Performing Arts Under One Roof: vibrant cultural building with space for its own identity

The building on Keizerstraat in Deventer is suitable to house Deventer Schouwburg and Burgerweeshuis while preserving their own character and functions. The broad range – from amateur art, talent development to professional performing arts – can be integrated into one building with opportunities to jointly use studios, visitor areas, and catering facilities.

This direction will make the city center entrance a vibrant place for performing arts, fitting the scale of Deventer. An impulse for cultural Deventer and part of De Kien, the station area where education, knowledge companies, housing, and culture come together.

The elaboration fits within the frameworks set by the city council and aligns with the requirements and wishes of both institutions. The college of mayor and aldermen, Deventer Schouwburg, and Burgerweeshuis have together reached this conclusion based on the findings of Architectenbureau TenBrasWestinga.

Architect Roel ten Bras has developed a spatial exploration based on intensive work sessions with people from Burgerweeshuis and Deventer Schouwburg. This includes possibilities for halls, acoustics, routing, foyers, and spaces for own identity. The building can grow into a coherent multifunctional vibrant cultural building where theater, pop podium, music school, and cultural education come together. By redistributing spaces, clear routing, and utilizing existing architectural potential, the building invites collaboration, but organizations can also operate simultaneously and independently, maintaining their identity. The cultural building will be a low-threshold destination where people want to go during the day and evening, with numerous cultural and commercial activities taking place simultaneously. 

The project is currently in the final phase of the exploratory phase (Guideline Large Projects). At this stage, a vision has been presented that is preferred by Deventer Schouwburg, Burgerweeshuis, and the municipality of Deventer. With this direction, the project can start with the elaboration of a vision document, a Program of Requirements, finances, and risks. This allows for the tendering and selection of architects and advisors for the design phase and provides room to consider several relevant points as discussed with all parties. In the follow-up phase, the environment and other stakeholders will be involved in further development. 

The planning aims for the city council to request a decision in the 3rd quarter of 2026 about renovating the theater and pop podium. The renovation will take about two years.