Acting the Maggot

Theater Twee Hondjes is a small theatre in Hellevoetsluis, a harbour town in the province of South Holland. It is run by a foundation, Stichting Theater Twee Hondjes, and works as a local stage for live music and theatre rather than a large touring hall. The research material is thin on the building itself, so little can be said about its history or its exact layout, but its programming shows clearly what kind of place it is. The venue draws mostly acoustic and singer songwriter acts. Dutch performers such as Sandra van Nieuwland have played here, and the acoustic trio SYA has listed the theatre among its tour dates. International artists on small club tours also stop in Hellevoetsluis, including fingerstyle guitarists and musicians on Netherlands runs that pair the theatre with stages in places like Goirle and Amersfoort. That puts Theater Twee Hondjes in the same circuit as other intimate Dutch theatres and music rooms, where an audience sits close to the performer and the focus stays on the songs. Within Hellevoetsluis, the theatre is among the entertainment options visitors are pointed to alongside a walk on the waterfront. For people living in the town and the surrounding region, it offers a way to see touring artists without travelling to Rotterdam or The Hague. The mix of music and theatre in one foundation run space gives the programme a modest, personal scale, and the steady flow of acoustic and folk leaning concerts is what defines its reputation among musicians and regular visitors.