August – The Passion – when everything comes together, magic happens!

For the past four months, I have participated as a singer in The Passion Play in Tegelen, close to Venlo. This followed an intensive year of preparation and weekly rehearsals. It is a production with religious roots that has been staged every five years for nearly a century.

This year’s theme can be summed up in three words: Faith, Hope and Love. These are universal values that seem more important today than ever before.

It is a production where humor, self-deprecation and reflection go hand in hand, a mirror held up to each of us. How do I hold my own in this rapidly changing world where everyone wants something from you, and I pursue my own passion?

A look behind the scene

A cast and crew of over 300 people, young and old, both on stage and behind the scenes, treat the audience to an inspiring, moving and hopeful spectacle. We get to shine for thirty performances, often in sweltering summer heat.

Bringing the Passion story to life together has a profound effect on the entire crew, who have been working on this project for about two years.

It unites all the volunteers, forging them into a group with a single goal: to stage the best Passion Play ever.

It is a true team effort involving everyone: the actors, the choir, the extras, the technical crew, the costume department, the production team, catering, set builders, front-of-house staff and administration. They are all amateurs who earn not a penny from this, save for the intangible rewards.

The result after every performance is nothing short of magical: the energy released and the satisfaction of seeing an audience deeply moved and touched. It is the greatest reward imaginable, giving us performers goosebumps time and again. What a fantastic experience!

We share both the joys and the hardships. We support one another when a fellow performer is forced to drop out due to health issues. While it is sad for everyone involved, it is beautiful to see how we offer each other support and encouragement, making the act of stepping down a little easier to bear.

Teamwork – be prepared for the unexpected

It is also impressive to witness the heat protocol being put into action. During a performance, an unscheduled break is called due to a sudden health issue. We discussed this thoroughly beforehand.

All 170 performers leave the stage in an orderly fashion and the audience is informed. Everyone remains calm; you can feel the sense of solidarity and the almost magical atmosphere backstage as we wait to see what happens next.

Everyone is concerned and we support one another by talking about the situation. To our great relief we are able to return to the stage after about ten minutes. The audience welcomes us back with thunderous applause. For a brief moment we are united as one, and then the performance resumes, professional and filled with even greater passion.

The emotional release that occurs every time it ends. Players falling into each other’s arms, the cry of “It is finished”, everyone shares in the moment; no one holds back or is left out. This is inclusivity with a capital “I”.

The final performance is drawing near. Everywhere you look people are exchanging contact details. By the end of August, after the final show, this spectacle will be over. New friendships have been forged, new connections made.

I am experiencing this for the first time in my life and I fear that I too have been permanently infected by the “Passion Play virus.” One of the highlights of 2026 for me!

“It is finished”

Teamwork – only together do we achieve our goal

In my professional life at Noblahblah too, I experience the magic that happens when people collaborate effectively and stand united behind a single goal. Building, creating and succeeding together that generates tremendous energy and brings out the best in people.

Yet getting everyone aligned isn’t exactly easy. Why is it so challenging?

• Everyone brings their own unique talents, shortcomings and perspective; getting all those different personalities on the same page is no small feat.
• Individual roles and responsibilities lack clarity.
• People have different communication styles: some prefer immediate responses while others are more reserved; some see the big picture while others focus on the details.

That is precisely what I do: bringing groups together and getting them excited. I ensure that individual members look out for and respect one another. I foster the confidence that every member is actively contributing to the shared goal.

Easier said than done. Yet every time, whether it’s a startup, a non-profit, or a department within a multinational, the reward and the boost participants feel after achieving their goal together is magnificent.

Yes it requires dedication, patience and perseverance, but the final result makes it all worthwhile.

And do not forget: with Faith, Hope and Love every goal can be achieved.

If you are looking for a coach or trainer to help take your organization where you want it to go, let’s grab a coffee!

I look forward to hearing from you.