Toonbeeld Thorn – Living Statues Festival
Toonbeeld Thorn – Living Statues Festival
During Toonbeeld Thorn, you walk through the historic centre of Thorn on Whit Sunday, 24 May. The White Town turns into an open-air stage for living statues. Drop a coin in the bowl and watch a statue slowly come to life. That is exactly what the name Toonbeeld Thorn suggests: Thorn becomes the setting for living art.
The White Town as a stage
Living statues have been part of Thorn for sixteen years. Between the white façades, narrow streets and open squares, the participants stand ready like statues in a living setting. You might see a woman with an easel, surrounded by the crowd. A little further on, a colourful statue stands in front of the church. You walk from act to act and see how stillness, facial expression and small movements come together to tell a story.
Open Limburg Championship
Toonbeeld Thorn is also the Open Limburg Championship for living statues. That is why the participants do everything they can to surprise the audience. They work with costumes, posture and timing, and wait for exactly the right moment to come to life. This makes every encounter different: sometimes funny, sometimes quiet and sometimes very theatrical.
Walk, watch and stay a little longer
During Toonbeeld Thorn, the shops and terraces in Thorn stay open as usual. So you can take your time walking through the centre, sit down on a terrace along the way and then continue along the route. Coming by bike? You can park it safely at several guarded bicycle parking areas along the route, organised by local associations. For a small contribution, your bike is looked after while you discover Thorn step by step as a living setting.