Solo Stories

What Solo Stories does

Solo Stories is a Dutch theater production company founded in 2014 by Benno Hoogveld and Merel Ooms, operating under the nonprofit foundation Stichting Collected Works with ANBI (public benefit) status. The company produces intimate solo monologue performances based on personal, often true stories drawn from Dutch literature and documentaries, addressing societal themes including dementia, mental health, cancer, anorexia, sexual abuse, WWII history, and forced migration. Its catalog of 12 named productions spans 2016 through 2026 (LEEF!, PAAZ, Ma, Emma wil leven, Doet sneeuw pijn, VLUCHT with a film adaptation, In het licht, Nu ik je zie, Sonny Boy, 't Hooge Nest, and Pa), each staged in small and mid-sized Dutch theaters and at thematic locations such as Nationaal Monument Kamp Vught.

The business model is hybrid: ticket revenue is generated through individual Dutch theaters (bookings intermediated by Senf Theater), supplemented by project-based grants from Dutch cultural funds and government bodies including Fonds Podiumkunsten, Amsterdams Fonds voor de Kunst, Gemeente Amsterdam, vfonds, VSBfonds, and multiple private foundations. The go-to-market combines direct-to-consumer awareness through newsletters, podcasts, social media, and press reviews with co-marketing through a 40+ partner ecosystem of cultural funds, healthcare NGOs (Alzheimer Nederland, MantelzorgNL, MIND, 113, Stichting Vluchteling), and memorial sites that promote productions to their constituencies. Adjacent distribution channels include film screenings (VLUCHT - de film), online streaming via NPO Start (Doet sneeuw pijn), companion podcast series, and free educational materials for secondary schools introduced with 't Hooge Nest.

Name

Solo Stories

Legal name

Stichting Collected Works

Website

https://solostories.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Solo Stories is a Dutch nonprofit theater company that produces intimate monologue performances based on true stories and Dutch books, staged in small and mid-sized theaters across the Netherlands for adult audiences and secondary schools.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Haarlem

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Ticket sales: Revenue generated through theater ticket sales for performances played in Dutch theaters.
2. Public funding and grants: Solo Stories receives financial support from various cultural funds and government bodies including Fonds Podiumkunsten, Amsterdams Fonds voor de Kunst, Gemeente Amsterdam, and various private foundations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Solo Stories is a Dutch theater production company that creates and tours intimate solo monologue performances based on personal, true stories, predominantly adapted from Dutch books and documentaries. Each production focuses on a single societal theme (e.g., dementia, cancer, mental health, abuse, eating disorders, WWII history, refugee experiences) and is staged in small and medium-sized Dutch theaters, often with accompanying podcast episodes and free educational materials for secondary schools.

Product overview

Solo Stories is a Dutch theater company founded in 2014 that creates intimate solo performances based on personal, real-life stories — predominantly drawn from Dutch books and documentaries. The core offering consists of 12 named theater productions spanning 2016–2026, each a monologue exploring a pressing societal theme such as dementia, cancer, anorexia, abuse, war history, and forced migration. Productions are performed in small-to-medium-sized theaters and at specific locations. The company also produces a companion podcast series with behind-the-scenes content for each production, and develops supplementary educational materials and side programming. Solo Stories operates under Stichting Collected Works and holds ANBI (public benefit organization) status, facilitating tax-advantaged donations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• LEEF! Solo theater performance based on the book LEEF! by Laura Maaskant, about living with cancer and choosing quality of life. Premiered January–May 2016.
• PAAZ Solo comedy-drama based on the novel PAAZ by Myrthe van der Meer, exploring the psychiatric care system from a patient's perspective. Played January–April 2017 across 65+ Dutch theaters.
• Ma Solo performance based on Hugo Borst's book about his mother's Alzheimer's disease and the role reversal between caregiver and care recipient. Played January–December 2018 across multiple Dutch theaters.
• Emma wil leven Solo performance based on Jessica Villerius's documentary about Emma's battle with anorexia, continuing her message after the documentary. Played January–May 2019.
• Doet sneeuw pijn Tragicomic solo monologue about a woman processing the death of her husband while navigating motherhood, based on journalist Carolien Spaans's autobiographical book. Played January 2019–December 2020; also streamed via NPO Start.
• VLUCHT Monologue written and performed by Eric Corton about a teacher whose life unravels under growing oppression, culminating in the decision to flee. Presented as a reading on a vacant lot in Amsterdam Sloterdijk in July 2021.
• VLUCHT - de film Film registration of the VLUCHT stage performance, shot in summer 2022 to make the story accessible to a wider audience. Screened at various venues across the Netherlands.
• In het licht Solo monologue about abuse based on Karin Bloemen's autobiographical book 'Mijn ware verhaal', performed by Lisse Knaapen with original music by Ellen ten Damme. Played February–June 2022.
• Nu ik je zie Solo performance based on Merlijn Kamerling's book about his search for his father Antonie Kamerling, ten years after his father's death. Played January–June 2023, performed by Soy Kroon.
• Sonny Boy Monologue based on Annejet van der Zijl's international bestseller about the son of Rika and Waldemar Nods, exploring themes of racism, war, and self-discovery. Played January–June 2024, performed by Tarikh Janssen.
• 't Hooge Nest Solo performance based on Roxane van Iperen's bestselling book about a WWII hiding place for Jews in Naarden. Played January–June 2025, performed by Fockeline Ouwerkerk. Includes a companion podcast and free educational materials for secondary schools.
• Pa Solo musical performance by Eric Corton about a father with dementia on a tour through his own reality, marking Solo Stories's 10-year anniversary. Scheduled January–June 2026.
• Solo Stories Podcast Podcast series accompanying the theater productions, featuring backstage stories, interviews with people encountered during research, and insights from the creative process. Produced by Dide Vonk, Dook van Dijck, and Annemiek Lely. Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.

