With videoComedian Richard Groenendijk (50) received a special award from theater celebrity André van Duin on Friday evening. He unexpectedly walked on stage at the end of his performance in Carré Amsterdam. Groenendijk was deeply moved: ‘I have known very different times.’
Richard is known to not like surprises, but he could take it from his beloved colleague. Van Duin spoke at length about the success of Richard’s current performance Better for everyone, with which he already won a Poelifinario last year, the most important cabaret prize. The song I hope so from the show, written by Jan Beuving, was nominated for the Annie MG Schmidt Prize.
Groenendijk also performed his performance in a sold-out Carré for the third time on Friday. There were all kinds of celebrities in the room, something about which Van Duin had to make a joke. ,,Okay, many invitees, but it’s nice and full”, he said. You would think that Richard is lauded enough with these recognitions, says André. But industry association VVTP (Association of Free Theater Producers) adds another feather.
André van Duin would have loved to present him with the Golden Ticket Award for 25,000 tickets sold, he said. Or the Diamanten Ticket Award, for 50,000 tickets. But he had to disappoint Richard, because he was not eligible for those prizes. Fortunately, there is an “encouragement award” he does deserve, he joked. Richard received the Diamanten Ticket Award for 150,000 tickets sold. That is more than 85 times a full Carré.
Little boy with no self-esteem
,,I’m really upset,” said Richard. “It is also a good sign, because people did not dare to go to the theater that often after corona.” It is extra special that André presented the award. “As a child, I used to watch André very often. As a young boy, with not much self-esteem.”
One thing he knew: he wanted to do such work. “If I get this from you now, that is very special. Even if you had given me one and a half kilos of half-and-half ground beef. For me, this is a circle-round story. I am deeply moved.”
Groenendijk has been one of the most successful comedians in the Netherlands for years, but there were also days when his shows were canceled because too few tickets were sold. He was at it long before his big national breakthrough. “I’ve also known very different times,” he refers to on Instagram. ‘Then this is something to be proud of.’
Claudia glows
Colleagues are happy for Richard. ‘A zillion years ago we came third and fourth respectively at the Amsterdams Kleinkunst Festival and now Richard, with a diamond award from André van Duin, stands in front of a zillion sold tickets in a packed Carré’, wrote Claudia de Breij. “Behind his proud parents, I was also glowing.”
Well-known friends such as Carlo Boszhard and Paul de Leeuw also respond, as does Irene Moors. ‘Great Richard. Very honourable, but also very justified’, she writes. ‘Incredibly good!’ adds Soundos El Ahmadi. “You worked hard for it.”
Watch André van Duin’s entire speech:
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