Director Eline Arbo and five new actors joining Internationaal Theater Amsterdam
We are proud to announce that director Eline Arbo has committed herself to the theatre as Associate Artistic Director. Alongside director Ivo van Hove, she will be part of the artistic core of ITA. From January ‘23, Arbo will be appointed Ibsen Artist in Residence, an initiative of the Philip Loubser Foundation, which gives directors with an international ambition the opportunity to develop themselves artistically.
In addition, ITA will welcome five new actors to the ensemble in the coming months: 'Eefje Paddenburg, Daniël Kolf, Minne Koole, 'Ntianu Stuger and Eelco Smits. Besides their outstanding qualities as actors, they also contribute to the ever-increasing diversity of the ensemble, in which there is plenty of room for diversity in age, gender, sexuality and cultural background.
Ivo van Hove about Eline Arbo: “I got to know Eline as a top director, and above all as a strong leader. In her position she will be responsible for the continuity and further renewal of the ensemble of permanent actors and the recruitment of freelancers. She will also be involved in artistic choices for guest directors and the repertoire.”
Associate Artistic Director & Ibsen Artist in Residence
Eline Arbo
Eline Arbo (1986) comes from Norway. After studying Theatre Studies at the University of Oslo, Arbo moved to Amsterdam for her studies at the Directing course at the Theaterschool Amsterdam, which she successfully completed in 2016. In season 22|23, her direction of Penthesilea (Heinrich von Kleist) will have its premiere at ITA and her direction of The Hours will be reprised.
Eline Arbo: “My first production at Internationaal Theater Amsterdam in 2021, The Hours, felt like coming home. I am therefore very happy that I can continue to connect myself in the coming years as Associate Artistic Director and create even more performances with the absolute top ensemble of ITA. The Ibsen Artist in Residence is an exceptional opportunity to further develop my artistry at home and abroad.”
Eefje Paddenburg
Eefje Paddenburg (1999) graduated from the ArtEZ School of the Arts in 2022. She will be permanently employed by ITA from season 22|23 and can be seen from 2023 in My Heavenly Favourite (directed by Ivo van Hove) and Blood Wedding (directed by Wim Vandekeybus).
“Well, ITA… as a student at drama school it seems like a terrifying, unattainable place where bizarrely good actors perform who know who they are. Now, three months after graduating, I will enter that place. I am shitting my pants, but I especially want to learn from all the inspiring people. I look forward to it!“ – Eefje Paddenburg
Daniël Kolf
Daniël Kolf (1997) grew up in Suriname where he attended youth theatre school from an early age. In 2015, he moved to the Netherlands to develop at Theatre Schools in Arnhem and Amsterdam. He played important supporting roles in the cinema films I Don't Wanna Dance and Forever Rich, for the latter he received a Golden Calf nomination. After his role in The Damned, this season he will star in Blood Wedding
(Directed by Wim Vandekeybus).
‘Ntianu Stuger
‘Ntianu Stuger (1998) is an actor and theatre maker. ‘Ntianu graduated from the Amsterdam Toneelschool & Kleinkunstacademie in 2021 and played successfully in various productions by Oostpool, HNTjong, Orkater and de Toneelschuur. Due to existing commitments, she will start with the ensemble from season 24|25. Until then, 'Ntianu will be a regular guest actor.
“Thanks to the ensemble, ITA's performances have always felt like a kind of masterclass in acting. It feels like an enormous privilege to be able to join them now! I can't wait to develop myself further here and make theatre that hopefully will reach and touch people from all layers of our society.” – ‘Ntianu Stuger
Minne Koole
Minne Koole (1993) graduated in 2017 from the Amsterdam Theater and Kleinkunst Academie. In 2018, he played one of the lead roles in the feature film No One in the City, which earned him a Gouden Kalf nomination. He previously acted in theatre performances by Toneelgroep Amsterdam. From season 23|24 he will strengthen the ITA ensemble.
“I am very happy and proud to join the ITA ensemble. My dream to perform arose when I saw plays by this company. Watching in the hall, I almost learned more about myself than I did in real life. I have felt comforted, seen, confronted and confused. But most importantly, the actors here are phenomenal. To be able to stand and search next to them is a great challenge and terrifying, and therefore exactly what I want.” – Minne Koole.
Eelco Smits
Eelco Smits (1977) was a member of Toneelgroep Amsterdam, predecessor of the ITA ensemble, from 2005 to 2019. Smits received the Paul Steenbergen Medal in 2018.
“I know better than anyone that ITA is a place where you meet the most passionate and inspiring directors and actors. Where theatre is made that is looked forward to. I am therefore very excited to resume our collaboration.” – Eelco Smits
The complete ITA ensemble is made up of
Achraf Koutet, Aus Greidanus Jr., Bart Slegers, Celia Nufaar, Chris Nietvelt, Daniël Kolf, Eefje Paddenburg, Eelco Smits, Frieda Pittoors, Gijs Scholten van Aschat, Hans Kesting, Hélène Devos, Hugo Koolschijn, Ilke Paddenburg, Janni Goslinga, Jesse Mensah, Maarten Heijmans, Majd Mardo, Maria Kraakman, Marieke Heebink, Minne Koole, ‘Ntianu Stuger, Steven Van Watermeulen
About the Ibsen Artist in Residence and the Philip Loubser Foundation
The Ibsen Artist in Residence is made possible by the Philip Loubser Foundation to support directors of international reputation to develop an intensive connection with ITA. In addition, an annual budget is made available for personal artistic development, also outside ITA. In January 2023, Eline Arbo will succeed Robert Icke, who was awarded the Ibsen Artist in Residence for 2019-2022.
-|-Established in 1997, the Philip Loubser Foundation has a long tradition of supporting talent in dance and music, in collaboration with renowned international institutions such as the Royal Ballet School, the English National Opera, the Royal College of Music and the Thüringer Bachwochen.
