A life full of wonder. A legacy that endures.
Han Rutten visits our theatres around forty times a year. He acted himself, stood on stage and, upon his retirement, put on his own physics show. Theatre became his life. Last year, he made a special decision: he included the PLT Culture Fund in his will.
"There, in that dark auditorium, a love was born that would never fade"
Han remembers his first visit to the theatre very well. The play was called Spring Awakening, performed by a Flemish company, sometime in 1990. “I don’t remember the details, but the story touched me and stayed with me.”
As a child, Han never went to the theatre. It wasn’t part of his upbringing. But after his studies, when he became a physics teacher, he found his way there. He lived in the centre of Heerlen, a stone’s throw from the theatre. That building soon became his second home.
His love of theatre grew. Han acted himself with Speelgroep Expressie, performed monologues and formed a cabaret duo with a former colleague. When he retired, he opted not for a reception, but for a physics show, in which he played a professor whose experiments all failed.
Theatre as wonder
"For me, theatre is about wonder. The joy of trying, of learning, of never stopping the search." That sense of wonder has driven Han his whole life. As a spectator. As a performer. As someone who walks into the auditorium time and again and allows himself to be surprised.
And now he wants to pass on that sense of wonder. To young creators who are just starting out. Who have yet to discover what theatre can do for you.
That is why Han has included the PLT Culture Fund in his will. "This way, I can give young talent the chance to develop in the theatre that has given me so much." A decision he made with conviction, and without hesitation.
His love lives on
Today, on National Heritage Day, we are sharing Han’s story. Not because we have to, but because it inspires. Because what Han does is special. He looks ahead. To the creators of tomorrow.
His love for theatre never ends. It lives on.
Are you also considering including PLT in your will? It doesn’t have to be a large sum. Every bequest, large or small, gives young talent the chance to grow. Please feel free to contact Philip van Ballegooie. He’ll be happy to tell you more about it. Contact Philip van Ballegooie at p.van.ballegooie@plt.nl or 045-5768558.