Shakespeare is dead (SID) is the very first festival in the Dutch-speaking world to focus on the art of playwriting. The festival puts contemporary Dutch-language playwrights in the spotlight, both for Dutch-speaking audiences and in an international context. It is also a meeting place to discover work from other languages and cultures.
During the Shakespeare is dead festival there will be an international programme from Tuesday June 9th until Thursday June 11th 2026. The programme includes a grand opening with a walking dinner, debates, performances, networking lunches and many more. Discover the cream of Dutch-language playwrights during the Reading Rooms.
Shakespeare is dead is back! In 2026 we will present, among other things, six brand-new plays from across Europe, featuring texts written within the framework of the project Future Narratives for Planet Earth.
After a successful first Dutch edition in 2023, Flemish Cultural Center de Brakke Grond and Theater Bellevue join forces again for Shakespeare is Dead, the unique Dutch-Flemish festival for performing writers and new stories. Discover a programme full of performances, meetings and inspiration sessions, created with and by writers and organisations committed to the stories yet to be written.
The third edition of Shakespeare is dead was a success. Relive the festival for contemporary playwriting!
All excerpts and translations of the Dutch and International selection of Shakespeare is dead 2024 are available in the Reading Room.
Discover the Dutch language selection here.
Discover the 2024 International selection of Shakespeare is dead!
Together with the Toneelschrijfprijs (Playwriting Award), the Vertaalprijs (Translation Prize) is also awarded, an initiative of the Fonds Podiumkunsten and Literatuur Vlaanderen. This year, the prize goes to 'Mater' by Femke Van der Steen. Her text will be fully translated into French, English or German and presented abroad during a staged reading thanks to the support of DeAuteurs.
With his stage script 'Queen of Disco', Maarten van Hinte has been named winner of the 35th edition of the Toneelschrijfprijs (Playwriting Award). The prize worth 10,000 euros was awarded this year on Friday 15 September at the Flemish TheaterFestival in Brussels.
Vlaams Cultuurhuis de Brakke Grond and Theater Bellevue are joining forces to organize Shakespeare is Dead, the festival for the new theater text. What was instigated by Het nieuwstedelijk in Leuven, Belgium, now also ignites in Amsterdam on March 24 and 25
This is my state.
And that of no one else.
The state I am in
The state of Lot Vekemans.
Who is also a playwright.
Discover 'The state of' of Lot Vekemans as delivered on Friday 25 February 2022 at the first edition of Shakesepeare is dead.
our generation is often seen as
a lost generation
we feel lost
or we have lost something
a kind of idealism or collectivity
but I have the feeling that we have
actually gained a lot
compared to previous generations
in insight
in consciousness and self-awareness
in modesty
and certainly in sensitivity
Read the State of the Young Playwright as delivered by Anouk Friedli on Friday 25 February at the first edition of Shakesepeare is dead.
Discover it!
Discover the Dutch and Belgian authors who are selected for the festival.
Discover the works and authors selected for the Shakespeare is dead festival!
Special poster campaign of De Nieuwe Toneelbibliotheek and De Leesclub
