Team of 2024-2025 season – The cast and creative minds behind Meanwhile in Apeldoorn
Our group and community here at English Theater Apeldoorn consists of people from a variety of countries, backgrounds, ages and occupations. But before all, we are a bunch that shares the passion and inspiration for theater and its many fields, and the joy of creating together.
This season we have a few new faces amongst us but also old acquaintances who have stuck with all kinds of shenanigans we come up with. Let’s get into it and get to know the members of the project!
Tulya Kavaklioglu
Tulya is 34 and from Turkey. In her daily life she works as a marketer but for us, she is the person pulling the strings behind the scenes – our director, producer, writer and marketer. Amongst these, she created the play “The Kiss” this season but above all, Tulya is the founder of English Theater Apeldoorn!
What got you into theater and what do you like the most about it?
I have been into stories and performances since I was a kid. I love exploring different characters and bringing them to life. I get inspired by observations from my daily life when I come up with new project ideas, write stories, direct others, or act a role myself. I am also quite fond of the creative work that goes on behind the scenes, like costume, stage, or technique design. Last but not least, community aspect of what we do is very important to me. Everything is more meaningful when we come together, get creative, and make the magic happen.
What is your favourite line from our plays?
Hmm… There are different lines I like for different reasons. For example in The Secret Phone Exchange, I like the single word answers from Peter. He goes almost the entire play without saying much and (spoiler alert) saves a monologue to the end. This brings a comical element even to the serious moments. Or in Lydia and the Melody Strings, Lydia’s boyfriend Ruud suggests that she quits the band. She responds with saying “It’s not that easy.” I imagine different possibilities for delivering this line that expresses Lydia’s inner conflict, that’s why I like it. But my ultimate favourite line is in Orpheus Ghost Tour, when Princess Mustard mentions that the grave of Mayor van Hasselt is her favourite at Soerenseweg cemetery and she mentions that there are always squirrels around it. As Orpheus puts it, perhaps it is a weird thing to say. But for me, it is simply a reminder of the nice walk Jasmijn (who wrote this play) and I took at the cemetery to find inspiration for the play, and the squirrel that was jumping around there.
Sanne Hillemans
Sanne is 33, from the Netherlands and joined the team during last year’s season. She writes, translates and edits both in and outside of theater – she is the creator of the plays “The Secret Phone Exchange” and “Meta” this season and can also be seen portraying some characters on stage.
What characters do you play this season?
I play Marie in the play “Meet Me By The Pool”, Princess Mustard in the play “Orpheus Ghost Tour” and ‘The Voice’ in the play “The Secret Phone Exchange”.
What got you into theater and what do you like the most about it?
I really like working towards something with the whole group. It can be fun, it can be stressful, it can be challenging and it can be energising, but whatever it is, we’re in it together!
What is your favourite line from our plays?
“I never said you weren’t a mouthful” from Meet Me By The Pool.
Max Mastebroek
Max is 26 and also from the Netherlands. He has been part of the team for two years and by profession he is (jokingly) our official jokester. He is one of our writers and actors this season and wrote the play “Meet Me By The Pool”.
What characters do you play this season?
I play Willem-Alexander in the play “The Kiss” and a soldier in the play “Meet Me By The Pool”.
What got you into theater and what do you like the most about it?
I joined the theater because people always tell me I should act. I have a pretty expressive face and a jokester personality that lends itself well to acting, I suppose 😛
At English Theater I like that everyone has a different background, but our personalities actually match quite well! I’ve made some good friends since I joined, and I’ve really liked hanging out both during rehearsals but also at the game nights and other events we organized together.
What is your favourite line from our plays?
“I can’t stop until we have solutions.” Solutions to what? To help The Cause, of course! What cause? Don’t ask me, I still don’t know!
It’s a line from Freddie that was in the Queen part of the Lipsync Musical we did in 2024 and we still joke about the cause being entirely unknown.
In that play there was also a scene where I had to ad-lib a lot of lines while screaming to the audience about the cause during a protest, and I just had the best fun with it. Throwing in the most vague lines like ‘fuck the patriarchy’, ‘don’t be a sheep’, ‘fuck institutions’, and ‘fight back’. It was hilarious and took me everything not to burst out laughing each time. Freddie was a fun character to play haha.
