THE DELFT, NETHERLANDS.- The Delft, The Netherlands-based cepezed architects have developed plans for a large temporary theatre on the Malieveld in The Hague, a large strech of lawn measuring over 10 hectare and positioned right along the entrance of the city. The Hague strives to be European Capital of Culture in 2018. The theatre should function as an important eyecatcher and crowdpuller during this year.

The plans have been assigned by the offices of The Hague Capital of Culture 2018. Last Wednesday, this institution presented its report Entitled to Culture! , in which it published its apparoach to obtain the much desired title. cepezeds theatre fulfills an important role in this approach and is one of the most remarkable proposals. The theatre has been designed as a contemporary version of the Colosseum in Rome, the best-known example of a Flavian amphitheatre, and should be able to accommodate some 5.000 people. The construction is erected out of steel scaffolding. On the outside, it is covered with a stretched reproduction of famous artist M.C. Escher’s Metamorfosis. Inside, concerts, performances, exhibitions and fairs can take place. On International Day of Peace, singer Bono of Irish pop group U2 should be onstage.

The report considers the race to be Capital of Culture 2018 as an approriate opportunity to highten and intensify the cultural participation of the Hague’s population. The city, also the royal seat, has a lot of competition though, amongst others of municipalities like Almere, Utrecht and Maastricht. A final decision on which town will be European Capital of Culture 2018 will not be taken until 2013.