by Steven Seedo
PARAMARIBO — The Surinamese-Dutch actress, director and dancer Barbera Oppenheimer (32) is about to complete her bachelor’s degree in Theater and Education at the Academy of Theater and Dance. “I started two years ago and fortunately I finished it within that period,” Oppenheimer says the True Time.
The training, which normally takes four years, is now crammed into two years and she calls it “intensive”. “They cram four years into two years, so it’s tough. But I did everything I could to finish it.”
“In the Netherlands I get paid for what I am worth”
On April 18, Oppenheimer presented her graduation performance ‘Inheritance’. She describes it as “a penetrating piece about trauma and unconscious family patterns”. Her research focused on what happens when experiences are not expressed and how they become lodged in the body and mind. At the same time, it shows how change becomes possible.
Preliminary investigation
Oppenheimer: “I can’t really find the words… but the tears rolling down my cheeks when I look back at these images say it all. I’m proud that I challenged myself and my players. We have become stronger physically and mentally as a group.”
She still has to complete two parts of her studies, including a plea comparable to a thesis. After that, she wants to fully focus on playing again. ‘Inheritance’ is a preliminary study for a larger production that she will release later.
Oppenheimer has no plans to return to Suriname after her studies, but assures that her bond with the country remains strong. “I want to earn money in the Netherlands and use it for art and education in Suriname,” she reveals.
Art education
In November last year, Oppenheimer was in Suriname with an art project in primary education, which she wants to repeat in January 2027. During her visit five months ago, she provided theater and dance lessons at several primary schools with Tori Productions, of which she is a member, and the dance group The Myztikalz. “Theatre and dance at school give children the space to express themselves creatively, develop self-confidence and learn together. It is an indispensable contribution to their personal growth.”
Oppenheimer, who has lived in the Netherlands since 2015, emphasizes the broader importance of arts education: “It shapes youth, increases self-confidence and stimulates creativity and empathy. Theater is the foundation of learning.”
Profession, not a hobby
Oppenheimer started her theater career in 2004 at Theater On Stage, where she worked with Kim Aikman and Helen Kamperveen, among others. She appeared in productions such as ‘Atalanta’, ‘Romeo and Juliet’ and ‘Chicago’ and later also taught at On Stage.
She calls the biggest difference between the Netherlands and Suriname the appreciation for the profession. “Here I am paid for what I am worth. It is my profession and not a hobby. That gives many opportunities,” says Oppenheimer. With her passion for theater, Oppenheimer continues to work as a maker, player and teacher, with the aim of inspiring others and making art more accessible.
