"It usually starts with a small idea that keeps simmering in my head for weeks. Not always conducive to sleep, because usually such 'creative chaos in my head' occurs at times when most people have already gone to bed. I then imagine the main characters; who are they, what kind of character do they have, what do they do and what is his or her issue. Because, that they all have "an issue," there is no question. Once the beginning scene is worked out on paper, the adventures of the other characters automatically follow. In the early years, I was mostly inspired by the old stories of the baron and his family and their imaginative jet-set friends. About how the family lived in the castle in those years, about what they experienced. I imagined real-life stories, but with fictional castle residents. For me, it was important that a visitor should imagine himself for a few hours as if he were actually inhabiting a castle. The different narratives in the rooms together formed one continuous fairy tale story, as if a movie was passing by. In fact, visitors hopped from one scene to the next. Storylines from well-known fairy tales were interwoven with realistic elements from the daily lives of the castle residents. For example, the baroness wanted to cancel the big Christmas party because she had been unable to sleep for nights because of a pea under her mattress. Or a chambermaid had pricked herself on a spinning wheel, causing the entire household to fall asleep. Repelsteeltje also tried to spin a golden wig for a bald court lady. The most fun was to see how the young visitors in particular reacted to all those fairy tale characters. They secretly whispered the ending of a scene in their parents' ears, as they immediately recognized the fairy tale characters and stories. Parents could be seen enjoying themselves, their imagination and curiosity were stimulated because during such a tour they felt as if they were visiting the castle inhabitants."

"Two weeks out of the year a big fairy family."

In the early years, visitors were shown around the castle in groups. And guiding all those groups through the castle was a huge logistical organization. "It was a 'coordinated mega chair dance' every year. Every ten minutes, groups rotated from room to room. Truly grueling, because with renewed energy, the actors had to replay their scene each time as if for the first time. There was no time to recover or for a quick visit to the toilet. And if an actor unexpectedly fell ill or was just going through it, I would put on the costume myself. There was no time to find a replacement and well, the show must go on. Apart from the necessity, playing along was also very enlightening. You discover the challenges the actors face. It is anything but easy to get a story across from beginning to end in a very short time. You experience everything. Children who enthusiastically tell you entire stories, crying babies or parents who take their time to take a closer look at the room during your scene. Meanwhile you have to keep a sharp eye on time, because before you know it the guide of the next group knocks on the door. Together with the actors you live like a big fairy-tale family at the castle two weeks a year. Starting the day together with coffee, yammering about the stories from the rooms, eating together and interacting with all the castle volunteers. And when, at the end of the day, all the visitors have long since left for home, we all walk together through the silent, dark forest to the cars. Only then do you really realize that creating and playing performances together at such a unique location is a unique experience."

"Apethetic and bloody nervous at the same time."

For a year now, visitors are no longer guided but have the opportunity to walk freely through the castle. Instead of scenes in the various rooms, the formula of "the Fairy Tales" has been adapted: a treasure hunt topped off with a dazzling castle show. "In the tradition of the famous pantomimes (pantos for short) from England, we have devised a show formula in which the fairy-tale characters not only make fun of their own story but also of current events. A rounded story with a large dose of humor, unexpected role changes and fun sing-along songs. A logical choice, since we mostly work with actors working in the musical theater genre." Rehearsals start in early December, which traditionally conclude with a private preview to which all volunteers and employees of the castle are invited. "That moment never gets used. It's exciting every time. As an inventor, writer and creator, I feel like a mother whose child is going to take a swimming exam: extremely proud and nervous at the same time. Such a performance is a bit like your child. How is my child doing? Does what I have thought up work? And how does the audience react?" In the last days before the first day of the show, the final touches are put on the 'i'. "At the time when most families are probably enjoying a nice Christmas breakfast, we start preparations. With a cup of coffee in hand, the songs are sung, the actors change clothes and the wait for the first group begins. Slowly you can hear the excited children's voices swelling from outside. With red faces, they enter our temporary "fairy tale theater" dressed as knights, princesses, pirates or dragons. Once everyone has found their seats, the show begins. Out of sight, I watch tensely. You can hear the spectators reacting, laughing, singing along, Happy! They are absorbed in the story being played literally at nose length from them. And when I go home at the end of the first day of play, I plop down on the couch dead tired. For me, no cobbled-together four-course Christmas dinner, but a very fine aftertaste of the finest dish I can imagine; happy children and parents. Surely it is special that hundreds of families choose to come to our fairy tale during Christmas. No doubt they talk about that during Christmas dinner and the days after. That we get to bring that bit of fun, coziness and merriment with "The Fairy Tales of the Hair" is the best Christmas gift I can imagine as a writer and creator. Meanwhile, my head is also running at full speed and I am already working on the next fairy tales."About Martijn EkMartijn Ek is co-owner of Made in Mind and has been writing the script for 'De Sprookjes van de Haar' for years. He not only invents the story, but together with colleague Marcella Heukels is also responsible for all preparatory work. From casting the actors, rehearsals, choosing the songs to arranging the costumes. Together they also produce musical theater performances, family shows and concert programs for a variety of clients.