Hanneke van der Paardt Wins the BNG Theatre Prize 2025

Theatre maker and actress Hanneke van der Paardt is the proud winner of the BNG Theatre Prize 2025, the annual incentive award for emerging theatre talent in the Netherlands. The award was presented to her during a festive ceremony at Theater Bellevue, part of the Dutch Theatre Festival.

BANG: A Raw, Intimate Confrontation with Fear

Van der Paardt received the prize for her performance BANG—a monologue in which she draws the audience into her inner world, weaving reflections, memories, and observations into a tunnel of recollections spanning seven years. The jury describes it as a “skillfully constructed cycle of thoughts that resists resolution” and praises the piece for the insight it offers into the mechanism of fear.

Award Ceremony at the Dutch Theatre Festival

During a special afternoon of Fringe x NTF PRO on September 5, Van der Paardt accepted the award—a cheque for €45,000 and a bouquet of flowers—to the applause of fellow makers, peers, press, and audience members.

Jury on BANG

According to the jury, Van der Paardt effortlessly takes the audience along into her inner world in BANG.

On a bare stage, with only a table, a chair, white walls, and a projector, she intertwines memories, observations, and emotions into a carefully structured narrative. By engaging directly with the audience, she creates an intimate experience that leaves space for reflection and even a glimmer of hope.

The BNG Theatre Prize

The BNG Theatre Prize is the largest incentive award for emerging theatre talent in the Netherlands, with a cash prize of €45,000. The winner can use the prize to restage the production for a tour or invest in a new creation.

With the award, the BNG Culture Fund offers promising makers a springboard and increases their visibility, not least through the presentation during the Dutch Theatre Festival. Makers who are touring the Netherlands with a production are eligible for nomination.