Studio 100 to stage World War 1 musical

The entertainment production company Studio 100 has high hopes for ‘14-‘18, its new musical about World War I that will run at the Nekker Hall in Mechelen as from April 2014. “People should leave the hall and say ‘Never again’,” says director Frank Van Laecke, while quickly adding that “it should not become a history lesson. We want to tell a story about how war affects people. About what it does to friendships and love. We want to touch the people.” It seems they have not spared any cost or trouble to bring this message across. Studio 100 has leased the Nekker Hall for a whole year and plans to build a mobile platform that will transport the 1 800-strong audience through the scene to create the impression of travelling through a huge film set. “In this way we can zoom in on both the images of the war and the emotions of the actors,” says Van Laeck. Composer Dirk Brossé and musical screenwriter Allard Blom have joined their talents to create the score. It’s interesting to note that Studio 100 ventured another musical after staging ‘Daens’ four years ago. Even though it was a hit at the box office and attracted an audience of 200 000, Studio 100 was not too happy about the fact they received no subsidies while other musicals did. According to Hans Bourlon, who co-manages the business with Gert Verhulst, it remains to be seen whether Studio 100 will receive any subsidies this time around. Flemish tourism minister Geert Bourgeois N-VA launched a programme to boost events in the framework of the commemoration of the Great War. Studio 100 has applied for subsidies, but according to Bourlon the reason for the title was not with this in mind. “We sought a Flemish popular theme and there just aren’t that many.” The leasing of the Nekkar Hall alone has taken quite a chunk out of their budget.