De Kleine Komedie, Historic theatre on Amstel, Netherlands
De Kleine Komedie is a theater on the Amstel in Amsterdam, seating around 500 people, and hosts cabaret, music, and stage performances. The hall is compact, which brings the audience close to the performers and gives the space a direct, personal feel.
The theater was founded in 1786 as the Théâtre Français on the Erwtemarkt and went through several different uses over the years, including as a church, a lecture hall, and a bicycle storage space. It gradually returned to its role as a performance venue and has stayed that way ever since.
De Kleine Komedie is known for giving early-career performers a stage in cabaret and theater, and awards the Zilveren Raampje to recognize standout new talent. Audiences often get to see artists early in their careers before they become widely known.
The theater sits right on the Amstel and is easy to reach by public transport. Visitors with hearing difficulties can pick up a listening device at the reception desk before the show starts.
In 1988, cabaret performer Youp van 't Hek helped save the theater from closure after budget cuts threatened to shut it down, largely through his performances there. Without that effort, the oldest working theater in Amsterdam might not exist today.
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