How wonderful must it be for the actors and actresses to play "in a fairy tale at a castle" every day? "As a child I didn't visit castles or palaces, but of course I fantasized about what it would be like to live in a castle with all the princes, princesses, ladies-in-waiting and knights. I often thought about that when I visited Kasteel de Haar later in life, but also palaces like Het Loo in Apeldoorn, Louis XIV's palace in Versailles, Charlottenburg in Berlin and Sanssouci in Potsdam." says Amsterdam-based singer and actor Sander Volders. Together with actors Ayal Oost, Sara van der Wal and Roos van Breukelen, he will play one of the leading roles during "Fairy Tales of De Haar" during the Christmas vacations.

"Children experience everything as if it were really happening..."

From an early age, he knew he wanted to do something with music and theater later on. He went after his dream and followed the professional training 'music theater' at the Fontys Hogeschool voor de Kunsten. His first major role was Prince of Raponsel in the musical theater production "Into the woods," a musical with lyrics and music by Stephen Sondheim and a script by James Lapine. This award-winning musical intertwines storylines and characters from several well-known Grimm Brothers fairy tales, including Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, Jack and the Beanstalk and Cinderella. In the upcoming Christmas vacations, fairy tales are again the focus for Sander. This time the fairy tale of Hansel & Gretel, also written by the Brothers Grimm. "As a child, I have fond memories of the fairy tale of 'The Indian Water Lilies.' It is so beautifully depicted at the Efteling, but it is also a mysterious fairy tale about stars who dance on a large lake at night, when the moon is full, together with the moon goddess. Because they did not obey and continued dancing, when they already had to go back to heaven, the witch turned them into water lilies. What is very imaginative about this is that this fairy tale was written by a real queen, Queen Fabiola of Belgium. So you can say that I have a thing for exciting and mysterious fairy tales. To play it for children makes it extra exciting. Children are always very honest. They experience everything as if it is really happening and are therefore very much alive. If they no longer find the story interesting, they soon stop paying attention to it. That makes it challenging."

"Because of a hat or a jacket, you are a new character in one fell swoop."

The author of "Fairy Tales of the Hair" wants the show to appeal primarily to the children's own imagination. So no huge sets, costumes or grand lighting. The actors play different roles and the story is also adapted. "In the show 'Allo Allo,' I also played multiple characters. Just by changing a hat or a jacket, you were a new character for the audience in one fell swoop. That's incredibly fun to do. So for "Fairy Tales of the Hair," I'm not going to prepare for that very much. I go into rehearsals open-minded and let myself be surprised by what happens to tell a story with minimal resources." Traditionally, fairy tales also often have a message. Sander says there is also a message hidden in the story of Hansel & Gretel. "The adventure of Hansel & Gretel makes it clear that you shouldn't trust just anyone, even if they seem so nice."

Adventure, humor and familiar sing-along songs

What is that 'Hansel & Gretel' will be primarily a comic show with adventure, humor and familiar sing-along songs. 'Fairytales of The Hair' plays from December 25 (Christmas Day) through Sunday, January 6. Ticket sales have now started at: www.kasteeldehaar.nl. A limited number of tickets are also available for the special evening openings on Dec. 27, 28, 29 and 30. For those who cannot wait until the Christmas vacations, follow all developments of not only the actors, but of course "Hansel & Gretel" online over the next few weeks via Facebook and Instagram.