Gammel: A Captivating Musical and Visual Performance for Children and Adults
This unique performance explores how intergenerational friendship brings purpose, featuring captivating puppets and musical storytelling.
Gammel is a profound musical and visual performance designed for both young children aged 4-8 and adult audiences. This unique production uses expressive puppets and masks to narrate the touching story of an elderly man who rediscovers his purpose through an unlikely friendship with a child. It delves into the essential human need for connection and belonging, drawing inspiration from collaborative research with children and seniors in care homes.
About Gammel (4 t/m 8 jaar en volwassenen) at Bijbels Museum (Cromhouthuizen) in Amsterdam
Read curatorial context and practical visitor information for Gammel (4 t/m 8 jaar en volwassenen) at Bijbels Museum (Cromhouthuizen) in Amsterdam
Exhibition summary
Gammel is a musical and visual performance for children aged 4-8 and adults, featuring puppets and masks. It tells the story of an elderly man who feels redundant until a child enters his life, highlighting the importance of connection and feeling needed. The production is based on research conducted in care homes where children and the elderly collaborated.
Curatorial context
GAMMEL is a captivating performance that delves into the emotional landscape of an elderly man who feels his time has passed, only to have his life revitalized by the arrival of a mysterious child. This musical and visual production utilizes puppets and mask work to explore the profound impact of unexpected friendships and the essential human need to feel valued. Directed by Noufri Bachdim, the artistic intent is to convey that everyone matters, regardless of age, and to celebrate the comfort found in connection and rediscovering one's 'groove'.
The creation of GAMMEL involved insightful research in various care homes within Almere, where children and seniors engaged in collaborative artistic activities. The performance is noted for its skillful integration of mime, masks, and jazz-influenced music, creating a rich narrative. Critics have praised its tasteful storytelling, engaging scat singing, and its moving portrayal of an elderly man blossoming in his renewed sense of purpose, calling it an 'ode to the elderly and a call for respect'. The production successfully holds the attention of its audience, particularly young children, for its duration.
Admission and ticket notes
Tickets for Gammel are available for Saturday, April 4, 2026, at 12:00 PM. The regular ticket price is €14. Visitors are directed to a specific ticketing link for purchase and more details. The performance takes place in the Grote Zaal with no intermission.
Gammel (4 t/m 8 jaar en volwassenen) key exhibition facts
Review exhibition status, schedule, venue context, and attribution details for Gammel (4 t/m 8 jaar en volwassenen) at Bijbels Museum (Cromhouthuizen) in Amsterdam
Venue
Bijbels Museum (Cromhouthuizen)
Current status
Open now
Exhibition schedule
From Apr 4, 2026
Artist line / attribution
Concept & Direction: Noufri Bachdim. Featuring performances by Niels Kuiters, Sacha Muller/Toon – Kuijpers & Pluck Venema. Music by Sebastiaan Bax. Puppets by Pluck Venema in collaboration with Noor Sanders. Costumes by Annelies Michelle Shakison. Set design by Tamar Stalenhoef. Lighting design by Jurre Pöpping. Set construction by Bas Boekhoet. Directed by Roos Yaline. Visual Assistant Job van Weeren. Technical support by Chieljan van der Hoek.
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