We are here for people that want to influence change in society, that can stay true to themselves and want to – together with us – take it to a higher level. That’s why we think it is important that you know who we are.
Arjen is director and trainer at the Storytelling Centre and artistic director / producer at Storytelling \ Theater Lab. He developed the Share to Connect method to put applied storytelling on the map worldwide. He recently worked in Morocco, Palestine, Lithuania, Slovenia, Great Britain and Hungary. He is involved in performances as a dramaturg, director or writer.
Fouad Lakbir guides young people in their creative development within his own foundation (Shokkin ’Group Netherlands) and as a trainer at the Storytelling Centre. For example, he likes to work on empowering young people or on meetings between young and old. He knows how to create a safe space and group feeling like no other.
Erma van Maris follows the storytelling developments closely. She floated on the currents of the first Storytelling Festival in Amsterdam (2008) and then worked as a producer and project manager for various festivals, performances and social EU projects. The transition to a trainer was a logical step for her.
Hester Tammes is an enthusiastic storytelling trainer who frequently coaches participants in Human Libraries. She trained as a lawyer, but has been working in theater for years as a producer, financial manager, writer and maker. She caused a furore with her pieces Strontvlieg (Dungfly) and Harira and was involved as a director in the storytelling show of Terra (Norihiro Terazawa).
Storyteller and actor Stu Packer tells stories to entertain, educate and enchant. Based on more than 25 years of stage experience, where he first heard of 'Being Present', Stu dares to share the personal stories from his heart. He therefore finds it a particularly great privilege to be present when others, with or without his help, share their stories.
Our philosophy is that you should always let the best trainer work with a group. And that is not necessarily a trainer from the Centre itself. For example, when abroad, due to the language barrier, we prefer not to provide training directly to the target groups themselves. We then choose to train trainers in our Share to Connect method, so that they can work with the target groups themselves.
Marlies ter Haar is co-founder of the Storytelling Festival Amsterdam in 2008. She is energized by storytelling and loves helping people in their development. For the Storytelling Centre she is currently working on the Storytelling Heroes program.
Since 2018, the Storytelling Festival Amsterdam has been under the creative direction of Sahand Sahebdivani and Raphael Rodan. They are famous names in the storytelling scene and won the Amsterdam Fringe Gold Award 2017 with their show My Father held a Gun.
Luuk likes stories and humor. During his study theater science at the University of Amsterdam he learned everything about theater. Next to that Luuk won the public price at the ‘Groninger Studenten Cabaret Festival’ in 2017. His focus is telling a good and honest story. If this works, the jokes follow automatically.
Adriana Mincu works in the financial department of both the Storytelling Centre and Theater de Meervaart. From her passion for the cultural sector she does her part to contribute to bringing young people into contact with art and culture.
