Matter that Moves
Makers Lab 2026
Duda Paiva Company and De Lieve Vrouw launch a new talent development project in Amersfoort. With this initiative, they create space for a new generation of makers to broaden the spectrum of visual theatre through animated forms — where objects and sculptures become living stage partners.
This year’s Matter that Moves Makers Lab is hope. In a time shaped by uncertainty, hope is a practice. Visual theater embodies that practice; giving life to a dead object refuses speed, replacement, and technological dependency. It relies solely on the human body and mind: with breath, attention, and presence. An object is no longer disposable; it becomes a being. That is how matter gains meaning.
This evening brings together new voices: creators who, each in their own way, explore what matter can say. In short works of 15–20 minutes, they demonstrate just how precise, diverse, and expressive visual theater can be.
After the performance, directors Cat Smits and Duda Paiva will engage in a conversation with the creators and the audience. This is an opportunity to get to know the people behind the work: where are they from, what drives them, how do they work, and what are they trying to convey through their work?
Matter that Moves supports young creators who are reinventing what it means to bring matter to life on stage.
Talents
Veronika Zablotska (Ukraine/The Netherlands) — A multidisciplinary performer, educator, and maker whose practice blends acting, choreography, movement, and vocal expression into a deeply embodied stage presence. Originally from Ukraine, Veronika has trained across performance disciplines and brings a nuanced, hybrid approach to movement and physical narrative, shaped by her experience of displacement and cultural transition. In this trajectory Veronika works on manipulation as ensemble work, together with fellow talents: Sjoerd Eltink and Buket Soydar.
Tatiana Śpiewak (Poland/The Netherlands) — A dynamic dance and performance artist raised in Warsaw and based in Amsterdam. With a strong foundation in contemporary and interdisciplinary performance practice, Tatiana explores movement beyond conventional dance forms, extending into performance, film, and teaching. Her work often interrogates presence, identity, and embodiment with wit and depth. In this trajectory Tatiana will create a solo work with a Duda Paiva Company sculpture.
Tijmen Teunissen Tijmen Teunissen (The Netherlands) — A Rotterdam-based contemporary dancer and maker, trained at ArtEZ University of the Arts. Tijmen has performed widely in both dance and interdisciplinary performance contexts and co-founded Lazy Susan & Co, a dance collective known for its rigorous movement work and inventive collaborations. His practice blends physical precision with conceptual curiosity. In this trajectory Tijmen will create a solo work with a Duda Paiva Company sculpture.
Credits
Concept and direction: Duda Paiva, Cat Smits
Sculptures: Duda Paiva, Cat Smits
Performance: Veronika Zablotska, Sjoerd Eltink, Buket Soydar, Tatiana Śpiewak, Tijmen Teunissen
Technics: Jan Sol
Production: Merel van Marken Lichtenbelt, Barbara Reijs
Education: Keshia Emke
Marketing & PR: Romy Roomans, Buket Soydar
- © Dave Pelham
- © Johan Horst
- © Tijmen Teunissen