For two and a half hours, The Procession moves from story to story, with a four-metre-tall puppet that is brought to life during the walk. Along the way, various characters appear, each with their own story.

We follow Sacha, a free spirit and central figure, who — despite his terminal illness — shapes his own grief ceremony in the midst of life. We walk with quiet stillness, swinging live music and lyrical poetry alongside his theatre family: people who share stories about grief, healing and the will to live.

Joe, dressed in purple and balancing between jester and master of ceremonies, guides the procession with a flower megaphone. He asks questions, sets people in motion and keeps things light where they threaten to grow heavy.

Along the way we cross other lives: Sina, who tries to hold onto a moment of togetherness with his sister while their flight threatens to pull them apart. Mustafa, who grows up in a place where you first learn what death is, and only then what life means. A bird sings for unborn children, while a cat keeps the last remnants of who you once were.

All these stories of farewell, grief and love of life weave together into a collective tapestry of what it means to be human.

The Procession invites us to pause together and keep going — in a time when loss is visible and vulnerability may be shared.

Music
The musical core of The Procession is formed by Calefax and Cappella Amsterdam. They perform music from different centuries and corners of the world, complemented by new compositions by Ned McGowan. Young people from Noodopvang Amsterdam Galaxy and youth network The Mall add their own rhythmic and musical contributions, accompanied by percussionist Wouter van der Wildt.

Programme a.o.
Ned McGowan (*1970) Stoet (world premiere)
Henry Purcell (1659–1695) Music for the Funeral of Queen Mary, Z. 860: Funeral March and Man that is born of a woman
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750) O Jesu Christ, meins Lebens Licht, BWV 118 (arr. Raaf Hekkema)
John Bennet (1575-1614) Weep, O Mine Eyes
Trad. Just a Closer Walk with Thee (arr. Jesse Faber)
Jacques Berthier (1923–1994) Bleibet hier
George Gershwin (1898–1937) Rhapsody in Blue (arr. Raaf Hekkema)
Jordi Pauli(*1969) Blanca Espurna (arr. Oliver Boekhoorn)
Fabian André (1910–1960) & Wilbur Schwandt (1904–1998) Dream a Little Dream of Me
Florence Price (1887–1953) Piano Sonata in e minor (arr. Jelte Althuis)
Raaf Hekkema (*1968) Stut
Caroline Shaw (*1982) and the swallow

Accessibility
Please note: a basic understanding of Dutch is recommended to fully enjoy this performance. It will lasts approximately 2.5 hours and involves walking. Comfortable shoes are recommended. Toilets are available at the start and end of the route. Performances go ahead in most weather conditions, with the exception of extreme weather, so consider bringing rain gear.

Credits

Concept | Adelheid Roosen (initiator), Katrien van Beurden, Sacha Muller, Timo Dries
Director | Katrien van Beurden
Dramaturgy | Assistent director Rashida Boukhizzou, Leendert Vooijce, Mariska Geene
Actors | Sacha Muller, Timo Dries, Joe Sinduhije, Mustafa Staiti, Nazmiye Oral, Maream Alyosef, Suzi Warda, Lola Alshamiri, Ali Doghem, Evert Josemanders
Internships Academie voor Theater & Dans | Berat Bebek, Sina Nazari, Soumaya Wong, Raquel Hanekroot, Pauline Haenen, Guusje Goumans

Calefax
Oboe | Oliver Boekhoorn
Saxophone | Raaf Hekkema
Bassoon | Alban Wesly
Bassclarinet | Ettore Biagi (2 t/m 7 juni) / Jesse Faber (10 t/m 21 juni)
Clarinet | Bart de Kater

Cappella Amsterdam
Soprano |Sanda Audere, Marijke van der Harst, Dārta Liepiņa
Alto |Mieke van Laren, Inga Schneider, Suzanne Verburg
Tenor |Jon Etxabe Arzuaga, Jelle Leistra, Stefan Berghammer
Bass |Jan Douwes, Kees Jan de Koning, Johan Vermeer, Mark Walter
Programme coordinator for the choir and rehearsal director | Heide Müller
Rehearsal director | Cyrille Nanchen

Composition| Ned Mcgowan
Percussion | Wouter van der Wildt |Dusk Band: Santoz, Yutje, Yah Azul
Carillonneur | Boris Bezemer
Trumpet | Timo Dries
Singer | Rahaf Ghanam

Captain Rederij Lampedusa: Yusuf & Sami

Adoption method of De Stoet
Research + counseling  | Adelheid Roosen, Mariska Geene
Counseling youth | Cheyenne Lensa, Boaz Jansens, Cecilia Petit
Adoptions | Youth from de Noodopvang Amsterdam Galaxy and The Mall Jongerenwerk Amsterdam adopted by actors, musicians and chorus members | Santos en Jugiano in musical adoption with Timo and Joe, guided by Ned McGowan

Doll |Popidou, Evert Josemanders
Costume |Kalina Todorova
Design | Tessa Verbei

Partners | The Mall Jongerenwerk Amsterdam, Noodopvang Amsterdam Galaxy, MidWest, Jeruzalemkerk, Frascati Theater, Rederij Lampedusa

This project is supported by | Amsterdams Fonds voor de Kunst|Fonds Podiumkunsten|VSBfonds|Vaillantfonds|Iona Stichting|Stadsdeel Nieuw-West Amsterdam|Het Cultuurfonds Noord Holland|Zabawas|

Many thanks to: Mark Walraven, Myriam Sahraoui, Luud de Haas, Dorèndel Overmars, Sherida van Hekelen, Peter Both, Mark Jannink, Patricia Uidam, Thomas Dekker, Jeroen Man, Iris Nagtegaal, Hank de Graaf, Fouad Lakbir, Cafe Plein ‘45-’45, Sortie, Café Cook, Laura de Reus, Augustanahof, Abdel Onsri, Stichting Marhaba: Alid El Mouzouri, Hammou Abousallam