9 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BRABANTSEDAG
As a true Brabantsedag fan you sometimes come across them: people who don't know Brabantsedag Heeze (yet)! While you like to talk with pride and enthusiasm about this most beautiful and largest theatre parade of the year, how you are busy with it all year round, how Brabantsedag keeps the village of Heeze under its spell.
They are there; people who do not know that the last Sunday in August has been the most beautiful day of the year for more than sixty years. With this info you fill their knowledge gap and you definitely catch them up about being there. And you know: once you've been, sold forever!
1. IS THE BRABANTSEDAG A PARADE? IS THAT REALLY FUN?
Fun.. That is an understatement! For over sixty years now we have been hearing from our audience on that last Sunday in August that it is an unforgettable spectacle of rolling theatre sets, with thousands of actors, full of music, play, emotions, movement and interaction. The biggest theatre parade of the year', there really is not a word of lying!
2. AH, JUST LIKE WITH CARNIVAL?
NO. NOPE. NOT EVEN CLOSE.
Don't get us wrong, we love carnival too. And there, too, particularly beautiful creations are put on the road. But Brabantedag Heeze goes many steps further. Brabantsedag brings the history of the Duchy of Brabant to life. The rolling, towering theatre sets all have a subject that is linked to the annual theme, the source of inspiration for the sixteen building groups. The parade brings past events from the Duchy to life, creatively translated into our time and imposing by original designs and daring technique.
3. IS THE BRABANTSEDAG IN HEEZE? WHERE IS HEEZE?
Heeze lies south of Eindhoven. Ideally accessible via both the A2 and the A67, surrounded by woods and moors; not for nothing we call it 'the pearl of Brabant'.
4. SO HOW DO YOU DO IT ALL YEAR ROUND?
The construction season starts with the theme presentation, somewhere at the end of October, beginning of November. Then the building groups will hear what the theme for the coming edition is, and what 'margins' their designs must comply with.
With this theme in mind, the brainstorming and design process starts at many kitchen, meeting and bar tables: "Which topic or which person should we choose? This is followed by research online and in archives, because the subject story must after all be historically correct.
The first cautious design drawings see the light. Drawings are submitted to Stichting Brabantsedag, which monitors the high standard of creativity and diversity. The groups also consult and spruce each other; they keep each other's designs under review, give tips and advice, exchange techniques, expertise and materials. They each contribute their own solid stone to 'their' biggest theatre parade of the year, among other things via the joint platform for groups.
Spring is the season of deepening and elaborating: What will the car look like? How will this be achieved technically? The story? The clothing? The game? The costs? The music? The message?
In June Heeze starts to bubble visibly, when the enormous building marquees rise everywhere. Then the real construction starts, with a tight deadline of the last Sunday of August. In three busy summer months there is plenty of building, brazing, welding, gluing and painting. In the meantime, the members of the groups also develop into actors, stylists and fashion designers. The costumes, the decoration, the music, the game; in short, the story comes to life. And all that happens with a lot of fun together!
5. HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL TAKE PART IN THE BRABANTSEDAG?
As Stichting Brabantsedag, we are particularly proud of our 16 building groups. Together they bring about 2,000 active buildings and actors into action. Their families, families, colleagues, neighbours and friends also make indispensable contributions here and there.
From Stichting Brabantsedag, there are another 150 volunteers behind the scenes who organise the Brabantsedag all year round, in working groups such as Sponsoring, Marketing & PR, Programming, Technical Service, Finance and more.
On the last Sunday of August itself are also several hundred volunteers in the rope around the parade.
All in all, Brabantsedag Heeze is carried by around 4,000 people from Heeze and the surrounding area; how fat is that for a village with about 10,000 inhabitants? And even better: each and every one of them is a volunteer - but a professional one! - who are not paid a penny for it.
6. CAN I JUST BECOME A BUILDER IN A BUILDING GROUP?
Yes, you can. Everyone is creative, everyone has an - unexpected - talent; designing, carpentry, welding, painting, acting, grimacing, making clothes, catching. All these tasks belong to a building group. Feel like participating? Then contact the group and they will help you further!
7. HOW HAS THIS BEEN SUCH A SUCCESS FOR 63 YEARS?
In all modesty: Brabantsedag (remember; written about each other!) is just unique! That's because of the involvement of all those hundreds of people who make it a party together.
That's part of the experience: atmosphere, taste, music, street theatre, art, performances, artists, good food and drink, with something for everyone, for young and old.
But that's mainly due to the incredible creativity and the high level - literally! - which you will see pass by in amazement every last Sunday in August.
That last Sunday in August, you'll see something you've never seen before. And every year the parade changes: cars become even more beautiful, games more intrusive, stories more interesting, emotions more powerful, techniques more ingenious, the theme different every year and challenging.
8. WHAT DOES IT ALL COST?
Time. Energy. And indeed euros. The business community of Heez, the local hospitality industry and the Heezer shopkeepers are doing their bit, but our partners, main sponsors, sponsors and subsponsors are particularly valued fellow creators. And let's not forget our highly esteemed audience: by buying a ticket (presale 9 euros, ordinary rate 10 euros (children up to 12 years free of charge), grandstand 10) they will create a glasshouse for an even bigger and more beautiful theatre parade next year!
9. Brabantsedag or Brabantse Dag (*)
We use Brabantsedag. Without space. We used to write Brabantse - space- Dag, but that was officially changed to Brabantsedag some time ago.
