Diva La Bloemen Offers a Taste of Raucously Funny Dutch Humour

Top Comedian Comes to NZ to Perform the ‘Very Best’ of a 25 Year Stellar Career

The crème de la crème of Dutch artists seems to be heading our way – to give us a taste of top class European entertainment. First it was violinist André Rieu who came all the way from the Netherlands, to entertain us with all-time classical favourites. Now Karin Bloemen is set to make us laugh and cry, during a night of humorous uproar and sentimental moments.

Diva ‘La Bloemen’ is the top female comedian in the Netherlands, drawing huge audiences to sell-out performances both at home and abroad. She will stage a one-off show on Saturday 12 December, in the Bruce Mason Centre on Auckland’s North Shore.

Karin has acquired fame with her many performances at home and internationally. On her way to New Zealand, she will give shows in Singapore and Bangkok.

Last year, Dutch TV celebrated her brilliant 25 year career by giving her the coveted New Year’s Eve entertainment slot, which was an extraordinary success with millions glued to the TV set. Her all-time best acts from this event will feature in her hilarious Auckland show.

Karin will introduce the 150,000 or so people of Dutch descent in our country to the modern Dutch sense of humour. “I have performed for 1000’s and 1000’s Dutch people in other parts of the globe,” says Karin. “The one thing they always tell me is how raunchy things have become. What they don’t realise is that I leave out the really rude bits!”

Karin is known for her cheekiness and the outrageous characters she puts on stage, just like the Topp Twins in New Zealand. “It’s all a matter of getting things just right. Humour is a funny thing. As a comedian you’re always treading the fine line of what’s acceptable. You need to stomp around in that sensitive twilight zone where people are happy to laugh at themselves and others.”

La Bloemen has made it big in radio, TV, musicals, films and of course in her own theatre events. She sings, dances and leaves you in stitches, but she will also bring a sentimental tear to your eyes.

Listening and looking at Karin on her website (www.labloemen.nl) and her YouTube performances, you come to feel that she’s a diva in the grand old tradition of a Barbara Streisand, but laced with the edgy humour of the Top Twins. She brings huge crowds to complete silence with a touchy song, only to have them roaring with laughter a moment later.

La Bloemen knows about ‘life’ and has the exceptional talent to turn everyday scenes and ordinary people into glorious theatre. An evening with Karin leaves you with the sense that you’ve become a happier person, with a slightly wiser perspective on all those little things that seemed so important only a few hours earlier.

Karin Bloemen – Background
Karin has been honoured in The Netherlands for her contribution to the performing arts, in many different ways. In 1997, Karin received the most prestigious Dutch cultural prize, the ‘Annie M.G. Schmidt-Prijs’ for her song ‘Geen Kind Meer’ (‘No Longer a Child’).
La Bloemen is famous for her outrageous costumes crated by top designers, and had one made especially for a performance for Her Majesty, Queen Beatrix, for whom she sang her song ‘South Africa’. Afterwards the Queen’s husband, Prince Claus, asked her jokingly if he could have the dress for his wife, so impressed was he with her creation.

The Dutch Connection
Karin’s performance is organised by the ‘Dutch Connection’, an initiative to set up a Dutch Museum and Cultural Centre in Foxton, next to De Molen (a traditional 17th century replica windmill – over 30 metres high).

Karin will kindly donate a substantial part of the show’s revenues to the Dutch Connection, in support of the museum project.
The Auckland Netherlands Society ‘Oranje Club’ was instrumental in organising the show.

Bruce Mason Centre
The Bruce Mason Centre is popular top venue for the performing arts and is located in the heart of Takapuna Beach, on the corner of Hurstmere Rd and The Promenade.

Tickets through Ticketmaster
Contact TicketMaster on (09) 970 9700, or at www.ticketmaster.co.nz