Theater producer Rick Engelkes must repay 3.7 million euros in corona support that he received for the musical Willem van Oranje, which was never played. His company Waterfront Entertainment confirmed this on Monday following reporting the Noordhollands Dagblad.
The support was intended to keep the cultural sector afloat when all kinds of concerts and theater performances might not take place due to the corona lockdowns. Engelkes said he intended to make a grand musical regarding the life of William of Orange in Delft. The piece had to be on display in Delft for at least a few years. A new theater would even be built and the play would be directed by Theu Boermans, who previously made Soldaat van Oranje.
The musical never came. Engelkes always said that he would further develop the performance and that he would be able to justify the subsidy awarded. However, the Performing Arts Fund has now determined that the amount of more than 4.3 million euros in support will be reduced by 3.7 million.
Nearly 7 tons
The nearly 7 tons that will remain, is intended for set builders, copywriters and the makers of the model of the intended theater. “This decision has consequences for us, but also for all those involved, which we are now going to map out,” said Engelkes on Monday.
Engelkes has four weeks to respond to the decision of the Performing Arts Fund and informed Shownieuws that he would make use of this. After this, the fund will make a final decision.
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