The Annie M.G. Schmidt Award for the best theatrical song of 2008 was presented to Dorine Wiersma for Stoute Heleen on Sunday 19 April in Theater Bellevue in Amsterdam. The award was presented by the Director-General for Culture and Media, Judith van Kranendonk, deputising for Ronald Plasterk, the Minister of Education, Culture and Science.
The Annie M. G. Schmidt Award, which is an initiative by Buma Cultuur and the Amsterdams Kleinkunst Festival, was instituted to give recognition to the best song from the previous year in Dutch theatre. The award, comprising € 3500 and a bronze bust of Annie M.G. Schmidt, is sponsored by Buma Cultuur. This year's jury consisted of Nico Knapper (chairman), Martine Bijl, Marnix Kappers, Robert Jan Stips and Rinske Wels. They declared Stoute Heleen, by lyricist, composer and performer Dorine Wiersma, to be the best theatrical song of 2008.
Presentation party
The afternoon at Theater Bellevue was hosted by television and radio presenter Hans van Willigenburg. Rob van de Meeberg, Martin van Dijk, Theun Plantinga and Victor Mentink performed several songs from the show Meneer Dinges, about two pre-War Dutch singers called Johnny and Jones (part of the Amsterdams Kleinkunst Festival). After the awarded was presented by Judith van Kranendonk, Dorine Wiersma sang her winning song, Stoute Heleen.
Previous winners
Dorine Wiersma can now take her place on an impressive list. The Annie M. G. Schmidt Award was previously received by:
2007 - Wende Snijders for De wereld beweegt
2006 - Daniël Lohues for Annelie
2005 - Jeroen van Merwijk for Dat vinden jongens leuk
2004 - Freek de Jonge and Robert Jan Stips for Vergeet mij niet
2003 - Lenette van Dongen and Erik de Jong (Spinvis) for Voor ik vergeet
2002 - Jeroen Zijlstra for Durgerdam slaapt
2001 - Erik van Muiswinkel and Diederik van Vleuten for Tibetlied
2000 - Maarten van Roozendaal for Red mij niet
1999 - Alex Roeka for Noem 't geen liefde
1998 - Kees Torn for Streepjescode
1997 - Jurrian van Dongen, Martin van Dijk, Jenny Arean and Lucretia van der Vloot for Halleluja, Amen
1996 - Jan Boerstoel, Marnix Busstra and Karin Bloemen for Geen kind meer
1995 - Theo Nijland and The Shooting Part for Kaal
1994 - Bram Vermeulen for Een doodgewone jongen
1992 - Jan Boerstoel, Martin van Dijk and Jenny Arean for Iemand moet het doen
1991 - Harrie Jekkers and Koos Meinderts for Terug bij af