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.

Music Theatre

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

HERO'S JOURNEY
INNER VOICE

Jungleboogy

Photography © Robert Verhoeve, Anne Ammerlaan, Anne Müller, Annechien Koerselman

CREW

Stage direction & Script: Annechien Koerselman

Musical dramaturgy: Dividivi3 & Annechien Koerselman

Set- & Costumedesign: Anne Ammerlaan

Productionleader: Dividivi3, Amsterdam

Organisation: Dividivi3 Amsterdam

Opening August 10, 2019, The Canalfestival, Amsterdam

CAST

Flute & Acting: Rieneke Brink (Dividivi3)

(Alto)Oboe & Acting: Paloma de Beer (Dividivi3)

Bassclarinet & Acting: Ilse Eijsink (Dividivi3)

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)

On the Night Plain

Photography © Ben Bonouvrier

CREW

Idea & Musical dramaturgy: String Quartet Biennale

Composition: Arvo Pärt, Steve Reich, Pascal Dusapin, Valentin Silvestrov, Henryk Górecki, Mortin Feldman, Kevin Volans, Terry Riley

Concept & Stage direction: Annechien Koerselman

Setdesign: Ascon de Nijs

Lightdesign: Jeroen Smith

Productionleader: Sanne Bouman

Organisation: String Quartet Biennale Amsterdam

premiere January 31, 2020 Muziekgebouw aan het IJ Amsterdam

CAST

Arditti Quartet: Irvine Arditti (violin), Ashot Sarkissjan (violin), Ralf Ehlers (viola), Lucas Fels (cello)

Calder Quartet: Benjamin Jacobson (violin), Tereza Stanislav (violin), Jonathan Moerschel (viola), Eric Byers (cello)

Signum Quartet: Florian Donderer (violin), Annette Walther (violin), Xandi van Dijk (viola), Thomas Schmitz (cello)

Opening Canalfestival 2018

Photography © Melle Meivogel & Robert Verhoeve

CREW

Concept, Stage direction & Props: Annechien Koerselman

Costumedesign: Margot Koudstaal

Lightdesign: Jeroen Smith

Sound: Marc Baijens

Stage manager: Roland van Lammers Toorenburg

Programmer: Lestari Scholtes

Productionleading: Lisanne van Wijk

Organisation: Het Grachtenfestival Amsterdam

premiere Augustus 10, 2018, Zuiderkerk Amsterdam

CAST

Musicians: Ella van Poucke (Cello), Camiel Boomsma (piano), Babylon Quartet (Leonid Nikishin - violin, Danielle Daoukayeva - violin, Kellen McDaniel - viola, William McLeish -cello), Sanne Rambags Trio (Sanne Rambags - singing, Joost Lijbaart - drums, Jesse Schilderink - saxophone), Merlijn Runia (singing), Jornt Duyx (guitar), Caravan (Julian Schneemann - piano & composition, Jawa Manla - Ud, Emmy Storms - violin, Jeroen Batterink - percussion)

Actor: Reinier Demeijer

Presentation: Dieuwertje Blok

Opening Canalfestival 2019

Photography © Melle Meivogel & Rob van Dam

CREW

Concept, Stage direction & Set: Annechien Koerselman

Costumes: Margot Koudstaal

Light: Jeroen Smith

Sound: Marc Baijens

Stage manager: Karsten Stouten

Programmer: Lestari Scholtes

Executive Producer: Anna Schaap

Organisation: The Grachtenfestival Amsterdam

premiere 09th of augustus 2019, Zuiderkerk Amsterdam

CAST

Musicians: Raoul Steffani (baritone), Yang Yang Cai (piano), Dominique Vleeshouwers, Arend Bruijn (percussion), Syrene Saxofoon (Annelies Vrieswijk - alto saxophone, Evelien Jansen - dance, Niek Wagenaar - dance, Anne Suurendonk - choreographer), Cunana Ensemble (Mariana Preda - panflute, Noa Eyl - violin, Gabriel Barbalau - double base, Dani Luca - cymbalom), Kika Sprangers Trio (Kika Sprangers - saxophone & composition, Wolfert Brederode - piano, Jasper van Hulten - percussion), Pynarello en Tijn Wybenga (arrangement).

Performer: Fay Loren

Presentation: Dieuwertje Blok

Par!s! Par!s!

