On Stage is a fake documentary about a promising five-headed cabaret company at the Cabaret Academy, who after their graduation are signed up by an impresario. The latter wants to launch them as real stars, but the troupe appears to be less close-knit than expected, when machinations and mutual competition drive the friends apart and one person is even victimised. The actors really graduated from the Academy in 2003.

Teacher Jochem sticks to the plan he has drawn up for the week-long study trip - in teams, the students will complete various assignments, the highlight of which will be a survival drop at the end of the week. Jochem tries to motivate the students, but has a hard time of it. Their tangled web of contradictory interests is not good for harmonious cooperation. Jochem has been over-optimistic in this respect and very soon the students' own agendas are revealed.

Paolo is dismissed from his municipality by the new mayor and left with debts. His friend Jimmy proposes to launch a poker tournament and flogged the TV rights but he appears to have made a mistake with the TV contract: there is no money.