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

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.

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

Illustration © Alfieri

Oldies versus Fresh Blood. In Jazz mal anders WBB meets BuJazzO. A Jazz evening with the professionals of today and the stars of tomorrow. Commissioned by the WDR Köln, Annechien provides stage directional advice and will design the light. Premiere October 26, 2023 in the Kölner Philharmonie Cologne (Germany). More information: JAZZ MAL ANDERS

Images © WDR / Composition © Annechien Koerselman

For the 5th year in a row, Annechien is directing the popular Konzert mit dem Elefanten at the WDR Cologne. She also designs the light. This year, together with Anke Engelke, André Gatzke and the WDR Funkhausorchestra, she storms the acrobatic and musical arena of the Circus. Premiere November 04, 2023 in Cologne (Germany). More information: CIRCUS

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.

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.

Lightdesign

CHRISTMAS ENLIGHTENMENT
DAS GEHEIMNIS DER BLAUEN HIRSCHE
DE VUURVOGEL
DES KAISERS NACHTIGALL
DIE PLANETEN
FEIERVILLCHEN / L'OISEAU DE FEU

Firebird (feiervillchen)

Photography © Alfonso Salgueiro Lora

CREW

Stage direction & Text: Annechien Koerselman

Conductor: Juraj Valčuh

Videodesign: Urbi et Orbi (Maaike Engels and Thomas Bouvy) with animations by Daniel Oliviera Prins

Costumes: Nina Ball

Choreography: Emanuella Iacopini

Light: Annechien Koerselman & Frank Reinard

Translation: Dan Tanson

Organisation: Philharmonie Luxembourg in cooperation with le Conservatoire de la Ville de Luxembourg

premiere December 05, 2013 Philharmony Luxembourg

CAST

Narrator: Betsy Dentzer

Dancers: Students of the danceclas of the City's Conservatory of Luxembourg

Orchestra Philharmony Luxembourg

GOEJANVERWELLESLUIS

Goejanverwellesluis

Photography © Boy Hazes

CREW

Idea: Baord Het Nederlands Zangtheater

Conductor: Anthony Zielhorst

Script & Stage direction: Annechien Koerselman

Set- & Costumedesign: Janneke Tangelder

Light: Femke van Kuijk & Annechien Koerselman

Productionleader: Paul van Capelleveen

Graphical design: Martin Hopman

Arrangements: Jetse Bremer

Organisation: Het Nederlands Zangtheater Amsterdam

premiere March 10, 2016, Amstelkerk Amsterdam

CAST

Choir: Het Nederlands Zangtheater:

Sopranos: Marja Beuk, Adelheid Brouwer, Mecheline Draafsel, Karin Nijenhuis, Alice Ruijzenaars, Carla Schaaij, Janneke Tangelder

Altos: Maria Boschman, Yvonne Drost, Irene Elich, Renee Heeringa, Bernadette Houdijk, Martha Meerman, Ingrid Schulten, Annemiek Vos

Tenors: Paul van Capelleveen, Jos Marcus, Hans Pijst, Hans School, Wilbert te Velde

Basses: Georg Bröring, Tejo van Gaalen, Martin Hopman, Willem Pool, Peter Staats, Bart de Vries, Ewald de Wilde

Accordionist: Elisa van Kesteren

GOLD

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!
HAIRLICH!
HERO'S JOURNEY
HET (NIEUWE) VERHAAL VAN DE SOLDAAT
JEREMIAS & ORCHESTRA
KANNST DU PFEIFEN, JOHANNA?
MARFOESJKA & DE VORST

NNOotjes

Photography © Mariska de Groot & Screenshots recording

CREW

Concept & Stage direction: Annechien Koerselman

Conductor: Rolf Verbeek

Arrangements: Gijs Philip van Schaik

Multicamerarecording: u.t.l.o. Jos Schoemaker

Audio Multicamerarecording: Jos Boerland & Thijs Borsten

Camera teaching material: Rens Polman

Lichtdesign: Annechien Koerselman & Tjeerd Zijlstra

Editor: Rens Polman

Styling & Props: Annechien Koerselman i.c.w. Izaline Calister, Gerdien Kuipers & Gertrude Kokke

Make-up: Barbara Kobus

Production- & stage directional assistance: Gerdien Kuipers

Musiceducation department NNO: Johannes Terpstra

Department Eigen-Wijs Next: Lieuwe Noordam & Gerdien Kuipers

Technical support teaching materials: Jan Rozema

Organisation: Noord Nederlands Orkest Groningen

premiere online Autumn, Winter 2022, Spring, Summer 2023

CAST

Singer & Moderation: Izaline Calister

Orchestra: Noord Nederlands Orkest Groningen

Participative support: Students teaching music & percussion Prins Claus Conservatorium Groningen (NL)

Noah the (almost) last Beaver

Screenshots © Tonkünstler Wien

CREW

Conductor: Aziz Sadikovic

Concept, Stage direction & Text: Annechien Koerselman

Musical dramaturgy: Annechien Koerselman, Sara Franchini & Veronika Prünster

Set- & Costumedesign: Nina Ball

Lightdesign: Annechien Koerselman i.c.w. Herbert Baireder

Tonkünstler musical education department: Lena Jäger (2020) / Sara Franchini & Veronika Prünster (2021)

Organisation: Tonkünstler Wien (AT)

premiere March 20, 2022, Festspielhaus St. Pölten (AT)

CAST

Actor: Florian Hackspiel (Noah)

Orchestra: Tonkünstler Wien

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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