So much has happened this weekend that reports from the Night of the Museum, the Samuel D. Z. Hoff anniversary and the book show will have to wait a while. On Sunday afternoon, Jacques van der Berken received the Diamanten Krommer Award for the first time in the history of Dutch theater at the Leidse Schouwburg. This award is given by the Society of Theater and Concert Hall Managers, founded in 1947, to celebrate theater staff, who work behind the scenes to ensure dancers, actors and singers shine on stage. This usually happens with the 25-year silver curve and the 40-year gold curve. Never before has someone been in this field for 50 years, which is why Cromer was specially crafted with five diamonds. A “twist screw” is used in theater technology to fasten set pieces together (twist screw).
It caught Jack completely by surprise. The show took place after a final standing ovation for the final performance of the final round of the Leids Cabaret Festival. The three finalists of the Leiden Cabaret Festival 2024 have been touring Dutch stages in recent months and finished the tour in Leiden where it all began for them. Jack provided the technology for almost all of the finals, which is why this day was chosen to award the pin.
After the final applause, stage manager Erin Bronk came on stage with another bouquet of flowers. Please stay seated for a moment, we want to put someone very special in the spotlight. Our technician Jack van der Berken, Jack, come and join us.
Well, the theater remained empty, and Jack was nowhere to be found. His colleagues said he was probably outside smoking a cigarette 🙂
Jack was found and Erin had to stand up immediately.
It's difficult, of course, for someone who puts everyone in the spotlight almost every evening, but never wants to be in it himself.
Erin told the audience why Jack was on stage. Jacques van den Berken began his career in 1973 at the Beejekurf Cultural Center in Venray, now the Venray Theater. Jack was sixteen years old at the time. In August 1985, Jack started working as a technician at Leidse Schouwburg. Since that year, Jack has also provided lighting at the Leids Cabaret Festival every year. It is for this reason that the Diamond Curve was awarded at the end of the final round of the Leids Cabaret Festival. During his 50 years working behind the scenes at the theater, Jack worked in over 8,750 shows. On average there were about 175 shows per year. This is the first time that the Diamanten Krommer Prize has been awarded because 50 years of career has never happened before. There are five diamonds in the pin, one every ten years. Of course, it is a small diamond, because yes, we are the culture sector 🙂
I asked Jack, do you have anything to say about that yourself?
Jack is an actor and not the biggest talker, so he quickly returned the microphone.
Arne van der Velde, stage and production technology coordinator, installed Jacques Diamantin Kromer.
Jack looked around the room, a little taken aback by all the honor and attention.
Proud of the pin and accompanying certificate.
Of course, there was also a bouquet of flowers.
And a big hug.
Applause for Jack said Erin.
This did not fall on deaf ears, but there was a thunderous applause that many artists would be jealous of.
It's great when someone is honored who really didn't expect it at all.
