Theatrical incarnation of bestseller Ventoux in De Meervaart

Jan 9, 2016 | by Senne Vercouteren | Art, Event

About the author

Having lived in London to study theater producing, Senne now selects the tastiest performances across Amsterdam and serves up the fine theatrical dishes this city has to offer.

Over thirty years ago, in 1982, Bart (Chris Tates) graduated high school and celebrated together with his friends (René van Zinnicq Bergmann, Cees Geel and Dennis Rudge) by imitating their heroes and conquering the Mont Ventoux, one of the hardest and most treacherous of trajectories during the Tour de France.

Now, old memories cloud his mind as he reconnects with his old buddies and decides to go back – older, less fit, but hardly any the wiser. Recollections of intense passion, friends’ betrayal and the death of a fifth member of the group return with a vengeance.

George van Houts stages an honest portrait of the four men that defies the image the media bestowed on Bert Wagendorp’s novel as a light summer read; themes of male friendship, guilt and getting older take pole position.