故事发生在二十世纪初期的荷兰鹿特丹，德高望重的德莱文哈文（简·德克莱尔 Jan Decleir 饰）死于非命，一位名叫雅各布（费德贾·范·胡艾特 Fedja van Huêt 饰）的年轻律师遭到了逮捕，尽管证据确凿，但雅各布依然坚称自己的清白无辜，让大家感到惊讶的是，经过调查，德莱文哈文和雅各布看似毫无瓜葛，但却是血脉相连的父子。
原来，雅各布是德莱文哈文的私生子，当年，冷酷无情的德莱文哈文抛弃了身怀六甲的约芭（Betty Schuurman 饰），后者正是雅各布的生母。长大后的雅各布诸事不顺，面临着破产的命运，之后，雅各布立志成为一名律师，但却处处受阻，而这一切的始作俑者不是别人，正是他的亲生父亲。

Where do you find hope in an upside-down world? The Seasons is a theatrical marathon based on Ali Smith’s novels Autumn, Winter, Spring and Summer. In her vibrant seasonal quartet, the Scottish author interweaves societal changes with intimate personal stories. Director Eric de Vroedt will bring her poetic language to life in a seven-hour theatrical experience at ITA.


In the run-up to the Holland Festival, Eric de Vroedt will work with the actors (including Theo d’Or winner Mariana Aparicio) and artistic team on parts of the novel series, presenting their progress at the transition into the next season. De Vroedt typically rehearses for two to three months, which makes this approach unique. The director has previously appeared at the Holland Festival twice with The Nation in 2017 and 2023.

Ali Smith (Scotland, 1962) links personal stories to social themes like the refugee crisis, the rise of the far-right, and poverty. Each novel captures the essence of its respective season while touching on pressing issues like Brexit, immigration and the global pandemic. This ambitious project was praised for both its topicality and relevance. De seizoenen is a relatable and moving experience, even without having read the books.


"Ali Smith wanted to write four books about our changing climate, which she titled after the four seasons. When she started in 2016, the Brexit referendum shook her country, and the cycle she wrote dazzlingly links both subjects. Nature, Brexit, art, refugee crises: everything comes together in these four novels. We follow exceptional characters who meet in unexpected, but plausible ways, become friends and continue to support each other throughout their lives."
– Eric de Vroedt