Mathieu Wijdeven

The work by theatre maker, scenographer, visual artist and actor Mathieu Wijdeven (1991, Tilburg) begins with him being fascinated by the symbiotic relationship between people and objects. He makes sculptures based on the stories he finds entering into public spaces and having conversations with his audience about the topic. He invites his audience to reflect on personal and existential topics by using abstract art. 

In 2021 his solo performance Het waarom beantwoord (Answering the why) premiered at Productiehuis Theater Rotterdam. After conducting extensive research into the life of his great-great-grandfather, who turned out to be a poet and a versatile artist, he paid tribute to his predecessor G.G.T. Rustwijk (1862-1914) who lived in Surinam just after slavery had been abolished. The performance was selected by the Vlaams Theaterfestival (2022), nominated for the BNG Bank Theatre Award (2022) and it won an award for best playwright: Toneelschrijfprijs (2022). 

Mathieu Wijdeven builds on traditions that are in line with leading theatre makers such as Rufus Collins, Thea Doelwijt and Henk Tjon. He wants to tell stories that perhaps not everybody wants to hear, but are important to be told.