The Hague International Sound Art Festival

Zaal 3 is the third hall of Het Nationale Theater in The Hague, alongside the company's other two venues, the Koninklijke Schouwburg and Theater aan het Spui. It sits on De Constant Rebecqueplein in the Energiekwartier, a cultural hub in the city, where its neighbours are the DCR creative hub, a complex of studios, and the Nest art space. Among the three houses, it is the one described as the most surprising, and it works in a different register from the larger, more traditional theatres in the group. The hall is built around experiment. Emerging artists use it to try out new work and, together with the audience, arrive at fresh insights and unexpected results. The programme leans toward theatre and performance, with crossovers into visual arts, music, poetry and philosophy. Two themes run through much of what is staged here: projects from the LGBTQIA+ community and work by creators of colour. Musicians do appear on its stage too, sometimes with video projection behind them, so the room is not limited to spoken or physical theatre. Talent development is a stated focus. Zaal 3 shows work by drama students from Arnhem, Utrecht, Amsterdam and Maastricht, giving them a chance to gain experience and, just as importantly, to find an audience for their performances. For visitors, that means meeting young makers early in their careers and following their progress to bigger stages. Het Nationale Theater itself is the largest touring theatre company in the Netherlands and the only national theatre organisation making productions for all ages, and Zaal 3 acts as its testing ground within The Hague.