The Netherlands has many professional theatre groups, including traditional companies and smaller troupes who concentrate on new forms of theatre, often combining music, mime and new media techniques. Theatre company Dogtroep, for instance, regularly stages large-scale productions abroad.
Each year, the highlights of the Dutch and Flemish theatre season are performed at a drama festival in Amsterdam and in the Belgian city of Antwerp.
Musicals are tremendously popular in the Netherlands. Thousands have been to see productions of Cats, Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera, Miss Saigon, Elisabeth and Chicago. Original Dutch shows like Joe have also proved as popular.
