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.

Germany

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

BEATHOVEN

Beathoven

Photography © Klaus Görgen

CREW

Idea & Concept: Katharina Höhne

Composition: Stefan Behrisch, Georg Hamilton, Ludwig von Beethoven

Conductor: Wayne Marshall

Choreography: Kassandra Wedel

Visuals (Video & LED): Schnelle Bunte Bilder

Stage direction: Annechien Koerselman

Costumes: Katharina Höhne, Annechien Koerselman, Kassandra Wedel

Lightdesign: Annechien Koerselman & Ertan Kaya

Interpreter of the deaf & Co-trainer: Elisabeth Brichta

Organsiation: Westdeutscher Rundfunk Cologne

premiere January 24, 2020, Kölner Philharmonie Cologne (DE)

CAST

Dance: Kassandra Wedel & 28 deaf, hearing impaired & hearing teenagers

Electronic instruments: Marc Romboy

Moderation: Isabel Hecker, Kassandra Wedel (gebarentaal)

Orchestra: WDR Funkhausorchester

BILDER EINER AUSSTELLUNG WDR DACKL
BIRTHDAY PARTY

Can you whistle, Johanna

Photography © Leo Seidel

CREW

Composer: Gordon Kampe

Libretto: Dorothea Hartmann

Stage direction: Annechien Koerselman

Dramaturgy: Anne Oppermann

Conductor: Kevin McCutcheon

Set - & Costumedesign: Claus Stump

Light: Annechien Koerselman & Claus Stump

Technics: Steffen Hoppe

Producer: Die Deutsche Oper, Berlin

Premiere: November 30, 2013 Die Deutsche Oper Berlin

CAST

Soli: Martin Geike, Paul Kaufmann, Roland Schubert

Ensemble: Orchestra der Deutschen Oper Berlin

DAS GEHEIMNIS DER BLAUEN HIRSCHE
DES KAISERS NACHTIGALL
GOLD

Gold

Photography © Marcus Lieberenz

CREW

Stage direction: Annechien Koerselman

Libretto: Flora Verbrugge

Composition: Leonard Evers

Set- & Costumedesign: Dieuweke van Reij

Lightdesign: Annechien Koerselman & Steffen Hoppe

Dramaturgy: Anne Oppermann

Translation: Barbara Buri

Producer: Die Deutsche Oper, Berlin

Coproducer: Theater Sonnevanck, Enschede

Premiere December 05, 2014 Die Deutsche Oper Berlin

CAST

Singing & Acting: Christina Sidak

Percussion & Acting: Lukas Böhm/Daniel Eichholz

Hairlich

Photography © WDR (Livestream)

CREW

Conductor: Frank Strobel

Concept & dramaturgy: Katharina Höhne

Stage direction & concept Setdesign: Annechien Koerselman

Props: Anne Schiek

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

Sounddesign: Tobias Nievelstein

Organisation: West Deutscher Rundfunk Cologne (DE)

premiere October 22, 2022, WDR Rundfunkhaus Cologne (DE)

CAST

Hair artist: Jan Wagner

Make-up artist: Michael Crnjavic

Moderation: Julia Schöning

Singer: Thomas D. i.c.w. Udo Schöbel (backing vocal)

Orchestra: WDR Funkhausorchestra

HAIRLICH!
HERO'S JOURNEY
JEREMIAS & ORCHESTRA
KANNST DU PFEIFEN, JOHANNA?

Pictures at an Exhibition WDR Dackl

Photography © WDR

CREW

Composition: Modest Mussorgsky

Text: Carsten Haffke

Conductor: Cristian Măcelaru

Stage direction: Annechien Koerselman

Props: Barbara Cibis

Set: Nina Pöting & Annechien Koerselman

Light: Chris Sroka i.Z.m. Annechien Koerselman

WDR Musiceducation: Katharina Höhne

Editor KiRaKa: Susanne Kuttler

Producer: West Deutscher Rundfunk Cologne

premiere January 29, 2019, WDR Rundfunkhaus Cologne

CAST

Puppeteer: Carsten Haffke

Moderation: Isabel Hecker

Orchestra: WDR Sinfonieorchester

SOMETHING ANIMALISTIC

Something animalistic

Photography © Ben Knabe

CREW

Text: Anke Engelke, Leona Frommelt

Conductor: Enrico Delamboye

Stage direction: Annechien Koerselman

Costumedesign: Romy Reinfeld

Animations: Hardy Hoffmann

Setdesign: Anja Dublanka

Lightdesign: Annechien Koerselman & Axel Halbreiter

WDR education: Mirjam von Jarzebowski

Organisation: West Deutscher Rundfunk Cologne

premiere november 28, 2019, WDR Rundfunkhaus Cologne (D)

CAST

Moderation: Anke Engelke, André Gatzke

Orchestra: WDR Funkhausorchester

Space

Photography © WDR (Livestream)

CREW

Text: Simone Höft, Natascha Breuers. Contributions: Anke Engelke, Leona Frommelt

Conductor: Enrico Delamboye

Stage director: Annechien Koerselman

Setdesign: Anja Dublanka

Costumedesign: Romy Reinfeld

Animations: Hardy Hoffmann

Lightdesign: Annechien Koerselman

WDR Musiceducation department: Mirjam von Jarzebowski

Dramaturgy: Leona Frommelt

Organistion: West Deutscher Rundfunk Cologne (DE)

premiere November 27, 2021, WDR Rundfunkhaus Cologne (DE)

CAST

Moderation: Anke Engelke, André Gatzke

Orchestra: WDR Funkhausorchestra

Symphonic Beats

CREW

Conductor:Michael Seal

Stage director & Lightdesign: Annechien Koerselman

WDR Musiceducation department: Mirjam von Jarzebowski

Organistion: West Deutscher Rundfunk Cologne (DE)

premiere September 09, 2022, Kölner Philharmonie Cologne (DE)

CAST

Rap & Singer: Rote Mütze Raphi

Rap & Singer: ART

Moderation: Tillmann Kölner

Orchestra: WDR Funkhausorchestra

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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