"For people with PTSD, the theater can be a very unsafe place"
- Theatre
- Education in Art
When she needs inspiration as a theater performance maker, she often uses herself as a source, specifically focusing on what excites her. Therefore, the compulsive perfectionism that Brechtje Oliedam, an Artisteducator in Theatre (before: Education in Theatre) student from Arnhem, struggles with, became the material for her finals work called SYNCHROON. "The idealized image of a 'perfect life' is highly unrealistic and detrimental," she says.
Brechtje enjoys working with young people and prefers to see herself as an Artisteducator who collaboratively creates something beautiful with them, rather than just a teacher. "It's important to me that young people don't perceive me as someone who knows everything," explains Brechtje. "I don't want them to think: she's coming to tell us how everything should be. While I do organize and make decisions, I prefer to be on an equal level with someone. It often leads to very fruitful ideas, which I find incredibly exciting."
"For me, watching synchronized swimming feels almost addictive. It truly brings me joy.”
As an artist, Brechtje values working from her own experiences, fascinations, and needs. She praises the freedom she had during her studies in Artisteducator in Theatre in Arnhem to explore her interests. "That's how I discovered my areas of expertise. Scenography, which includes costume and set design, is a good example. That's where I would like to further develop my skills. I also attended various seminars that ignited the activist within me." Throughout the program, she gained a better understanding of herself as a creator. The diverse projects and in-depth modules contributed to this self-discovery. "We were frequently given the opportunity to deeply engage with specific themes. That's how my final work ultimately emerged."
Distorted self-image
Brechtje's thesis tackled a subject that may not seem obvious for theatrical exploration. Her fascination with synchronized swimming soon became intertwined: "Watching synchronized swimming feels almost addictive to me. It's so perfect. It might sound strange, but I consider it a moment of pure enjoyment." Through discussions with her supervisor, she realized that this fascination was connected to her own perfectionism. For Brechtje, perfectionism manifests in Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), among other things. BDD refers to a distorted self-image that exists in her mind, unseen by others.
Social media
With SYNCHROON, Brechtje aimed to depict how the external appearance can be flawless while the internal self is broken, like a façade. "I was fortunate to work with incredibly talented performers," Brechtje explains. "The performance had a strong edge. You see five girls in swimsuits, standing a few meters away from the audience, suddenly starting to touch themselves all over. It becomes increasingly uncomfortable to watch." According to her, social media plays a significant role in promoting the pursuit of a slim body image and the idea of perfection. "It's all so unrealistic and very damaging to young women who are still developing. Sexual violence, war, racism—they can trigger individuals with specific traumas."
Sexual violence, war, and racism can serve as triggers for individuals with specific traumas.”
In relation to this, Brechtje also wrote an essay discussing the use of trigger warnings in the theater industry and their necessity. Her goal was to make the sector more accessible to people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). "It's similar to a content advisory guide, but for theater performances," she explains. "Based on my own experiences with PTSD, I noticed that during certain performances, I would have appreciated a trigger warning in advance." Topics like sexual violence, war, racism, and more are frequently addressed on stage but can be triggering for audience members with specific traumas. "During such moments, the theater can become
Artistic freedom compromised
It's a hot topic, and Brechtje is well aware of that. For many theater makers and artists, she says, it feels like a form of censorship. "But it's not," she argues. "You still have the artistic freedom to create what you want; you simply leave the choice to the audience. Suppose you create something that deals with a heavy subject and you don't provide a warning beforehand. Then, afterward, the focus tends to be more on the missing trigger warning rather than the actual content. And also, if a particular symbol doesn't apply to you, you won't pay attention to it either."
Ultimate dream
In addition to wanting to continue her research in the near future and eager to make her mark in the theater world, Brechtje is also truly ready for a gap year after four years of studying. Although it may not seem that way given her busy schedule. "In any case, I'm going to live in Berlin for a few months and take sewing lessons. I would also like to spend some time shadowing a scenographer and further expanding my portfolio. After that gap year, I will then start a master's in scenography." Her ultimate dream? Working as a costume and set designer as well as an artist in the theater world, combined with teaching at a theater school. "That sounds super exciting too."
