Behind the scenes

Our theatre programming is produced and programmed by our own creative director Bart Bosch. Every year, programming is supplemented with newly developed performances. All the actors we work with are qualified and audition to come and work for Gilat Foundation. The actors then receive training from us in which they learn how to deal with sick children in a theatre performance.

Making sick children laugh

Our actors enjoy seeing sick children laugh. Parents and caregivers, siblings are also taken away from their daily worries for a moment when they see their child laughing. By being part of the performance themselves and experiencing something fun together with other children, children (and their parents) often forget for a moment the reality of illness and pain.

The performances are also a great way to interact with other sick and non-sick children, friends, siblings, parents and grandparents, without the illness being the focus of attention.

As an alderman, father and (great) grandfather, I want all children to grow up safe and healthy. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Gilat Foundation’s performances put a smile back on the faces of children who spend part of their lives in hospital. Children can forget for a moment that they are ill and can just be children again for a while: carefree, relaxed and joyful.’

• Bert van Alphen, alderman of the municipality of The Hague (GroenLinks)