Welcome to the website of Annechien Koerselman

stage director and playwright in Drama, Music Theatre & Opera

Annechien Koerselman (1976) graduated at the Academy of Dramatic Arts Maastricht, specialization stage direction.

Since she has worked as a stage director in Drama, Music Theatre and Opera in the Netherlands and abroad.

Furthermore, she writes scripts, adapts novels for the stage and translates plays.

Sometimes she also designs the light and/or set and/or costumes and/or video for the performances she stages.

With some regularity Annechien is also providing various organizations artistic and productional advice, commissioned by them

she writes applications for cultural subvention and is working as a dramaturge at several (music)theatre- and dance productions.

Last of all, she teaches as freelance drama teacher within her workingfield.

Currently

Photo © Anne Claire de Breij

In December 2023, the world-famous harpist Lavinia Meijer and Wishful Singing, the Netherlands' most famous female a cappella ensemble will go on tour. They will perform the moving Christmas story The Little Match Girl Passion by David Lang (after the famous fairy tale by Hans Cristiaan Andersen) and the well-known, atmospheric A Ceremony of Carols by Benjamin Britten. Annechien is responsible for the lightdesign for this Christmas programme, in which beauty and compassion come together. Premiere November 30, 2023. More information: THE LITTLE MATCH GIRL PASSION.

Design © Studio Rrook

At the request of vocal ensemble The Gents, Annechien will do the final staging for it's new program The Sound of Light. A concert in which not only the origin of light is sung, but also what light does to people will be reflected on. Premiere October 08, 2023. More information:THE SOUND OF LIGHT.

Poster © Grrr / Painting © Vincent van Gogh

Reed quintet Calefax brings artist Vincent van Gogh musically and theatrically to life in a visual musical journey about following your heart. In Van Gogh's Way to Go! we follow painter Vincent van Gogh along the path where his passion for art, without regard for any conventions, took him. Annechien is responsible for the concept, stage direction, the video and lightdesign.Premiere February 24, 2023 in Amsterdam. More info: VAN GOGH'S WAY TO GO!

Photo © nnb

The secret Book of Caioni is an interactive quest for an ancient musical treasure: the most beautiful music collected by the monk Caioni in the 17th century, from Monteverdi and di Lasso till exciting Romanian dances. To reveal the Caioni codex, there are musical riddles to be solved and codes to be cracked. Annechien is stage director and designs the video. Premiere February 13, 2023 in Almere (NL). More info: THE SECRET BOOK OF CAIONI

Photo © Ronald Knapp

In 2012 The Musicfactory by Calefax Reed Quintet, which Annechien staged and for which she wrote the script as well, won the Junge Ohrenpreis. Since then the performance literally crosses the world, because the only "spoken" language is music, a language everyone speaks. In 2020 the Musicfactory will be performed again for one time in the Netherlands. More information: THE MUSIC FACTORY

Poster © Arrow Films

As a Christmas surprise for their parents, the gnome children Vesta and Diana want to decorate a pine tree, but in the process they accidentally turn King Winter's land upside down. Oh Tree of Wonder is a non-verbal, participatory music theater production for the whole family (ages 4 and up). Annechien took care of the creation of concept, script, music dramaturgy, stage direction and lightdesign. More information: OH TREE OF WONDER.

Adults

#UNCUT

A Hero's Journey

Photography © WDR (Livestream)

CREW

Conductor: Frank Strobel

WDR Editorial office & Dramaturgy: Dr. Elfi Vomberg

Stage directional advice: Annechien Koerselman

Lightdesign: Annechien Koerselman i.c.w. Martin Cohaus

Sound: Tobias Nievelstein

Organisation: West Deutscher Rundfunk Cologne (DE)

premiere January 14, 2021, WDR Rundfunkhaus Cologne (DE)

CAST

Singers: Bettina Mönch, Dominik Hees

Moderation: Julia Schöning

Orchestra: WDR Funkhausorchester

ABI, DE CISKE DE RAT VAN DE SCHILDERSWIJK

Abi, the Ciske de Rat of the Schilderswijk

Photography © Yvon Muller & Suraj Bihari

CREW

Stage direction, Stage adaptation & Musical composition: Annechien Koerselman

Author Novel: Hans Sahar

Set- & Lightdesign: Yvon Muller

Costumedesign: Jookje Zweedijk

Productionleading: Sarah de Bruijn

Producer: Haags Openbaar Vervoer Museum i.s.m. Stichting Haags Talent The Hague

Premiere: January 31, 2009 Haags Openbaar Vervoer Museum The Hague

CAST

Actor & Rap: Ouidan Benali

Amanda

Fotografie © Lex de Meester

CREW

Text: Walter van den Broeck

Stage direction & Musical composition: Annechien Koerselman

Setdesign: Yvon Muller

Costumedesign: Jookje Zweedijk

Lightdesign: Marcel Visser

Dramaturgy: Alex Mallems

Producer: Theaterproductiehuis Zeelandia, Middelburg

Premiere: February 28, 2008 Theater de Mythe Goes

Premiere: August 31, 2009 Kerk Middelburg, Zeeland Nazomer Festival

CAST

Spel: Marie-Louise Stheins

AMANDA
BABYN JAR

Babyn Jar

Photography © Anne Koerselman-Müller & Andrew Waller

CREW

Composers: Max Bruch (Kol Nidrei), Yevhen Stankovych (Babyn Jar), Johannes Brahms (Das Deutsche Requiem

