De Nieuw Amsterdam

Theatrecompany De Nieuw Amsterdam (DNA), founded in 1986, is the leading and longest established multicultural and socially concerned theatre company in the Netherlands. DNA performances are taken from an extensive repertoire, based on themes from today's rapidly changing society, with a firm respect for the rites and rituals of all cultural groups within that society. DNA brings out two (international) productions per year. At this moment DNA is working on a production over the lives of Basquiat & Warhol, and DNA is preparing the production Oedipus / Echnaton which will be performed both in Egypt and Holland. In November 2010 DNA Sabri Saad El Hamus will be special guest in an international forum on cultural diversity in Madrid. On that special occasion DNA will also present the performance Big Night in theatres in Alcala and Madrid. DNA also has a one-year international theatre school: ITS DNA. There are 12 students per year from all different cultural backgrounds and 20 teachers in a range of theatre crafts. After one year of full-time training the majority of the students go on to regular High Schools of the Arts in the Netherlands while others might choose to find their own way into the (professional) theatre. Sabri Saad El Hamus, a well-known theatre-personality in Holland, conducts the artistic direction of both Theatrecompany DNA and ITS DNA. Amongst a lot of other work he introduced five theatreproductions under the title: Pax Islamica. Each one of these productions is based on one of the so-called pillars of the Islam. DNA has a budget from € 800.000 per year, including structural subsidies from the NFPK and the City of Amsterdam. For international (co)productions DNA is depending on grants from foundations.