Experience with Groeispurt: Thom Gerrits - These Are the Real Ones

Thom Gerrits is a comedian and writer, known for his witty stories, musings, songs, and rap. He first took the stage at the age of fifteen during his high school’s revue night. Thom is now working hard to realize his dream of developing himself as a performer and creator.

In 2023, Thom received the Groeispurt award for his show “Dit zijn de echte,” which premiered on February 28, 2024, at LUX Nijmegen and subsequently went on tour throughout the country. The show explores the question of whether happiness can be engineered. In it, Thom follows a young man who claims to have his life perfectly under control but slowly begins to unravel—a theme that many people, including Thom himself, can relate to.

Thanks to the grant from Groeispurt , Thom Groeispurt stage his performance on a larger scale. This gave him the opportunity to push his boundaries and challenge himself as a creator. Thom emphasizes that the program not only provided him with financial support but also helped him refine his idea. His advice to future applicants is therefore simple and clear: “Writing your project proposal is a fun challenge that helps you better understand your own idea, so the hours you put into it are definitely worth it!”

The play “Dit zijn de echte” ran through the summer of 2024 at various theaters. For the current performance schedule, visit Thom Gerrits’ website: thomgerrits.nl/speellijst.

About Groeispurt

Groeispurt is a Nijmegen grant program for young creators, artists, and performers. The program encourages new ideas and initiatives and gives young talent an extra boost, without unnecessary restrictions or obligations. It is a flexible and fast way to provide support, encouraging new developments and helping art and culture in Nijmegen continue to flourish.