Theater De Leest

Theater De Leest is a theatre and film house (filmhuis) located in Waalwijk, in the heart of the De Langstraat region of the Netherlands. The current building opened on 26 November 1996 at the Vredesplein, designed by architect Pietro Hammel. It contains a large theatre hall with 521 seats and a smaller film and theatre hall with 200 seats. The venue hosts approximately 225 theatre performances, 250 cinema films and more than 250 business and socio-cultural events each year. The history of the site is rooted in Waalwijk's associational life. The society "Musis Sacrum" (Latin: dedicated to the Muses) was active as early as 1876, founded by the Liedertafel "Oefening en Vermaak", meeting in a room behind the café and inn "De Twee Kolommen". In 1878 the owner Vincent Johannes Gerris converted the room into a proper concert hall named Musis Sacrum, inaugurated on 1 December 1878. From 1907 film screenings took place there, notably by Antoon Wegkamp's "Grand Cinematograph". The hall burned down in 1911, was rebuilt by Antoon Gerris-Simons, and reopened on 15 October 1911 as a theatre, concert and film hall. From 1912 to 1928 the "Florabioscoop" cinema operated there, showing silent films supplied by the French company Pathé, accompanied by piano or orchestra and an explicateur. Sound film arrived in 1929. The cinema closed in 1982 under owner Dick Boers due to declining visitor numbers and competition from the then Social Cultural Centre "De Leest", which had opened in 1972. Another building, "Gildenbond" (renamed "De Gecroonde Leerse" in 1954), served as a performance venue until it burned down completely on 5 April 1987. The modern Theater De Leest opened on 26 November 1996. In 2010 the foyer and entrance were thoroughly renovated and a new theatre café opened. On 29 October 2015 a multifunctional small hall with a telescopic tribune of 200 seats was opened, intended especially for amateurs, films, talent and youth. The theatre remains an active cultural venue in Waalwijk.

Theater De Leest is a theatre and film house in Waalwijk, in the heart of De Langstraat. The current building opened on 26 November 1996 and has a large theatre hall with 521 seats and a small film and theatre hall with 200 seats. Each year the theatre presents 225 theatre performances and 250 cinema films, and hosts more than 250 business and socio-cultural events. The history of the venue is connected to the society "Musis Sacrum" (Latin: dedicated to the Muses), which was already active in 1876 and was founded by the Liedertafel "Oefening en Vermaak". Members met in a room behind the café and inn "De Twee Kolommen". Until 1900, Waalwijk's associational life took place in cafés and inns, venues unsuitable for larger performances. The first to recognise this was Vincent Johannes Gerris, owner of hotel "De Twee Kolommen". In 1878 Gerris converted the room into a proper concert hall and gave it the name of the aforementioned society, "Musis Sacrum". The inauguration took place on 1 December 1878. From 1907 film screenings took place in the "Musis Sacrum" hall, notably by Antoon Wegkamp's "Grand Cinematograph". Unfortunately, "Musis Sacrum" burned down in 1911. Antoon Gerris-Simons rebuilt the music hall from the ground up. On 15 October 1911 the new theatre, concert and film hall opened. From 1912 to 1928 the "Florabioscoop" was located here, with its first film being "De scheepsramp der Titanic". The Florabioscoop obtained its films from the French film company Pathé. These were of course silent films. Such a silent film was accompanied musically by piano playing or an orchestra. A so-called "explicateur" provided commentary. Such a man could make or break films with his explanation. Sound film was only introduced in 1929. Later the building was also used as a cinema. In 1982 owner Dick Boers closed the doors due to declining visitor numbers and competition from the then Social Cultural Centre "De Leest", which had opened in 1972. In 1911 the "Gildenbond" building was also completed with a hall suitable for performances and concerts. This building, renamed "De Gecroonde Leerse" in 1954, fulfilled its role until 5 April 1987, when it burned down completely. On 26 November 1996 the new theatre at the Vredesplein was opened, built under the architecture of Pietro Hammel. In 2010 the foyer and entrance were thoroughly renovated and a new theatre café was opened. On 29 October 2015 the multifunctional small hall was opened with a telescopic tribune of 200 seats, where space would be offered especially to amateurs, films, talent and youth.

• 2015

  Multifunctional small hall with telescopic tribune of 200 seats opened on 29 October.

• 2010

  Foyer and entrance thoroughly renovated; new theatre café opened.

• 1996

  New theater at Vredesplein opens on 26 November, designed by Pietro Hammel.

• 1987

  "De Gecroonde Leerse" building burns down completely on 5 April.

• 1982

  Cinema closed by owner Dick Boers due to declining visitors and competition.

• 1972

  Social Cultural Centre "De Leest" opens.

• 1929

  Sound film introduced.

• 1912

  "Florabioscoop" cinema established, operating until 1928.

• 1911

  "Musis Sacrum" burns down; rebuilt by Antoon Gerris-Simons and reopened on 15 October as theatre, concert and film hall.

• 1907

  Film screenings begin in "Musis Sacrum", notably by Antoon Wegkamp's "Grand Cinematograph".

• 1878

  Vincent Johannes Gerris converts room into concert hall "Musis Sacrum", inaugurated on 1 December.

• 1876

  Society "Musis Sacrum" active, founded by Liedertafel "Oefening en Vermaak".

A regional theatre and film house in the heart of De Langstraat, offering a broad programme of theatre, film and events.

Product categories. theatre performances · cinema screenings · business and socio-cultural events

1. 1Theater De Leest - Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2Theater De Leest - Wikipedia (Dutch)nl.wikipedia.org