I have two homes.
AMAI.
Above one of my houses live two dinos,
they have been adopted.
Next to my other house live three grannies,
there’s a lot of phoning going on.
The Cranes live in between,
a brand-new patchwork family.
SPECIAAL.
The people in my city make wonderful families
with always one plate of food too many,
a shoulder to cry on to spare
and a pancake ritual!
CHAPEAU!

‘AMAI SPECIAAL CHAPEAU’ starts from a simple but powerful idea: families come in all shapes and sizes.
It is an ode to everything that is ‘different’.

Karlien Torfs and Nikolas Lestaeghe make a performance rooted in their own lives, lives in which they, as good friends, are raising a daughter together. It grew out of the many questions people ask about their family set-up, and out of their wish to question what is ‘normal’. In a world where the house-garden-kid family is becoming the norm again, they look for ways to shape their own lives in a reality that does not fit that model. They make AMAI SPECIAAL CHAPEAU for their daughter, who will be three years old at the time of the premiere, and for all other three-year-olds.

The professional jury of Het TheaterFestival 2026 on AMAI SPECIAAL CHAPEAU:
“The jury finds it unprecedented how the makers manage to break through the traditional norms surrounding family structures for a very young audience. In doing so, they make full use of the freedom and power of theatre – that unique place where almost anything is possible, even pancakes falling from the sky. (...) AMAI SPECIAAL CHAPEAU carries an important message but is never preachy: above all it is a colourful feast for the eyes, whatever your age. The admirable craftsmanship of puppet theatre company DE MAAN deserves a special mention. The jury wholeheartedly echoes the makers: amai, speciaal, chapeau!”

“Thoughtful simplicity without simplism or essentialism: that is what makes theatre for toddlers special. This performance by De Maan and 4hoog has it all.”
source: Pzazz – Wouter Hillaert

Credits

concept and performance: Karlien Torfs and Nikolas Lestaeghe
music composition: Leen Diependaele and Bart Van Lierde
puppets: Paul Contryn and Katinka Heremans
final direction: Simon D'Huyvetter
set design: Paul Contryn, Nikolas Lestaeghe and Karlien Torfs
set construction: Stéphane Vloebergh
lighting design and technics: Aaron Bruyninckx
workshop & set assistance: Dina Amghar, Dominique Defossez, Fie Gillis, Nikolas Lestaeghe, Marta Pereira, Gaëlle Pierre, Jane Popova Yevheniia Andriivna, Karlien Torfs
production management: Noor de Graaf
production: DE MAAN & 4Hoog
co-production: Perpodium, with the support of the Tax Shelter of the Belgian Federal Government and BESIDE