Dutch National Opera
The Theory of Everything (8+)
Dates
19 – 26 October 2025
Location
Dutch National Opera & Ballet, Studio Boekman
Running time
1:00, no interval
Tickets
N/A
Energetic youth opera that unites different worlds
Nia is looking for more time. With the hours she has, it just doesn’t seem possible to help her grandmother in the lab while also training in her aunt’s dance studio. Will she have to make a choice? The Theory of Everything shows that it doesn’t always have to be ‘one or the other’. This spoken-word opera blends opera and dance, classical music and spoken word in a magical and philosophical adventure. Stage director Naomi van der Linden and musical director Hanne van de Vrie jointly initiated this musical family production, with music by composer Carlijn Metselaar and text by multidisciplinary word artist Roziena Salihu. After a successful run two years ago, the production returns this autumn holiday.
Performance information
Dutch National Opera & Ballet advises a minimum age of 8 for this performance.
Revival
Sung in Dutch
Music Carlijn Metselaar
Libretto Roziena Salihu
Arrangements / composition of electronic music Jan van Eerd
Musical direction Hanne van de Vrie
Concept and stage direction Naomi van der Linden
Set and costume design Dymph Boss
Lighting design Ianthe van der Hoek
Choreography Jomecia Oosterwolde
Dramaturgy Naomi Teekens
Nia Houda Bibouda
Oma Elena Vink
Tante Jomecia Oosterwolde
Ensemble Nienke Nasserian, Anna Traub, Joris van Baar
Slagwerk en elektronica Jan van Eerd, Rombout Stoffers
Piano Charlie Bo Meijering
Cello Geneviève Verhage
Performances for schools
We offer an exclusive school matinee for primary school students. Explore the programme.
In the media
Soprano Elena Vink looks back on her remarkable career in an interview (in Dutch) with the opera magazine Place de l’Opera — from the Queen of the Night in Die Zauberflöte to her role as Grandma in The Theory of Everything. She speaks about her love of storytelling, growing older in her profession, and what still drives her to sing and perform.
Reviews
A gentle introduction to opera and physics – With colourful costumes, beautiful lighting, and accessible dance, the charming youth opera truly captures the imagination.
To keep this youth performance (...) accessible, director Naomi van der Linden brings together various worlds: opera singing and spoken word, classical and electronic music, science and hip-hop dance.
Everything falls into place for Nia, [...] she wants both — to pursue science and to dance. She doesn't want to choose. The small and the great come together in The Theory of Everything. After all, the sun and the moon need each other too. 'A new beginning, that's what it is,' says Nia.
Founding partner programming Studio Boekman
