Comedian/actor joins nonprofit theater school for youth with autism
Amsterdam, Dec. 11, 2023 – Starting next year, Henry van Loon will be an ambassador for InterActing, the theater school for young people with autism. This nonprofit supports young people through improvisational theater. On December 17, the ambassadorship will be kicked off with the final presentation of the current students.
Improvisation helps neurodivergent young people cope better with the world and make friends. In the Netherlands, there are about 50,000 children and adolescents with autism. As of 2024, InterActing has, in addition to the regular groups (from 12 to 22 years old), a show team with up-and-coming talent. Henry van Loon provides regular rehearsals for the show team. This team, which has been running for several years, will graduate on Dec. 17 between 12:30 and 1:30 p.m. and then continue under the guidance of an acting coach. They will perform at the Academy Jam once every two months, at World Autism Day (April 2) and the Boom Chicago Comedy Festival, among other events.
Henry van Loon: “My mother worked with children with challenges; they also came to our home regularly. When she got sick a few years ago and eventually passed away, I promised her I would continue this somehow. I just didn’t know how, until I heard about InterActing. I immediately felt a connection to that. I have since connected once and I was very impressed with the improvisational skills of the participants. Very fun and inspiring to see.”
Co-founder Saskia Maas: “Last summer at the Boom Chicago Comedy Festival, I talked about Interacting on stage. That’s where I came in contact with Henry. We are extremely happy that he is now involved with InterActing. Our goal is to reach as many young people as possible, whom we also wish to have fun, increase their self-confidence and make friendships with peers. We therefore want to grow into a national organization with InterActing theater programs in all major cities in the Netherlands. After Amsterdam and The Hague, Eindhoven will certainly follow next year.”
About the InterActing Foundation
InterActing was founded in 2018 by Saskia Maas (co-founder of comedy institute Boom Chicago) and Pim Donkersloot, an educator and family therapist. Maas has two children, including a son with autism, and Donkersloot is the father of two autistic children. They use improvisational theater to help autistic adolescents develop social-emotional skills, increase their self-confidence and adapt to changing situations so they can better hold their own in the world.