🎭 From Heritage to High Impact Experience: “De Passie” with a fresh twist.
For decades, “De Passie” playhas been a staple of Easter celebrations in Mariakerke. Year after year, the familiar Easter story was performed using the same script and music. But at some point, the question arose: couldn’t this be done differently? On a grander scale? With more vitality
Director Marc Boon was commissioned to give this tradition a fresh take. “They felt it was time for a renewal,” he explains. “So we teamed up with a writer to create a completely new production of this tradition, set in 2026. At the same time, we also decided to take a huge technical leap forward.”
And that was no small feat! The traditional open-air performance evolved into a full-scale live theatre production: featuring an orchestra of 45 musicians, some 40 actors, and a stage set spanning a whopping 50 meters in width.
🌄 Open-Air theater
Anyone who has ever organized an open-air production knows: nature always plays a role. And things don’t always go according to plan. The performance took place in early April, on the banks of the Schelde. That means humidity, wind and an environment where sound is hard to predict. “That really shouldn’t be underestimated,” Marc confirms. “The wind can suddenly shift direction, it can be very humid… Sound behaves completely differently than in a theater. If you don’t have a good technical partner there, you might as well pack it in right away.”
The lighting design also had to take nature into account. The sun set a little later each evening during the run. In the theater, dark is just dark. Here, it’s constantly changing.”
“You have to light crowd scenes… without making it look like you’re in a huge brightly lit dining hall. At the same time, you also want to create a sense of intimacy on such a massive set.”
– Marc Boon, Director Passie 2.0 2.5
🤝 A partnership that’s lasted twenty years
When the question arose about who should handle the technical aspects, Marc knew the answer right away. “I said immediately: you need a good company for this,” he confirms. “Amplifying the orchestra’s sound, the voices… Nothing can crackle; in short, it has to be perfect.” This was followed by the question of whether such companies even existed. “Yes, there are a few. But I’ve had very good experiences with D-Dream.” And that’s how the ball started rolling.
“I’m fiercely loyal, as long as things are going well. If a partnership works, why change it? I’ve been working with D-Dream on various projects for almost twenty years now.” For Marc, that choice isn’t just about equipment, but above all about trust.
🎨 “How many pencils are in the box?”
According to Marc, a good technical collaboration begins long before the first rehearsal. “For me, it has to be very clear from the start: how many pencils are in the box? In other words: what is technically possible within the budget? That transparency makes it possible to work creatively,” says Marc.
“That’s how I get a clear overview at D-Dream: how many spotlights, how many technicians, how much setup time… And if something goes over budget, we look for solutions together,” Marc explains. “Maybe the lighting and sound can be organized differently, or you can use rehearsal time more efficiently.” He believes that this proactive approach to problem-solving makes a big difference.
🎤 40 microphones, just as many amateur actors
Although the crew of De Passie” consisted of professionals, the cast was largely made up of local amateur actors. This gave the project a strong social dimension, but also presented practical challenges. Many of the actors had never worked with a headset microphone before.
“You have to make sure the actors feel comfortable. Preparation plays a key role in that,” says Marc, who has over 30 years of experience. “All the transmitters were neatly set up. The actors arrived on time, received a calm explanation from the technicians, with enough time for a thorough one-on-one check. You can immediately sense that calmness in the actors.”
“The calmness that the people at D-Dream exude rubs off on the entire cast. You just get the feeling that everything will be okay, even if something unexpected happens during the performance”
– Marc Boon, Director Passie 2.0 2.5
⚡ Professional technology doesn’t have to be a barrier
The result of all that hard work didn’t go unnoticed. Every performance was completely sold out. “After every show, we received standing ovations that lasted for minutes,” Marc says. “People came up to us afterward and said, ‘Wow, what just happened here?’ We put on a professional show with a lot of volunteers and factors you can’t fully control. That’s what makes it so special.”
Marc notices that some organizations are still hesitant to work with professional partners. “Many people think: that’s probably too expensive for us. But if you don’t ask, you’ll never know.” His advice is clear. “Start the conversation! Every project is different; every dish requires different ingredients. When you sit down together, you’ll always find a solution.”
🎪 From Execution to Insight
What Marc particularly appreciates today is that D-Dream has clearly established itself as an experienced player in theater, musical, and entertainment productions. “I think they may have been a bit too modest in the past,” he says. “They used to be less visible in the industry.” According to him, that has clearly changed in the meantime. A huge added value!
“Today, they’re truly helping to build entire productions from the ground up. It’s not just about technical execution; they also contribute ideas on how a show works and how to amplify emotions through lighting and sound.” According to Marc, it’s precisely that insight that distinguishes standard technical support from a true creative partner. “If you have technicians who understand how theater works—when something needs to feel grand, when something needs to be intimate—then you take a production to the next level.”
✨ Would you like to rely on a strong partnership, just like De Passie does?
Then D-Dream is your partner for a complete audiovisual experience.
From concept to execution, worry-free.
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