Pearl of De Langstraat: De Voorste Venne Drunen

Every week we go somewhere for coffee. Recently I was at De Voorste Venne in Drunen. A beautiful, local theater that was completely renovated two years ago. After a turbulent period for the cultural center, it is time for a positive direction and all noses are pointed in the same direction again! But who are they, the driving forces behind this positive new direction? I spoke with Wilco Schrijver (general manager) and with Ilse Theuns (sales manager).

In January of this year Wilco stepped into De Voorste Venne, less than three months earlier Ilse had already preceded him. Wilco (56) is from Heesch and also spent 10 years there in Cultural Center De Pas, first as director later as director. Then this vacancy came up and he got an interview through the former director. A good interview, it turns out, because the question of whether he would take the job came the weekend before he started on Monday.... And he accepted the challenge, he tells me proudly and enthusiastically! Ilse (35) is from Nieuwkuijk and started in November 2019. From the events sector and hospitality, she also now stays in the experience world, a place where people want to feel fine and come for pleasure. She wants to contribute to that here as well.

But what do they themselves actually love? They are both athletes. Wilco likes to get on his bicycle and coach at his children's soccer club and Ilse likes to play tennis and also supports youth training. Both of them like helping children, so I wonder: do they also like children's shows more or do they actually not like theater at all? Ilse confesses; "I actually don't make enough time to also sit in on a performance with regularity, and I also prefer to go to a musical." Wilco; "I like to take the time to combine the pleasant with the business and therefore regularly go to a theater performance, that way you know what's going on".

Their common interest is De Voorste Venne; they would like to be a warm blanket for visitors, a living room that invites more encounters, both cultural and social. They want to offer experiences, a moment to get away from it all, a nice leisure activity. They were able to organize nice things in the corona days and also now they offer a safe night out or just a bite or drink in the café or garden of course. They wish De Voorste Venne more attention, because the property, the organization and also the program deserve it.

I walk out the door with a good intention. Going to the theater again, just in our 'backyard'; De Langstraat, garden of Brabant.

Want to know more about De Voorste Venne? Then click here!