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.

Proscenium theatre

BABYN JAR

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

GOLD

Here is Where, Utopia

Photography © Geert Snoeijer

CREW

Stage direction & Stage adaptation: Annechien Koerselman

Set-, Video- & Costumedesign: Robin Kolleman

Lightdesign: Aris Horio, Annechien Koerselman

Technics: Aris Horio, Roy Yard

Producer: Productiehuis 2 Kusten, Haarlem

Premiere: March 26, 2009 Theater de Kampanje Den Helder

CAST

Actor & Singer/Songwriter: Viktor Griffioen

Pianist: Kees Wieringa

Extra's: Fred Doodeman, Yvette Huissen, Charles Witberg, Joke van der Wulp

LAND VAN OVER ZEE
LOO

Loo when palacewalls make themselves heard

Photography © Peter Vroon & Rob Voss

CREW

Concept, Stage direction & Musical dramaturgy: Annechien Koerselman

Playwright: Annechien Koerselman & Floortje Schoevaart

Arranger: Marijn van Prooijen

Set- & Costumedesign: Vera Selhorst

Lightdesign: Wilfred Loopstra

Organisation (producter, technics, business management): Theater Orpheus Apeldoorn

premiere July 01, 2022, Schouwburg & Congrescentrum Orpheus, Apeldoorn (NL)

CAST

Loo: Laetitia Gerards (Singing & Acting)

Klamer: Jeroen van Venrooij (Acting & Singing)

Alicia: Annemarije Zoer (Acting)

Musicians from the National Youth Orchestra (NJO): Federico Altare (Flute), Rianne Schoemaker (Trumpet), Jenita Veurink (Saxophones), Michiel Wittink (Viola), Lionel Lutgen (Guitar), Camiel Jansen (Double base), Michel Xie (Piano), Pieter Mark Kamminga (Percussion)

Various supporting parts: Rozemarijn van den Beld, Gerdien den Boer, Ewout van Eyndhoven, Corine Filius, Brigitte de Hoog, Jan Prangen, Lianne Saakes, Noor Slis, Marcel van Straten, Alex Topsvoort, Evi Winkelman, Sophie Winkelman, Julia Zandvliet, Manouk Zandvliet

OPENING BACHFESTIVAL 2016

Opening Bachfestival 2016

Photography © Unknown

CREW

Composer: Reza Namavar & Johan Sebastian Bach

Conductor: Etienne Siebens

Stage director & stage-manager: Annechien Koerselman

Light & Sounddesign: Roland van Meel

Producer: Liselotte Gatzen

Organisation: The Bachfestival Dordrecht

premiere September 16, 2016, Energiehuis Dordrecht

CAST

Soprano: Johannette Zomer

Klavecimbel: Bart Naessens

Brassensemble: Neos Brass Ensemble w.t.c.o.brassplayers of Jubal Dordrecht, Crescendo Sliedrecht, the Dordtse Phil, and the Bigband ToBe Dordrecht

Panambí

Photography © Pijpers

CREW

Idea: Orchestra Nieuw Geluid

Composition: Alberto Ginastera, Bizet, Saint-Saëns, Fauré, Dorati a.o..

Conductor: Ali Groen

Concept & Stage direction: Annechien Koerselman

Video & Graphical design: Nanna Spakler

Recording technics & soundscape: Jaap van Stenis

Costumes & make-up: Marieke Posthuma de Boer-Dubbers

Light: Annechien Koerselman & Maurits Koelen

Technics: Maurits Koelen

Theaterexperience: Terry Brochard & Nadine Rodewijk

Executive Producers: Lesley Jacobs, Misja Krebbeks, Marike Richters

Organisation: Nieuw Geluid The Hague

premiere April 01, 2016, Theater De Nieuwe Regentes, The Hague

CAST

Orchestra: Nieuw Geluid

Rui Matos, Patricia Klock (piccolo), Marike Richters, Cátia Domingos, Carolien Noorduijn-Bakker (flute), Lesley Jacobs, Alex van der Linde, Gema Lara (oboe), Martine Vink (English horn), Ingrid Bonnet, Marceline Blangé, Martine Reurings (bassoon, Maartje van der Kluit (contrabassoon), Jonie Pijpers (Esclarinet), Ria Boeijen, Anne Overpelt, Maartje Zuidema, Vincent Martig (soloclarinet), Misja Krebbeks, Masha den Hartog, Jurjen de Jong (1st clarinet), Vincent Fleurke, Philo Heijnen, Willemijn Scholvinck, Ben Schueler, Rietje Maas (2nd clarinet), Ad van der Steid, Anne van der Does, Anneke Simonis, Netty Bruekers, Paul Verlaan, Wijnand Advokaat (3rd clarinet), Jaap van Stenis, Hetty Burgers, Richard Leveling (bassclarinet), Emma Jones, Jim Brinkman, Marijn Schraagen (altosaxophone), Ariana Cunha, Gido Broer (tenorsaxophone), Simao Ramos (baritonsaxophone), Maria Skandali, Gulce Sucular, Franca Post, Junya Nomura, Aster Leegwater, Thomas Guirten (cello), Julian Sarmiento Escobar, Yuan Go, Norbert Roozenburg, Peter van Kruistum (double bass), Joachim Adriaanse, Nadine Rodewijk, Margriet van der Wel, Erwin Weites (horn), Tommy Hopstaken, Lenneke Lucassen, Sander Broos, René Mahieu (trumpet), Corine Duinkerke, André Kouwenhoven, Floris van Daalen (trombone), Leonie Kruik, Gerwin Stolze (Euphonium), Koos Schut, Fernando Cid (tuba), Joachim Lubberts (timpani), Frans Asselman, Natalia Alvarez, Marieke Posthuma de Boer-Dubbers, Rik Claessens, Janneke Goosens, Margreth van der Lugt, Ricardo Oliviera, Henk-Jan Oosterhuis (percussion), Renske Beetstra, Diana Storm (harp), Clara Gil Hernandez (celesta), Tia Iskander (piano)

RODE SNEEUW
ROTONDE

The Wishing Table

Photography © Rupert Rieger

CREW

Composition: Peter Androsch

Libretto: Dorothea Hartmann

Stage direction: Annechien Koerselman

Set- & Costumedesign: Nina Ball

Light: Georg Ochsenbauer & Nina Ball & Annechien Koerselman

Producer: Theater an der Rott, Eggenfelden (D)

Worldpremiere May 04, 2015 Eggenfelden (D)

CAST

Sun 1 (Soprano) Marika Rainer

Sun 2 (Baritone) Yechan Lee

Sun 3 (Mezzosoprano) Elsa Giannoulidou

The Father (Bass) Jakob Puchmayr

The Goat / The Donkey (Tenor) Martin Kiener

Clarinet Seyedhadi Nabavi

Guitar Joe Doblhofer

Double bass Florian Kugi

Cembalo & Conductor Hariklia Apostolu

TISCHLEIN DECK DICH

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