiger directed by Ron Hooghiemstra and Finding the Sun directed by me, and gave readers a real sense of performance, and the audience went home feeling like they had witnessed actual plays. This is a great way to get new people to join the club.

The longstanding Charity Murder Mystery Dinner on 14-15 March, directed by Megan Janusz and Michael Connolly at The Warenar, raised a substantial amount for charity.

True West, directed by Chris Buck, began rehearsals before a 4-night run at De Kunsthut on 3-6 April. This was reprised, for one night only, at Mike’s Badhuis theater in Amsterdam on 6 June.

The second evening of staged playreadings was held at De Kunsthut on 7 June, and was also a success. A third is planned for October. For various reasons we did not submit a play to FEATS Hamburg.

I’m proud of several changes and innovations that we have introduced this year: 

• The Newsletter has been revamped (we now use Mailchimp);

• We switched our website to SquareSpace and improved the look & feel;

• We have a Member of the Month feature, written by Megan Janusz;

• AATG Members get free access to our Improv workshops and Staged Playreadings;

• AATG membership subs can be paid by Tikkie;

• We created a WhatsApp Community which allows members to get across all of our activities;

• We have taken on the contract to bring over Illyria’s outdoor Shakespeare performances in The Netherlands in September;

• As well as passing on 100% of any charitable donations, we have decided that 75% of the profit of revenue from our Murder Mystery Dinner will go to charity, and we are raising more than ever before.

It has been my privilege to lead the Committee over the last year. If you were to look up “unsung” in the dictionary, you’d probably find the mugshots of members serving on the Committee. I’m sure you will thank them all in person, but could you give them a round of applause… The AATG survives because of the blood and sweat (but no tears) of its volunteers. Our community thrives when members step up and lead! We take pride in our inclusive club, and we strive to make sure it maintains high standards.

As always we lose some members on the way, and I would like to say a word about the two people who are standing down from the Committee.

Stephanie Hazejager-Sng has been a very effective Secretary and Productions Coordinator on the Committee, producer of pantos, a comic actress, backing singer, and most recently play-reader. Are there no jobs Stephanie won’t do? Is there no end to this woman’s talents? Stephanie is moving abroad, but I think a large part of her will remain here in The Netherlands. She has forged a vital role for herself at the heart of this community and she will be missed.

Kyle Buijs has been an AATG stalwart for many years. He has directed and starred in almost every type of show imaginable. It has been my honour to direct him in my own play A More Perfect Human, which we took to FEATS. He is a willing collaborator, a skilful comic actor, a compelling singer and willing dancer (really? - Ed). Kyle - you have served on the Committee for a long time, and it is time to recharge your batteries! It has been such a pleasure working with you and learning from you. You aren’t leaving so much as taking a step back.

I will also be stepping back. I have decided not to stand again as Chair, although I will stay on the Committee. I have been involved in most of the smaller activities and shows and I’m very proud of what we have achieved together. True West was a particular highlight and I’m thrilled that we have found a successful format for staged playreadings. But I would like to spend more time with my family..! And dedicate myself to FEATS, which, did you know, the AATG is hosting next year!?

Thank you!

Henri Colens