Theatre director
Sinds 1981 Roel Twijnstra directed almost 80 theatershows, following his internship with Peter Stein(Berlin), Viola Spolin(USA), Peter Brook(Avignion), Erik Vos and Lodewijk de Boer (The Netherlands). He is the founder of Theatercompany. Het Waterhuis that changed its name in 2009 in theatergroep Siberia. He worked international in Russia, USA, Marocco, Uganda and the last years in South Africa.
Set designer
For most shows Roel Twijnstra directed, he also designed the set. The last years he is designing for other directors and companies as well.
writer
As a writer Roel Twijnstra wrote three books about dramaturgy, playwriting and how to analyse a show. They are compulsory on Dutch theatre schools. Recently he published his first novel “Een Zulu op mijn bank. ” It was translated into English with the title ”Zulu crush.” Monthly he writes a column on his website www.roeltwijnstra.nl. At the moment writing “Theatre directing in South Africa “, publication in 2014.
Twist International
“Theater for better reasons.” TWIST-International works in the field of Art & Development. We build capacity in community theater groups. We offer a two years programe for selected community theater groups in South-Africa and street theater groups in Nepal. We do this in combination with established local theater institutes, theater festivals, theaterschools, theater companies, Arts & Herritage centers, local governement and donors. Twist projects in South Africa (www.twistprojects.co.za) works already succesfull for three years and aims on a sustainable infrastructure for theatre in KwaZulu Natal and has its office in Durban.
6 TWIST community theater groups in South Africa work with social themes;
-Xenophobia,
-HIV/AIDS,
-SA History & Hero’s,
-Gender Issues,
-Child Abuse,
-Crime and justice ,
-Domestic violence against woman,
-Anti corruption.
Twist International now wants to implement this success formula in other countries. One working visit to Nepal (April 2012) resulted in a one year plan and contacts with donors. The programe is not operational jet, it will start in 2014.
6 Steettheater groups in Nepal will work on social issues :
-Fighting poverty,
-Human traficking,
-Social transformation,
-Climate change,
-Exclusion,
-People effected by conflict.
Visit website Twist International
Lectures and workshops
workshop dramatugie, Theater aan de werf, nov. 2012
Regulary Roel Twijnstra gives lectures on theatreschools often becouse of his publications. Workshops and masterclasses theatre directing and dramatugy he often gives together with Kees van Loenen (writer/trainer). He lecured on theaterschools in the Netherlands (Arnhem, Utrecht and Amsterdam) and abroad (Jakarta, Moskow, New York and Durban). From febuary 2013 he will be lecturing an honours theatre directing course on UKZN-university in Durban.