A B O U T M E
Manuel Groothuysen (Maastricht, 1997, he/him) is a Dutch-Iranian performance artist who creates sound driven performances based on his feelings, thoughts, analyses, fears and fascinations surrounding themes located on the spectrum between existentialism and spirituality. His own troubled mind and the eternal process of its healing have been the spark of a fire of curiosity towards the miraculous absurdity of existence and our human quest towards meaning and belonging.
Paradoxically, Manuel uses the human body in his work (both that of himself and of consensual others) in an attempt to deconstruct the idea of humanity as the centre of reality. It is a rarity for Manuel to not connect the physicality of the human body to the medium of sound.
Alongside his individual practice, Manuel makes performances with his sister, Diane Mahín, as the performance collective FADAT.
Photo by Nikola Lamburov
education
2023.
Institute of Performative Arts, Maastricht, Specialization in Performance Art
2019
Utrecht University, Specialization in Gender & Postcolonial Studies
works
2025
in soft out loud [in progress]
Het Huis Utrecht, STUK Leuven, Out of Sight, Antwerp
2024
trying to get cozy in the dark dark void
Amsterdam Fringe Festival
2023
COME TO BED
Playground Festival, STUK Leuven
2023
PORTALS
Toneelacademie Maastricht
2023
Binocular Rivalry
Toneelacademie Maastricht
2022
For A Long Time Now
Amsterdam Fringe Festival
in work of others
2025
Howl Baby Howl - Judith Engelen & Ika Schwander
CC Gasthuis, Aarschot
2024
Offerplengsters - HINTER Collectief
All Greeks Festival, NT Gent
2023 - present
è vero, è vero, è vero - Ika Schwander
Theater Aan Zee, Oostende
2022 - present
GUT - Diane Mahín
Rewire Festival, The Hague
2021 - 2022
CHMSX Stories - Theater van de Heelheid
OBA Amsterdam
2021
SKIN - Manouk Pluis & Jim Buskens
De Schuur, Haarlem
2019
What we leave behind - Davy Pieters
De Paardenkathedraal, Utrecht
residencies
2024
in soft out loud
Het Huis Utrecht
2024
in soft out loud
STUK, Leuven
2024
in soft out loud
Out of Sight, Antwerp
2023
trying to get cozy in the dark dark void
Het Huis Utrecht
2022
For A Long Time Now
Instrument Inventors Initiative, The Hague
works
2025
in soft out loud [in progress]
Het Huis Utrecht, STUK Leuven, Out of Sight, Antwerp
2024
trying to get cozy in the dark dark void
Amsterdam Fringe Festival
2023
COME TO BED
Playground Festival, STUK Leuven
2023
PORTALS
Toneelacademie Maastricht
2023
Binocular Rivalry
Toneelacademie Maastricht
2022
For A Long Time Now
Amsterdam Fringe Festival
in work of others
2025
Howl Baby Howl - Judith Engelen & Ika Schwander
CC Gasthuis, Aarschot
2024
Offerplengsters - HINTER Collectief
All Greeks Festival, NT Gent
2023 - present
è vero, è vero, è vero - Ika Schwander
Theater Aan Zee, Oostende
2022 - present
GUT - Diane Mahín
Rewire Festival, The Hague
2021 - 2022
CHMSX Stories - Theater van de Heelheid
OBA Amsterdam
2021
SKIN - Manouk Pluis & Jim Buskens
De Schuur, Haarlem
2019
What we leave behind - Davy Pieters
De Paardenkathedraal, Utrecht