AMAI SPECIAAL CHAPEAU (3+) / DE MAAN

A wonderful music box that unfolds into a city full of extraordinary families. I have two homes. AMAI. Above one of my houses live two dinosaurs, who are adopted. Next to my other house live three grandmas, there is a lot of telephoning there. De Hijskranen live in between, that is a blended family. SPECIAL. The people in my city form wonderful families with always an extra plate of food, a shoulder of comfort to spare, and a pancake ritual! CHAPEAU! 'AMAI SPECIAAL CHAPEAU' starts from a simple but powerful thought: families exist in all shapes and sizes. It is an ode to everything that is 'different'. Karlien Torfs and Nikolas Lestaeghe make a performance that is rooted in their own life, a life in which they, as good friends, raise a daughter together. From the many questions people have about their family construction and their ambition to question the 'normal', 'AMAI SPECIAAL CHAPEAU' arises. In a world where the house-garden-child-family is becoming the norm again, they look for ways to shape their own life in their reality that does not correspond to this model. They make the performance for their daughter, who was three years old at the time of the premiere, and for all other three-year-olds. PRESS: "Thoughtful simplicity without simplism or essentialism: that is what makes toddler theater special. This performance by De Maan and 4hoog has it all." (pzazz) "In DE MAAN, a strong example of visual youth theater premieres once again with AMAI SPECIAAL CHAPEAU (3+)." (De Morgen) Selected for The TheaterFestival 2026 “The jury finds it unprecedented how the makers succeed in breaking through the traditional norms that prevail around family structures for a very young audience. In doing so, they fully utilize the freedom and power of the theater – that unique place where almost everything is possible, even pancakes falling from the sky. (...) AMAI SPECIAAL CHAPEAU brings an important message but is never preachy: it is primarily a colorful viewing party, regardless of your age. The admirable craftsmanship of puppet theater DE MAAN deserves a special mention. The jury likes to repeat it to the makers at the top of their lungs: amai, special, chapeau!” - Jury Het TheaterFestival CREDITS: concept and acting: Karlien Torfs and Nikolas Lestaeghe final direction: Simon D'Huyvetter figures: Paul Contryn and Katinka Heremans decor design: Paul Contryn, Nikolas Lestaeghe and Karlien Torfs decor construction: Stéphane Vloebergh light design and technique: Aaron Bruyninckx music composition: Leen Diependaele and Bart Van Lierde production management: Noor de Graaf production: DE MAAN & 4Hoog co-production: Perpodium, with support of the Tax Shelter of the Belgische Federale Overheid and BESIDE thanks to: Dina Amghar, Fie Gillis, Marta Pereira, Gaëlle Pierre, Jane Popova Yevheniia Andriivna, Dominique Defossez