Downstage Left proudly presents Against the Grain, by Darren Katz.
Winter, 1943. As the Siege of Leningrad tightens its grip, two scientists guard a seed vault designed to preserve humanity. Faced with starvation, yet surrounded by food they refuse to touch. When a desperate intruder forces his way in, the moral line they have defended for years suddenly becomes unbearable. Nina and Olga must confront an impossible question: will they save the world or save themselves? A thrilling new work inspired by true events.
Two guest house owners are surprised by the return of an old friend and employee, Tara, who they haven’t seen in years.
But something is wrong. Why does Tara seem so different? And why do the other guests react so strangely to her?
Set in a sleepy seaside tourist town on the east coast of England in the 1990s, Deep Fake echoes the dangers and personal costs of the mis- and disinformation that is so prevalent in the world today.
Where and when?
Badhuistheater Boerhaaveplein 28 1091 AT Amsterdam May 28-30 at 20:00 Tickets: €18.50 available on the Badhuis website
We are thrilled to present the 6th edition of Playground, our celebration of fresh theatre at the Badhuistheater in Amsterdam.
This year, we invite you on a journey of discovery. Through a vibrant collection of short plays, our performers explore the universal quests that shape our lives—love, memory, recognition, connection, acceptance, and revelation. From moments of laughter to scenes that move you to tears, each story offers a glimpse into the paths we take in pursuit of meaning.
✨ Join us for three unforgettable evenings of theatre 📍 Badhuistheater, Amsterdam 📅 October 9th, 10th, and 11th, 2025 🎟 Tickets available here
The Line-Up
MONACO Written by Diederik Rep Directed by Martin Koster Performed by Christine Blakeley, Evonne Dunne, Rudi Araújo, Ken Kitchen
TRAIN OF THOUGHT Written by Terri Sturman Directed by Jess Graham Performed by Denis Burke, Ben Evans and Amanda Lee
THEDARKNESS WITHIN Written by Sarah Talbot Directed by Ben Evans Performed by Mash Muravina, Pep Mac Ruairi, Ken Kitchen, Martin Koster, Teresa Fernandez and Amanda Lee
OBITUARY WANTED Written by Katie Zaniboni Directed by Silvia Pietrosanti Performed by Rudi Araújo and Pep Mac Ruairi
GO AWAY Written by Diederik Rep Directed by Evonne Dunne Performed by Ben Evans and Martin Koster
RESET Written by Domenico Gemoli & Nóri Mátrai Directed by Teresa Fernandez Performed by Silvia Pietrosanti and Denis Burke
Production Team Lights & Sound by Thomas Cripps Set designs by Jess Graham Brought to life with love by Ben Evans, Silvia Pietrosanti, Teresa Fernandez, and Evonne Dunne for Downstage Left
Downstage Left, in collaboration with Playhouse and The Cauldron, proudly presents: Missed Connections – An Evening of One Act Plays at the Badhuistheater on June 3, 2025
For one night only, Downstage Left brings you a preview of “I’m Home”, a short play by Denis Burke soon to be performed at FEATS in Hamburg. We’re delighted to be joined by our friends from Playhouse and Cauldron with their own short plays.
Chances in the Rain, by Robert Scott, Presented by Playhouse
Edward and Michelle are waiting for their dates in the same park. Both seem to have been stood up, yet they aren’t very sympathetic to one another. But there are two other lonely people on hand, and things resolve neatly… eventually.
The History of Cardenio, by Jon Madge, Presented by The Cauldron
A computer scientist and a literature student meet, become friends and try to resurrect one of Shakespeare’s lost plays. On the way, they clash over what’d important, the meaning of words and the real meaning of friendships.
I’m Home, by Denis Burke, Presented by Downstage Left
After a heavy night of drinking, Lily forgets that she recently moved and storms into her old apartment. Her unplanned visit (or break-in, depending on how you look at it) leaves new resident Francesca bewildered, but finally gives her roommate Neill the chanc e to get something off his chest.
