Some performances don't advertise themselves with the promise of an "enjoyable evening," but with something entirely different. Something that stirs things up, touches you, and makes you think. "Mist" is such a performance.
This new tragicomedy revolves around former variety artist Willy Borél. Once a celebrated star, he now finds himself in a nursing home after being diagnosed with dementia. His days are short, almost hopeless, far removed from the applause he once took for granted. And as his present shrinks, he escapes into memories of the past – memories that prove anything but reliable.
A sophisticated story about identity, loss, success, and self-deception slowly unfolds. It explores what remains when one begins to lose touch with reality. As is typical of good theater, nothing is as it seems.
Humor, sharpness and emotions
Although the subject matter is serious, "Mist" is not a difficult read. Quite the opposite. The writing is humorous, pointed, and authentic. It is precisely this combination that makes it so effective: laughter and stunned silence are closely intertwined.
Bruun Kuijt directs, and the cast includes Laus Steenbeeke, Myrthe Burger, Valentijn Benard, Ydwer Bosma, and Melle Berendse. A strong team that convincingly brings this complex story to life.
A personal note
Perhaps this performance resonates with me particularly because dementia is not an abstract concept for me. My grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and has changed a great deal over the years. This is difficult – for her, but perhaps even more so for the people around her.
And yet… she was always there again. This incredibly loving, wonderful grandmother I had always known. Those moments were priceless. We loved her until her last breath, despite everything that had happened. Because before her Alzheimer's, she was simply a wonderful grandmother.
She lived with us in the village, here in Uitgeest, together with my grandfather. And when I came home from school, I often rode my bike past her house. There was always soup on the stove. Vegetable soup, chicken soup – it didn't really matter, because they all tasted pretty much the same. What was always the same? Heaps of noodles. The rule was simple: if you could hold your spoon upright in the soup, it was good.
These memories are still there. Strong, warm, and vivid. And perhaps that is the effect of such images: they reveal not only the hardship, but also the underlying beauty.
Anyone who has ever been close to someone with dementia or Alzheimer's knows how intense it is. You persevere because there is love there. And perhaps you also feel an inner calling: Live your life now, be kind and compassionate to the people around you. Ultimately, that will do you the most good.
Dinner at the theater in KLAAS
For a truly memorable evening, we recommend a theater dinner at KLAAS , the restaurant next to the Dorpshuis De Zwaan. Enjoy a three-course menu featuring the chef's changing specialties, with special dietary requirements and allergies readily available. Arriving at 6:00 pm will perfectly coincide with the performance.
Practical
Fog
Date: Saturday, January 31, 2026
Time: 20:15 – 22:30
Location: The Swan Cultural, Uitgeest
Tickets: – €18 regular – €17
For friends of De Zwaan – €54.50 incl. VAT. Theatre dinner
🎟️ Tickets and further information: https://dezwaancultureel.nl/tc-events/mist/
Finally
"Mist" is one of those performances that you don't just watch, but that stays with you long after you've finished watching it. A story about being lost, remembering, and clinging to what you were – and perhaps still are.
Not light entertainment, but theatre that lingers in the mind. And sometimes that's precisely the point of a successful evening.