Playing to Win: 1-Day Intensive Scene Study with David Elsendoorn in Amsterdam

Set in the heart of Amsterdam, Netherlands, the [Academy] 1-Day Intensive Scene Study: Playing to Win w/ David Elsendoorn compresses a semester’s worth of risk-taking and craft tools into a single, deliberate day. Running Saturday, December 12 from 11:00–18:00 with a one-hour break, this small-group lab limits enrollment to ten participants so every scene gets precise attention. David Elsendoorn — an instructor who trained at Theaterschool of Amsterdam (ATKA) and whose credits include Ik weet wie je bent, Turbulent Skies, Singel 39, two Hallmark films and the Emmy-winning ensemble of Ted Lasso — guides practical exercises that sharpen scene choices, build truthful objectives, and make risk feel teachable rather than terrifying. Rather than perform raw improvisation, participants are cast into curated film or play scenes so discovery is framed by structure; you’ll rehearse, receive targeted notes, and perform with real stakes. The room becomes an engine for clarity: text analysis drills, objectives work, status exercises, and partner-focused beats that translate to both stage and camera. Open to all levels, the day asks you to make bold choices and then refines those choices so they land with specificity rather than volume. If you’ve ever blanked under a director’s stare or felt your instincts collapse on the first line, this intensive rewires that reaction into a reliable toolkit. Beyond the craft, the workshop plugs you into Amsterdam’s broader creative pulse: rehearsal studios that sit near canal ring architecture and a steady stream of international casting projects that pass through the city. Classroom work in this format emphasizes feedback loops—perform, critique, adjust—so you leave with concrete next steps and material you can use in reels or auditions. Practical notes: pack a notebook, wear shoes that let you move, bring clean acting choices for two short scenes, and expect focused, sometimes intense one-on-one direction. Because the day is concentrated and capped at ten, it rewards preparedness; arriving with beats mapped and an emotional objective sharpened will maximize your time. David’s background across Dutch television and international film brings a practical orientation—notes are aimed at usable choices producers and casting directors can recognize on tape. Whether you’re polishing an audition piece or testing new riskier impulses, the [Academy] session turns a single weekend day into a concentrated career practice session. Reserve early—the class size, scheduled time, and one-day format mean spots move quickly—and note that while the workshop focuses on performance technique, it also teaches tools for on-camera subtlety and truthful stage presence. Details: duration 7 hours including one hour break; maximum 10 participants; taught by David Elsendoorn; location: Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands. The day is ideal for actors seeking measurable progress—arrive ready to listen, try, and leave with sharper, actionable scene work and lasting confidence.