Quantifiable outcome

• 750,000+ books sold for Sonny Boy alone
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Senf TheatercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPrimary booking partner for Solo Stories productions in Dutch theaters. Contact: Huub van den Heuvel, 010-5923155.
• Alzheimer NederlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration partner for Ma and Pa productions about dementia. Co-developed photo contest and awareness activities.
• MantelzorgNLcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Ma and Pa productions addressing caregiver experiences. Collaborated on photo contest and awareness activities.
• Stichting VluchtelingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for VLUCHT production about refugee experiences. Organized pop-up exhibition including work of Dr. Denis Mukwege.
• Samen Sterk zonder StigmacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for PAAZ production about mental health. Arranged experiential experts to share stories before performances.
• 113minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMental health organization partner for PAAZ and Nu ik je zie productions.
• MINDminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMental health foundation partner for PAAZ production.
• AstareminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for PAAZ production, along with Museum van de Geest.
• Museum van de GeestminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for PAAZ production about psychiatric experiences.
• Nationaal Monument Kamp VughtminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational monument partner for Sonny Boy performances held at the memorial site.
• UPtown SloterdijkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocation partner for VLUCHT outdoor performance at braakliggend terrein in Amsterdam Sloterdijk.
• Urban ResortminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocation partner for VLUCHT performance in Amsterdam Sloterdijk.
• Stichting KiemminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Emma wil leven production about eating disorders.
• Kracht van BelevingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Emma wil leven production about eating disorders.
• Wij zijn MminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for In het licht production about sexual abuse, providing expert lectures.
• Impact EntertainmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEntertainment partner supporting Solo Stories productions.
• Shared StoriesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerShared Stories platform partner.
• Together We RiseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization partner for In het licht production.
• Damn HoneyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization supporting Solo Stories.
• The Franker MessageminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization supporting Solo Stories.
• Moyee CoffeeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoffee company supporting VLUCHT production.
• #ikbenopenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMental health awareness campaign partner.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Toneelgroep Oostpool: Dutch repertory theater company based in Arnhem producing contemporary drama with societal themes, supported by Dutch public cultural funds. Comparable as a publicly funded Dutch producer, though larger in ensemble scope than Solo Stories.
• Het Nationale Theater: Dutch theater company operating across The Hague and touring nationally, producing both classics and contemporary Dutch work. Comparable as a Dutch producing theater institution, though it covers ensemble drama rather than solo monologue adaptations.
• ITA (International Theatre Amsterdam): Largest subsidized repertory theater company in the Netherlands, producing a wide slate of drama in Amsterdam. Comparable as a major Dutch theater producer, though far broader in scale and scope than Solo Stories' monologue focus.
• De Toneelmakerij: Amsterdam-based theater company producing socially relevant drama for young and adult audiences, subsidized by Dutch public funds. Comparable as a publicly funded Dutch theater producer with thematic programming, though focused on ensemble rather than solo work.
• Theater Rotterdam: Rotterdam-based theater company producing contemporary and socially engaged Dutch drama. Comparable as a Dutch publicly funded theater producer with comparable thematic positioning around societal issues.

Emerging players

• De Warme Winkel: Amsterdam-based independent theater collective producing experimental literary adaptations and contemporary drama, often with small casts and touring Dutch venues. Comparable as a smaller Dutch independent producer working with literary and contemporary source material.
• Studio Boerenzoon: Dutch independent theater company producing contemporary performance and literary adaptations, touring small-to-medium venues in the Netherlands. Comparable in scale and production style as a small Dutch independent producer.

Regional players

• Tryater: Frisian-language theater company based in Leeuwarden producing drama, youth productions, and adaptations for regional Dutch audiences. Comparable as a publicly funded Dutch theater producer, though operating primarily in a regional language market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/solostoriesnl
• Facebookfacebook.com/solostories
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/solo-stories

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Solo Stories