About the Plein Theater
The world on 8x8
The Plein Theater in Amsterdam East is a vibrant hub for imagination and exchange. In the historic Amstel Brewery on Mauritskade, we create and present cross-genre performances. A theater where neighbors can both watch and make, while also serving as a frontrunner in contemporary dance & music, puppetry & object theater, and socially engaged exhibitions — it hinges between the local neighborhood and the wider city.
Artists, cultural carriers, and community-minded neighbors: we see them as catalysts for social change and for broadening perspectives. At the public square, the beating heart of the neighborhood, we open our doors to dialogue, spontaneous encounters, and artistic exchange.
At Plein Theater we create space for cross-pollination between experimental and forward-looking performance arts, neighborhood initiatives, and courageous communities. We expose our own view of the world to that of others, with a colorful and diverse procession of theater makers—both established and emerging—on a stage where friction is welcome.
An intimate podium that reflects the world, from outspoken and activistic to subtly poetic, within 8 x 8 meters
Who do we do
At Plein Theater, you can experience performances for all ages. You can marvel at puppet and object theater, be seduced by contemporary chamber music, or be swept away by modern dance. Plein Theater stands for programs that are always urgent and relevant.
With a bold love for activism and adventure, we embrace new ideas and perspectives. We invite you not only to watch, but to engage in heated discussions, to share a drink at the bar afterward, to take part in workshops by our resident artists, or to pitch and develop your own idea. Bring yourself out there!
Theater, dance & performance
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Nieuwe Noten Amsterdam
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Youth
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Exhibitions
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Production house
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Community
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Team
With international experience, passion for the profession, and from all walks of life and every corner of the globe, the Plein Theater team serves up surprising programming, heartfelt audience care, your first genuinely fun (work) experience, hassle-free rentals, and a bar that’s always buzzing with conversation.
Horeca
Peggy Burke | Peggy's Kitchen Catering
Stephan Nemchik | Barcoördinator
Jordi van de Waal | Barcoördinator
Dwight Sergio Samson | Barcoördinator
café@plein-theater.nl
Board
Bert Barten | voorzitter
Willy Smits | Penningmeester
Els van der valk | Secretaris
Ursula Weitzel | Algemeen bestuurslid
Monique Duurvoort | Algemeen bestuurslid
Design
Paulina Matusiak | Graphic design
Ivo Schmetz & Joes Koppers | Website design & construction
Jobs
Volunteers
To realize the various programs that converge at Plein Theater, we can't do it without your support.
We're always open to enthusiastic volunteers and motivated interns to join our team. Are you passionate about theater and bringing new ideas to life? Then Plein Theater might be the place for you.
Visit our volunteer page for more information.
History
A city, a neighborhood, a (public) square, a theater…
Plein Theater is located in the former Amstel Brewery on the Mauritskade, with its entrance on Sajetplein. The square is named after Ben Sajet, a Jewish doctor, administrator, and politician who managed to escape the Germans during the war.
In 1983, at the height of the squatting movement, a group of activist residents founded Plein Theater as a community theater with a café in the empty company canteen. Their goal was to connect with the neighborhood and foster collaboration among its many diverse cultural communities.
In 2014, Plein Theater became part of the Podiumpartners foundation under the name Oostblok. In 2019, the first act of new director Berith Danse was to reclaim the original name, Plein Theater.
Staying true to the vision of its founders, the theater continues to prioritize connections with its neighborhood. Today, as both a stage for co-creation and a production house, Plein Theater is a lively and multifaceted meeting point: at the edge of the city center and the gateway to Amsterdam East, it brings together “neighborhood” and “capital,” avant-garde and accessible, to behold and participate.
Financiers
The Plein Theater is supported by:
Amsterdam Fonds voor de Kunst
Fonds voor Cultuurparticipatie
Fonds Podiumkunsten
VSB Fonds
Gemeente Amsterdam Stadsdeel Oost
PLEIN THEATER Stichting PodiumPartners has an ANBI status
RSIN Nummer 8236.74.599.
KVK nr: 343 12281.
BTW-nr NL823.674.599.B01
Publicaties