I am a socially engaged theater maker and educator who creates art and education about identity. In my practice I research social identity issues. I do this by working from personal stories. Together with a community I search for the human side, for the authentic, for feelings, experiences and memories. Personal stories tell us the real, the living story within an identity issue, such as masculinity, queerness or nationalism. They make us reflect on who we are and who the other is. My works are a search for authenticity and empathy. They aim for personal reflection on social narratives, so that identity and social structures become something personal again and shame, conflict and exclusion are transformed into empathy, empowerment and visibility.
I have a background as a theater maker and theater eduator (ArtEZ Arnhem NL, 2018) and recently obtained my Master of Education in Belfast (IMAE ArtEZ Arnhem NL, 2024) with a research and theater performance about masculinity and nationalism. From 40 personal stories I created a portrait of the identity and life of the British man in Belfast Northern Ireland. The stories were shown and heard in audio tours in the neighborhood and in the local swimming pool. The process of interviewing was a pedagogical and sociological tool to let the men reflect on their identity. The performance aimed to evoke empathy for the British man, and to encourage reflection on their own identity and masculinity.
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My practice consists of creating performances with various communities, ranging from education and cultural centers to professional theater companies. I create education and performances at Maas Theater en Dans Rotterdam, Crea Amsterdam, Theater Sonnevanck Enschede and Theater Oostpool in Arnhem. Previously made works were about queerness (2021), gender (2022), migration (2022), climate (2023), masculinity (2024) nationality (2024) and identity (2024). In addition of creating performances and education, I educate in theater making, writing, acting at various organizations, festivals, museums and theaters. I also educate about identity and personal development.
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