Anouk Walbers

I am a young, driven theatre maker with a passion for people—specifically, people who have decided not to sideline themselves for the sake of what is considered ‘right’ or ‘normal’. I love working with them because they have a story to tell, and I want to help them do that.

What inspires me
I draw much of my inspiration from the people around me what they are going through, what is weighing on their minds, and what matters to them. In doing so, I hope to help both them and others who might be facing similar issues, and to open up a conversation about these topics.

What is my ambition or vision for the future?
I really enjoy working with the target group I’m currently with during my internships! Above all, I want to keep creating work with these individuals and increase the visibility of people with disabilities within the theater sector.

What to expect at the finals For the finals
I am creating a musical puppet show based on the story *Misjka* by Edward van de Vendel. The book beautifully tells the story of an Afghan family that fled to the Netherlands. If you want to see how that takes shape, you’ll have to come and watch. ;)

My research focuses on how to discuss social issues with children and how theater can help in this process. I’ve noticed that while we read a lot about how to approach this, putting it into practice often proves more difficult; that is why I created a practical guide as an outcome of my research. It includes tools and examples that can be applied in real-world settings, hopefully making the step easier to take.

Internship:
I am doing an internship with Speels Collectief in Tilburg and Arnhem, and with Theater Stap in Turnhout. These are all theatre companies that work with people with disabilities—a great mix of people with physical and intellectual disabilities.