Willemijn Zevenhuijzen

Willemijn Zevenhuijzen studied mime at the Amsterdam Academy of Theatre and Dance. She has collaborated with various theatre makers, including Noël Fischer (NTJong), Roy Peters (De Gemeenschap), Boogaerdt/vanderSchoot and Rene Geerlings. Jetse Batelaan and Willemijn have been working together since 2003. She has appeared in productions including De, Het eind van het begin van het einde and Een leuk avondje uit. For her role in Diarree is mijn lievelingskleur, she received a Gouden Krekel for the most impressive performance in a youth theatre production.

“Willemijn Zevenhuijzen’s role in Diarree is my favourite colour is the crowning achievement so far in the career of one of the country’s finest physical actors, who consistently manages to move and surprise audiences in youth theatre. Zevenhuijzen masterfully peels away the different layers of her character, from a thick shell of cynicism, to newly blossoming hope, to the liberation she feels when she stops trying to keep up with the rat race of the art industry. Zevenhuijzen captures the moving journey she undergoes through a combination of text and fantastically detailed physical performance, in which the journey from restraint to liberation is perfectly evident.”

- from the jury report of the Gouden Krekel

Together with Jetse Batelaan and Liesbet Swings, Willemijn forms the artistic team at Theater Artemis. She is closely involved in the artistic projects and in the recruitment and mentoring of young talent. In collaboration with Liesbet Swings, she developed Radio simetrA, Theater Artemis’ radio playground.

She also creates her own performances, preferably outside the theatre. For instance, she appeared at various festivals with HappYClApPY and took secondary schools by storm with guerrilla performances about intense emotions during Born to be torn. For Mothers Saga, an intimate performance about vulnerability, she once again sought out the boisterous environment of secondary schools. She also regularly teaches on the acting course at the HKU and the mime course in Amsterdam, and is a much sought-after sounding board for young creators.