Be warmed by the fire of writers, dancers and musical artists! Writers Unlimited presented Playing with Fire in Amare Den Haag, a show full of literature, music and dance in which words, rhythm, melody and movement meet.

For thirty years, Writers Unlimited offered a stage to passionate and groundbreaking writers, poets, thinkers, musicians and other performers from the Netherlands and abroad during the International Literature Festival The Hague in January.

In honour of this anniversary, visitors enjoyed a unique line-up of artists and writers this wintery Sunday afternoon in the beautiful Danstheater auditorium of Amare Den Haag (a five-minute walk from The Hague Central Station).

Writers Unlimited asked well-known artists and authors to perform work in which fire in all its (concrete and abstract) guises - as the germ of artistry and source of inspiration, as a terrifying phenomenon or scorching love, as a symbol of revolution and struggle - takes centre stage.

And so, during Playing with Fire you saw, heard and experienced existing and new material by a host of artists such as Spinvis (Erik de Jong) and cellist and singer Saartje Van Camp, and a performance by forty-five young dancers from the Royal Conservatoire Dance in Festina Lente by choreographer Tessa Cooke.

Writer and theatre-maker Joost Oomen recited on the committed Spanish poet Federico García Lorca, on being an artist in turbulent times and on ‘duende’ - a term from flamenco, one of the most passionate, fiery dance forms there is, of which you saw a beautiful sample by the Claudia Karapanou Flamenco Trio (i.c.w. Flamenco Biënnale Nederland). The trio was formed by Claudia Karapanou (dance), Lucas Arango (guitar) and Erminia Fernández Córdoba (vocals).

Dutch pop artist and Queen of Soul Shirma Rouse performed warming songs from her repertoire and alternative R&B singer-songwriter XILLAN, singing and playing the piano, told something about the fire under his yet-to-be-published novel. Poet Laureate of The Netherlands Babs Gons, spoken word artist Zaïre Krieger and Aruban artist, poet and performer Rosabelle Illes recited texts written especially for this show about what playing with fire means to them.

The programme was closed by Pulse conducted by Eli Wing, a percussion formation that did not leave anyone sitting still. Pulse members were Mees Siderius (surdos and other percussion instruments), Remco Menting (cowbell and other percussion instruments), Ruben de Ruiter (conga's) and Mark Ooman (shakers). Writer Abdelkader Benali guided you through the show and introduced the artists.

Festival motto: On Fire
The 30th festival edition's motto was On Fire. "Fire represents love, desire and passion, but also burning issues such as war, migration and climate," says Judith Uyterlinde, director of Writers Unlimited. "Fire is the source of inspiration for talks and readings on issues including freedom of expression, war and remembrance, gender and eroticism, and a host of other issues that ignite writers, poets and audiences."

Festival tip: for the full festival experience, you joined us for the grand festival events Friday Night Unlimited (24 January) and Saturday Night Unlimited (25 January)! Both nights you chose your own route along some 20 performances, readings and conversations on five stages in Theater aan het Spui and Filmhuis Den Haag. English and Dutch spoken.


From 23 to 26 January 2025, Writers Unlimited International Literature Festival The Hague was to be found in theatres, libraries and schools throughout the city: from Theater aan het Spui, Filmhuis Den Haag, Amare and Paard to Theater Dakota, Theater De Vaillant, the Nieuw Waldeck, Schilderswijk and Ypenburg libraries and De Haagse Hogeschool. With over 120 writers, poets and spoken-word artists and musicians from the Netherlands and abroad. With readings, prose, poetry, storytelling, spoken word, author interviews, topical talks, films and music.


Playing with Fire was curated for Writers Unlimited Festival 2025 by Jet Steinz and was realised in cooperation with Amare, with contributions from the City of The Hague and the Dutch Foundation for Literature.

With thanks to Royal Conservatoire Dance and Flamenco Biënnale Netherlands.