The New Luxor Theatre by Jaco Verheul

About "The New Luxor Theatre"

by Jaco Verheul

About the artwork

The municipality of Rotterdam launched a design competition for the construction of the new Luxor Theatre on Wilhelminapier at Kop van Zuid. In April of 1996, architect Peter Wilson was declared the winner. The Australian-born architect, described his design as "sleek, beautiful and elegant". The combination of sober and warm appealed greatly to the jury. In September 1998, the first pile went into the ground, dressed theatrically by Hans Kombrink (then alderman for the arts) and Freek de Jonge; the starting signal for the building process. In September 2000, the highest point was reached. The very first performance, a concert by Mathilde Santing, took place on 25 February 2001. On 24 April, Youp van 't Hek presented the first copy of a book about the New Luxor Theatre, written by Haagsche Courant journalist Frans Happel. Saturday 28 April saw the official opening, with the premiere performance of City by the cabaret duo Mini & Maxi. This was also attended by (then) Queen Beatrix. With this, Rotterdam gained a large amusement theatre (with over 1,500 seats). The new theatre often hosts longer series of performances of large-scale productions in the genres musical & musical theatre, show & variety, cabaret, theatre concerts, youth & family, opera and dance. Apart from its striking architecture, the building also has special lettering in and on the building. A typeface was designed especially for Luxor Theater