Photography © Anja Koehler & Benno Hunziker

CREW

Idea: Die Schurken

Stage direction & Script: Annechien Koerselman

Set- & Costumedesign: Nina Ball

Lightdesign: Annechien Koerselman i.c.w. Nina Ball

Additional new compositions: Marcus Nigsch

Producer & Organisation: Die Schurken, Bregenz

premiere June 17, 2018 Philharmonie Luxembourg

CAST

Clarinet, Acting: Martin Schelling

Trumpet, Acting: Stefan Dünser

Accordion, Acting: Goran Kovacevic

Double bass, Acting: Martin Deuring

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

Sing Strong Concert

Photography © Jimmy Israel (Nijmegen), Erwin van Kester (Utrecht) & Screenshots Livestream

CREW

Concept: Wishful Singing (vocal female quintet)

Stage direction: Annechien Koerselman

Recording: Nico de Voogd (camera), Jaap Schledorn (sound) (Nijmegen), Jorg Schellekens (Utrecht)

Set- & Lightdesign: Annechien Koerselman

Production: Kees Kaya (Nijmegen), Erik Laarman (Nijmegen, Utrecht)

Business manager: Anne-Christine Wemekamp (Nijmegen), Jojanneke Poorter (Utrecht)

Organisation: Stichting Wishful Singing, Amsterdam i.c.w. De Vereeniging Nijmegen & TivoliVredenburg Utrecht

premiere July 16, 2021, De Vereeniging Nijmegen (Summerconcert)

Premiere March 11, 2023, TivoliVredenburg Utrecht (Sing along concert)

CAST

Singing: Anne-Christine Wemekamp (1st soprano)

Singing: Maria Goetze (2nd soprano)

Singing: Marleen van Os (mezzo-soprano)

Singing: Stella Brüggen (1st alto)

Singing: Marjolein Stots (2nd alto)

Guest singers: Damani Leidsman, Madhu Lalbahadoersing (Nijmegen), Mireille Bittar (Utrecht)

Pianist: Bert van den Brink

Singing teachers: Nicole Fiselier, Carina Vinke, Janneke Boomsma, Leonore Engelbrecht (Nijmegen)

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

The Nightingale

Photography © Claus Langer

CREW

Composition: Ugis Praulins

Text: Elke Hoffmann

Conductor: Nicolas Fink

Stage direction: Annechien Koerselman

Costumedesign: Melissa Müller

Props: Barbara Cibis

Setdesign: Kristina Stasch

Lightdesign: Ingo Jaunich & Annechien Koerselman

Editor KiRaKa: Dorothee Wepler

WDR Musiceducation: Mirjam von Jarzebowski

Producer: West Deutscher Rundfunk Cologne

premiere October 21, 2017 WDR Rundfunkhaus Cologne

CAST

Nightingale: Tabea Debus, recorder

Steward: Folker Banik

Professor Plem/Emperor: Peter Saurbier, Moderator

Kitchen Maid/Mrs. Nina: Nina Heuser, Moderator

Royal Household: WDR Rundfunkchor Köln

Piano: Yoshiko Hashimoto

THE SNOWMAN

The Snowman

CREW

Composition: Erich Wolfgang Korngold

Scenario: Annechien Koerselman

Conductor: Gabriel Venzago

Concept & Stage direction: Annechien Koerselman

Set- & Costumedesign: Annett Lausberg

Lightdesign: Annechien Koerselman

Make-up: Lena Jaeger

Musical education department: Lena Jaeger

Organisation: Münchner Philharmoniker Munich (DE)

premiere December 21, 2022, Isarphilharmonie Munich (DE)

CAST

Actors: Florian Hackspiel (Pierrrot), Thekla Hartmann (Colombina), Béla Bufe (Pantalone)

Orchestra: Münchner Philharmoniker Munich

The somewhat differandrént Carnival Concert

CREW

Conductor: Rasmus Baumann

Text: Simone Höft & Natascha Breuers

Stage direction: Annechien Koerselman

Televisieregie: Daniel Harbecke

Set design: Anja Dublanka

Props: Barbara Cibis

Costumes: Melissa Müller

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

Sound: Tobias Nievelstein

WDR Music Education & editorial office: Mirjam von Jarzebowski

Organisation: West Deutscher Rundfunk Cologne

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

CAST

Moderation: André Gatzke & Carsten Haffke as Dackl

Singers: Mirko Bäumer (Bläck Föös), Bastian Campmann (Kasalla)

Orchestra: WDR Funkhausorchestra

THE SOUND ON THE TRACK
THE TOY REVOLT

The Tree and its Ear

CREW

Composition: Modest Mussorgsky

Text: Annet Schaap

Stage direction, Costumedesign & Musicdramaturgy: Annechien Koerselman

Sandprincess: Rosa van der Vijver

Lightdesign: Nico Kraeima

Arranger: Andreas N. Tarkmann (2018) & Johan van der Linden (2019)

Producer: Internationaal Kamermuziekfestival Utrecht

premiere July 01, 2018 TivoliVredenburg Utrecht

premiere December 29, 2019 TivoliVredenburg Utrecht

CAST

Narrator: Maartje Stokkers (2018) & Dieuwertje Blok (2019)

Saxophone Quartet 2018: Signum Saxophone Quartet: Blaž Kemperle (Sopranosaxophone), Hayrapet Arakelyan (Altosaxophone), Alan Luzar (Tenorsaxophone), Guerino Bellarosa (Baritonesaxophone)

Saxophone Quartet 2019: Ardemus Saxophone Quartet: Lisa Wyss (Sopranosaxophone), Lovro Merčep (Altosaxophone), Jenita Veurink (Tenorsaxophone), Deborah Witteveen (Baritonesaxophone)

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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