Conductor: Oksana Lyniv

Stage-direction: Annechien Koerselman

Stage- & Lightdesigner: Annechien Koerselman

Producer: Pavlo & Larysa Hunka

Chairman: Pavlo Hunka, internationally acclaimed opera singer Founder and Artistic Director, Ukrainian Art Song Project

Organisation: Ukranian Jewish Encounter, Toronto, Canada

Opening: September 29, 2016, National Opera Theatre of Ukraine, Kyiv

CAST

Soloists: Benjamin Butterfield (Tenor), Gal James (Soprano), Pavlo Hunka (Bass-Baritone)

Cellist: Roman Borys

Choir: Dumka, National Academic Choir of Ukraine

Orchestra: Hamburg Symphony Orchestra

BACHS MINI-OPERA'S
BACHS MINI-OPERA'S
BEATHOVEN

Beautiful Anne

Photography © Lex de Meester

CREW

Text: Marjolein Bierens

Stage direction: Annechien Koerselman

Composition: Wiek Hijmans

Set--, Video- & Lightdesign: Yvon Muller

Costumedesign: Gerda Knuivers

Dramaturgy: Alex Mallems

Organisation: Theaterproductiehuis Zeelandia, Middelburg

premiere November 04, 2010, Stadsschouwburg Goes

premiere August 27 2011, De Spot Middelburg, Zeeland Nazomerfestival

CAST

Actress: Ilse Uitterlinden

Electric Guitar: Wiek Hijmans

Best Friends

Screenshots

CREW

Text: Barry Hofstede

Composition: Pierre Estourgie

Stage direction, Set- & Costumedesign: Annechien Koerselman

Lightdesign: Nico Kraeima

Coach text: Pieter Vrijman

Coach composition: Frank Deiman

Organisation: 2scoremusictheatre Enschede

premiere January 28, 2012, Theater Sonnevanck Enschede

CAST

Actors: Justus van Dillen & Klaas Postmus

DJ: Pierre Estourgie

BESTE VRIENDEN

Black Perfume

Photography © Robert Benschop

CREW

Stage direction & Libretto: Annechien Koerselman

Composition: Anna Mikhailova

Author Novel: Michail Bulgakov

Set- & Costumedesign: Annechien Koerselman

Lightdesign: Nico Kraeima

Conductor: Joost Geevers

Producer: De Diamantfabriek, Amsterdam

Premiere: December 14, 2012 Ostadetheater Amsterdam

CAST

Soli: Tiemo Wang, Caroline Cartens

Ensemble: Rozemarie Heggen (double bass), Sef Hermans (trumpet), Mei-yi Lee (percussion)

BLACK PERFUME
BLAUWBAARD

Bluebeard

Fotografie © Sanne Peper

CREW

Text: Dea Loher

Stage direction, Translation & Musical Composition: Annechien Koerselman

Costumedesign: Linda Eijssen

Setdesign: Roos van Geffen & Annechien Koerselman

Lightdesign: Jan Harm Wagner

Dramaturgy: Cecile Brommer

Producer: Co-production Atelier d. & Stichting de Frequentie, Amsterdam

Premiere: October 08, 2004 Frascati Amsterdam

CAST

Actors: Marcel Faber, An Hackselmans, Maureen Teeuwen

Dance: Lonneke van Leth

Saxophone: Heiko Geerts

BOETEVERZEN

Bonnie & Clyde

CREW

Stage direction, Text & Musical composition: Annechien Koerselman

Set- & Lightdesign: Yvon Muller

Costume design: Jookje Zweedijk

Business manager: Arjen Barel

Producer: Stichting de Frequentie, Amsterdam

Premiere: July 10, 2009 Festival de Parade, Utrecht

CAST

Actors: Joost Claes, Daan van Dijsseldonk, Roos Eijmers

Extra: Anne Koerselman-Müller

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Portfolio

THE LITTLE UGLY DUCK

So it is possible [...] making fascinating theater, suitable for both children and adults. The combination of acting, vocals, music and text in the little ugly duck - a loose adaptation of the story by Hans Andersen, conceived and directed by Annechien Koerselman -led to a strong and creative performance lasting 75 minutes which was really telling something.

Rein Swart

DIJKDRIFT

Very special is that all players are both beautifully singing, making music in a marvelous way and are acting stronly at the same time. An incredible achievement of stage director Annechien Koerselman and all performers. Dijkdrift is an extremely original opera production.

Scenes, Jos Schuring