Ernst, Bobbie en de rest

The Fulcotheater is IJsselstein's main cultural and entertainment centre, occupying a distinctive glass fronted building at Overtoom 3, positioned between the town's historic inner city and its newer residential districts. Its name derives from "Fulco de Minstreel", a classic Dutch youth novel by C. Joh. Kieviet, a detail that ties the venue to the town's local literary heritage. The building houses flexible spaces that serve an unusually broad range of purposes, from theatre performances and cabaret to film screenings, art exhibitions, lectures and private gatherings. The main auditorium is the Rabobankzaal, which seats 356 people at an angle designed to give clear sightlines from every seat. A theatre café serves as the social hub of the building. On the music side, the Fulcotheater leans heavily toward Dutch language pop and rock, with a programme that suits the intimate scale of a regional theatre. Acts such as Di rect, The Kik, Gers Pardoel, 3JS, Pater Moeskroen, Veldhuis en Kemper and Yentl en de Boer have all appeared here, making it a regular stop on Dutch artist theatre tours. Jazz has also featured, with Fay Claassen among the performers to have played the venue. The programming tends toward theatre concerts rather than club style shows, fitting the seated auditorium format. For a town the size of IJsselstein, the Fulcotheater punches above its weight as a live music destination, drawing nationally known acts on a consistent basis while also serving the full cultural calendar of a community venue.