Jasmijn Leunissen
Jasmijn is 27 and from the Netherlands. She works as an IT System Specialist outside of being one of our writers and actors this season – she is the mastermind behind the plays “Lydia and the Melody Strings” and “Orpheus Ghost Tour”. Jasmijn joined the team in 2022, the same year it was founded!
What characters do you play this season?
I play Queen Wilhelmina in the play “The Kiss”, Mayor Dirk Frans Pont in the play “The Secret Phone Exchange” and Charles in the play “Lydia and the Melody Strings”.
What got you into theater and what do you like the most about it?
I was already doing theater in primary school, its too long ago to remember what got me into it. But I do love that I can show another side of myself, more loud, confident and outspoken than I usually am in daily life.
What is your favourite line from our plays?
“You’re weird.” From the play “The Secret Phone Exchange”.
Joy Smith
Joy is 52 – but only 25 at heart – and from the south of England in the UK. She joined the team last year and outside of theater she enjoys supporting her lovely family. This season Joy works in costume providing all the characters their design and final looks. In addition, she can be spotted portraying a few of them herself.
What characters do you play this season?
I play Rene in the play “Meta”, the mayor’s assistant in the play “The Secret Phone Exchange” and the mayor himself in the play “Orpheus Ghost Tour”.
What got you into theater and what do you like the most about it?
When I moved to Apeldoorn, I saw it advertised and immediately wanted to join. Due to other commitments it wasn’t possible straight away, so I went to the open rehearsal and the trial sessions and I loved it!!! Everyone is so friendly and I really enjoy pretending to be someone else.
I’m not the most talented actor, for sure, but there is a space for everyone. There is also more to theatre than just acting, and I have learnt so much being the lead in costume design.
What is your favourite line from our plays?
“Probably not, Sir”. It comes from the play “The Secret Phone Exchange”. Why is it my favourite? Because I now tend to use it in real life.
Rowyan Jonker
Rowyan is 27, from Apeldoorn and joined the team last summer. He is a researcher by day and actor this theater season, analysing stories on and off the stage. Rowyan is also the crafter and planner behind the set and props for our plays!
What characters do you play this season?
I play Peter in the play “The Secret Phone Exchange”, Juliana in the play “The Kiss” and Robo in the play “Orpheus Ghost Tour”.
What got you into theater and what do you like the most about it?
I’ve been into musicals since my teens, but never felt like being in the spotlight myself. I did however have drama classes in secondary school, which was mostly terrifying, but I had one really great experience performing a monologue. I just loved immersing myself in my character and being a completely different person on stage. So, last summer I bit the bullet and decided to get out of my comfort zone and join ETA! Being a different person is still my favourite thing about theater, as well as watching everyone else’s acting and having a lot of fun in general.
What is your favourite line from our plays?
It’s so difficult to choose! I think Peter’s ‘yes’ and ‘of course’ are absolutely brilliant top-notch pieces of writing 😉 No, but I do really like his one word answers and doing a lot of physical/non-verbal acting, it’s fun to play a character who doesn’t try to be nice and I think it adds a really funny dynamic in his scenes. I also like Orpheus’ line “Are you ready for the gogo Robo ghost tour show?!” because it’s just kinda over the top, wacky and good fun and I like how it flows.
And Juliana’s line “Loving your husband, wanting a friend, and showing understanding to your child… Crimes of a queen… Yes, I have chosen love, I have looked for love… And that was my mistake.” It’s really good stuff and it humanises the experiences of a queen.
Ashwini Uthrapathi Shakila
Ashwini is 33 and from India. She joined the team during last year’s season and outside of theater works in Strategy and Analytics. She is one of our marketers and actors this season – for instance, she designed the flyers for marketing our mini-events and final performance.
What characters do you play this season?
I play Queen Beatrix in the play “The Kiss” and Lydia Tuinenberg in the play “Lydia and the Melody Strings”.
