The Michael Chekhov Collectief
was founded in 2022 by theatermaker Marjolein Baars and cellist / actrice Doris Hochscheid. Their shared passion for the Michael Chekhov acting technique and the desire to make it accessible to both actors and musicians resulted in an intensive collaboration in The Miraculous Journey of Fi and concluded in 2024.
Marjolein Baars
Doris about Marjolein: Marjolein is not only an incredibly experienced and inspiring coach and a very precise observer, but also a fascinating creative artist. The Michael Chekhov acting technique is deeply ingrained in her system and ensures a very natural flow of her intuition in every creative process. She is a master at sensing whether something ‘clicks’. It’s a pleasure to work with her!
After completing my education in physiotherapy, haptonomy, and mime, I discovered the Michael Chekhov acting technique (MCat) in 1991 and was immediately hooked. This was a ‘language’ that I immediately had access to, that I understood, and that greatly inspired me. It gave me the freedom to play. In a very concrete way, I gained access to what I couldn’t express in words but could express in images and (inner) movement. Over the last 30 years, I have played, created, taught, directed, and coached using the MCat, and I continue to work towards making this acting technique accessible both domestically and internationally. Additionally, I discovered that this approach is just as inspiring for other target groups such as healthcare and education. I also strive for inspired and creative ‘acting’ and collaboration in those areas. Many thanks to Lenard Petit and Peter Paul Gerbrands who guided me. For more information, please visit: tiny hero productions , De Stichting Koffer and/or MICHA.
Natalie Yalon
Marjolein about Natalie: Natalie is a ‘real pro’. Natalie radiates, challenges, knows her stuff and goes all the way with enormous energy and love for theater, acting, and people. A true sister in the Michael Chekhov acting technique and beyond. we are both trained by Lenard Petit. It is a great pleasure to work together and to be able to co-create, exchange, inspire, and laugh heartily from the depths of our being!
Natalie is the artistic director of Studio Michael Chekhov Brussels (2011). She has been working as an actress, director, and theater teacher in Belgium, Italy, France, Guadeloupe, Chile, and the United States for more than twenty years.
Julia Vossen
Marjolein about Julia: When Julia picks up a puppet, she looks at it intently and crawls inside it. She then focuses all her attention on the puppet and brings it to life. In addition to being a keen observer, she tells stories, sings, and plays. She loves to play and try new things. With lots of fun and coffee! It is a great pleasure to dive into the world of puppetry together.
‘I have been involved in theater from an early age. But the most interesting developments have taken place in the last four years. In 2021, I left for Sweden for a year to follow the ‘Youth Initiative Program’ with the hope of finding out how I could save the world. I realized that was a bit too ambitious. I am now setting my sights a little lower and want to leave the world at least a little better than when I entered it. I do this by telling stories in different ways, through acting, using puppets, or simply telling them on stage.
I have worked a lot with young children, and that has inspired me. Their amazement at the simplest things: a butterfly landing on your hand, a printer printing a picture that was just visible on the screen, a moving box (yes… a moving box). I incorporate this wonder into my stories, because I don’t know how it is for you, but in this world, with everything that’s going on, I can quickly forget how beautiful the world actually is.