Apart from 12 disgruntled travellers who returned home to hit YouTube's "dislike" button (and from Sony Music, who have blocked all online videos of the joyous song and dance), VTM's publicity stunt for their reality show Op zoek naar Maria (In Search of Maria) was a huge success. Op zoek naar Maria spent painstaking weeks whittling down the contestants - all hoping to play Maria in the Antwerp production of the Dutch version of The Sound of Music - until finally only winner Deborah De Ridder was left. Nearly two years later, the now 28-year-old De Ridder stars in her own series of theatre concerts. A pianist will accompany, and De Ridder brings in other local talent, staging kleinkunst duets with (depending on the evening) Anne Mie Gils and Dieter Troubleyn. "She will perform musical theatre songs as well as songs by American singer-songwriters who are less well known here," says Thomas Van der Spiegel, the event's promoter. Van der Spiegel specialises in producing and promoting cabaret-style theatre in Flanders, notably with his West End project, in which he brings over London's stars in one-man and one-woman shows. The prolific Rosemary Ashe, for instance, who in more than three decades of performing has played Carlotta in The Phantom of the Opera and Felicia in The Witches of Eastwick, will bring her one-woman show The Killer Soprano to Ostend next month, courtesy of Thomas Van der Spiegel Events. De Ridder and Jan Schepens join Ashe for the evening, promising an eclectic mix of West End energy and Flemish talent, and another opportunity to see The Sound of Music star in action. Thomas Van der Spiegel Events has brought many West End actors to Flanders, including Maria Friedman and John Barrowman. The performers he chooses are still top names in London - Ashe is currently starring in When We Are Married at the Garrick Theatre. Very unlike seeing them onstage in the West End, the appearances are on a smaller scale and more intimate - "in a cabaret style, with singers accompanied on the piano," says Van der Spiegel. Deborah De Ridder
22 January, 20.15
CC Jan Tervaert
Kaaiplein 34, Hamme Complete schedule of dates available on website www.thomasvanderspiegelevents.com