Where and when?
Badhuistheater Boerhaaveplein 28 1091 AT Amsterdam June 3, 20:00
Downstage Left’s most recent edition of the playground was performed in July, 2023 at the Badhuis Theater. The show sold out and was very well received.
With each Playground we pick a theme and present 3-5 short plays based on that theme, including work from emerging playwrights, as well as established greats. For this edition of the Playground, we brought you three short plays about people looking for resolution — and not always finding it.
The plays
Gobby, by Jodie Irvine
Gobby is the story of one woman’s journey through five parties and the curse of being ‘too loud’. Awkward meetings and exclusion abound. Sometimes hilarious and sometimes deeply saddening, Gobby is a festival of feelings.
Meeting in Amsterdam, by Edward Einhorn
Frida Vanek, niece of the famous dissident playwright Ferdinand Vanek (a character made famous by Vaclav Havel), has a meeting in Amsterdam with Jan Stanek, her father’s old friend. Frida is an American, her parents immigrated just after the Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia. Jan is running for political office in the modern Czech Republic and visiting Amsterdam to fundraise. Frida has just found some damning papers about Jan, however, in her mother’s papers. According to the papers, Jan was once an informant to the Communist secret police. Frida confronts Jan and the question of whether to make them public.
First came guilt and shame followed, by Linda Sjöström
A brand new and deeply moving piece that looks at the pains of family duty and some of the almost impossible burdens of motherhood.
When and where?
Playground 5 played at
The Badhuistheater Boerhaaveplein 28 1091 AT badhuistheater.nl
Thursday 13 July 20:00 Friday 14 July 20:00 Saturday 15 July 20:00
Standard €17 Early-bird €15.00 (available until the end of May)
This edition of the Playground was made possible with the kind support of the Amsterdam Fonds voor de Kunst
In December Downstage Left staged the Christmas Classic It’s a Wonderful Life, adapted for stage by Joe Landry as a live radio play. Downstage Left staged this production in collaboration with the InPlayers, Amsterdam’s most-cherished English-language theatre group.
In many ways It’s a Wonderful Life is America’s Christmas Carol, a story of redemption, hope and Christmas magic.
It’s A Wonderful Life: A live Radio Play ran from December 15-18 at the Polanentheater in Amsterdam.
Cast Katya Petrova Brian Ligthart Amanda Lee Christine Blakeley Domenico Gemoli Eoghan Kellher Ente Breed Abigail Levene Benjamin Keaton Maria Charles Alexandra Sokolowski Anna Anning
Crew Denis Burke – Director Katya Petrova – Stage Manager Jess Graham – Set Designer | Prop Master Morag McLean – Set Designer | Prop Master Evonne Dunne – Sound and Lighting Ángela Sedeño Cacciatore – Costume Designer | Graphic design Ente Breed – Musical arrangements | Piano
Produced by special arrangement with Playscripts, Inc. (www.playscripts.com)
Can two strangers fall in love in five minutes? Downstage Left proudly presents our first original video production: Are You In Love Yet?
Spurred by curiosity, Helen and Jeremy agree to participate in an online experiment.
Through video chat, they’re prompted to answer a series of questions designed to make the participants fall in love.
Will it work?
This short film is written by Denis Burke and features Abigail Levene and Ben Evans. Editing by Thomas Evans (Follow his work here). It premiered the 23rd of September at 8:15 pm on YouTube and is now available for everyone to watch.
Need more English-language theatre? Amsterdam’s English-language theatre scene is bustling! And there’s more in The Hague, Rotterdam, Utrecht and Leiden.
We are temporarily unable to maintain this listing.
For now, please check the websites of these friendly companies for more info about their upcoming work:
Downstage Left offers this information for your interest only. Please always consult the websites and social media of the companies above for the most up to date information.
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