Cancer, the Musical

Talking about cancer together

How do we make it possible for parents and children to talk about cancer in an approachable way? This question was at the centre of the first brainstorming session with the communication advisers from Spaarne Gasthuis.

And how do we get these two groups together in an informative setting? Our unusual solution: a self-produced children’s musical that presents in a symbolic way what the cancer does to you as a disease. And how to talk about it with each other. The children talking, singing and dancing on stage, the proud parents in the audience. Includes gala premiere in a real theatre, an informative pre-programme and a surprise finale before everyone heads home.

The Dream Stealers

The idea for the family show ‘The Dream Stealers’ was born. Children’s director Mark van Haasteren (Efteling, etc.) and composer Rene Merkelbach (Efteling) wrote the story and created the beautiful music of The Dream Stealers. The theme: live your life and, above all, keep dreaming. Group 6 from Bosrank primary school in Hoofddorp provided the actors and actresses who perform the show. For them, the performance is extra special. Early this year, their teacher René died of the disease.

On the night of the premiere, the children were able to visualise their own dreams in the theatre’s foyer. These were collected in the big dreamcatcher. Presenter Janouk Kelderman (Klokhuis) talked to specialists and psychologists before the show.

Beam your Dream

After the performance, parents and children were able to talk to staff from the hospital and the Adamas drop-in centre if they wanted. As they left for home, each guest received a mini dreamcatcher with three conversational tips to make the dialogue a little easier. On the square in front of the theatre, the children could see the dream they had written down projected life-size on a building.

Musical package

Due to the special nature of the musical, the show received a lot of press. Primary schools wishing to perform the show at their own schools will soon be able to order a ready-made musical package.

“It was really good. There were children with different nationalities participating. Everyone deals with this subject differently. Anyone can get cancer and no one is to blame. It can happen to you. The performance made this clear, but you can always keep on dreaming and making plans. The performance created a positive feeling. In everyone.”

RelatieSpaarne Gasthuis, Oncology departmentScopeConcept / Campaign / Production / ExecutionLocatieHoofddorpAantal gasten450DoelgroepChildren, parents and family