What got you into theater and what do you like the most about it?
I love meeting new people and discovering how words unfold in unique ways, revealing diverse emotions and perspectives.
What is your favourite line from our plays?
“But they don’t know anything about who I am or what I like.” It’s from Lydia and the Melody Strings.
Tuuli Puotiniemi
Tuuli is 21 and from the south of Finland. She joined the team during last year’s season and outside of theater she currently works as an au pair here in Apeldoorn. Tuuli is one of our actors this season and takes part in brainstorming marketing ideas and bringing them to life.
What characters do you play this season?
I play Nelly’s childhood friend Renske in the play “The Secret Phone Exchange”, Eurydice in the play “Orpheus Ghost Tour” and Charlie in the play “Meta”.
What got you into theater and what do you like the most about it?
Theater has always been something I’ve been hugely interested in, but for the longest time I didn’t have the courage to act on this feeling. I’m so glad I finally did though – although I’m still learning to find confidence and be comfortable on stage, I would have never known otherwise how important of a thing theater would become to me.
My favourite things about theater are the people and atmosphere there. I think there is something really special about the connection people share through theater by creating together and working as a team! I also love the opportunity to get creative and express oneself in various different ways. Theater is a safe space for everyone to be themselves and also to explore completely new dimensions within them, and that is something I find really inspiring about it.
What is your favourite line from our plays?
There are so many to choose from! I really like Peter’s short replies in “The Secret Phone Exchange” and the dynamic they create between Nelly and him. I also like the very random line “Apologies!” which we added as a cue haha. In “Lydia and the Melody Strings” my favourite is “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!”. I also think Juliana’s line “Loving your husband, wanting a friend, and showing understanding to your child… Crimes of a queen…” in “The Kiss” sums up the struggles of being a queen in a sad but really beautiful way.
Jean Paul Beumer
JP is 56 and from the Netherlands. He has been part of the team for two seasons and outside of theater he is a Specialist in Document Layout Communication Platform. He is one of our actors this season and has managed to book the role of a proposing man in several ones of our plays.
What characters do you play this season?
I play Orpheus in the play “Orpheus Ghost Tour”, Ruud in the play “Lydia and the Melody Strings” and James in the play “Meet Me By The Pool”.
What got you into theater and what do you like the most about it?
I’ve always wanted to perform on a stage and I like acting. Fav thing is having a lot of fun!
What is your favourite line from our plays?
“Great. Really great.”
Hanna Wolska
Hanna is from Poland and has been part of the group for the past three seasons – in this year’s project she is one of our actors again!
What characters do you play this season?
I play Nelly in the play “The Secret Phone Exchange” and Augusta Marie Thérèse de Bourbon in the play “Orpheus Ghost Tour”.
What got you into theater and what do you like the most about it?
For as long as I can remember, art in many forms has always been very close to my heart and actions. In addition, my mom used to be in a theater group as well so for me, being part of this group means coming back to my roots, and partly continuing a three generation family tradition on stage.
What I like the most is seeing the improvement and change in people throughout the season. Starting from strangers meeting at the beginning of a new season, to each of us finding their place, growing and blooming. I also like the special connection we share with each other – there is this huge power of support and understanding on stage and backstage between everybody.
What is your favourite line from our plays?
“I just don’t want to die knowing I didn’t fight for my right, everyone’s right” from the play “The secret phone exchange”.
Myra Qiu
Myra is 35 and from China. She is an expert in international higher education and has been a member of the team since day one. This season she can be seen performing on stage as well.
What characters do you play this season?
I play Queen Máxima in the play “The Kiss” and Ben in “Lydia and The Melody Strings”.
What got you into theater and what do you like the most about it?
Passion about performance. Its enthusiastic members that gathered as a community and its creativity and inclusivity.
What is your favourite line from our plays?
My favourite line is “My palace is your palace” from the play “The Kiss”.
Would you like to meet our team in person? Join us at our final performance!
Date: Sunday, 22 June 2025
Time: 14:00 – 16:00
Venue: Theater & Concert Orpheus – Restaurant O55
Entrance: €4.50 (including 2 drinks)