ABLE
Executive produced by Misfit Theatre & HKU Utrecht
Directed by Roos Rijnbeek
Assistant Director Alana Michaud | Music Anushka Chkheidze | Light Design & Technician Riley Stow | Setting Design Carl Michaud | Sound Technician Dean Kealy | Media Dean Kealy
In addition to the show there was a Q&A with Theoné van der Merwe
Special thank you to Kate, Tess, Isalinde, Linde & Tess
Pictures by Bart Grietens
The story
"I am able. Able to do anything. Able to be who I want to be. Able to share my story."
In ABLE, Roos takes us on a deeply personal journey, blending text, movement, and music to explore her experience living with a disability, all 1 meter and 28 centimetres of her. Roos invites us to see the world through her eyes as she confronts her short staturedness and the way society perceives her. For 25 years, she has struggled with what it means to be "different"—to question if she will ever truly accept her body, and to navigate a world that constantly reminds her of her perceived limitations. ABLE explores the emotional toll of living in a society that cannot accept difference.
ABLE calls for a shift in perspective—not just for the individual, but for all of us. ABLE seeks to create a society where difference is not something to be tolerated, but something to be celebrated. Roos' story is a powerful reminder: the change we seek starts with listening and sharing.
From the director
- Roos Rijnbeek
ABLE began as my graduation performance at the Academy for the Arts in Utrecht (The Netherlands) in 2023.
I asked myself, what is a story that I always wanted to share? I immediately knew, that I wanted to perform the story of my life and take the rope in my own hand.
I chose to create a solo piece — writing, directing, and performing — as a way to challenge myself and explore new creative ground. What started as an experiment quickly became something deeply personal.
The work draws from my life with Achondroplasia, a form of short stature. For a long time, I hesitated to talk about it. But through ABLE, I found a way to share my story beyond words — to let the audience feel the realities, challenges, and emotions of living with a disability.
The response was overwhelmingly positive and proved to me that stories like mine are still too rare. It sparked vital conversations around visibility, inclusion, and equality — conversations we need to keep having.
ABLE is a story that will go around for a while.
I dedicate this work to the celebration of individuality and the belief that we are all ABLE to be who we are.
