A new play about how a first love becomes a blueprint for all our subsequent relationships in life.
‘Morning Sun’ focuses on Claire and Sylvia, who grew up together in a small religious village in England. At the age of twenty-one, Sylvia left the repressive climate of her hometown to seek her fortune elsewhere and later enjoyed fame as a writer of literary novels. Claire stayed on to keep the family farm running after her older brother died in an accident. Now, thirty-three years later, the two women meet again. In an attempt to explain what drew them so closely together at the time and ultimately drove them apart, we learn that both women were, indirectly, always involved in each other's lives.
‘Morning Sun’ explores the ways in which we’re bound to how and where we grew up, and most of all, how a first love can become a blueprint for all our subsequent relationships in life.
Claire
Leila is a British-Iranian actress who trained in London at the Actors' Centre and later studied the Meisner technique with teachers in Amsterdam and Berlin. She now runs her own Meisner technique studio. She is also developing projects that invite people to engage with the climate and biodiversity crisis and laugh at the same time. So far it's been a bit like trying to get people to walk and stand still simultaneously: impossible. (But she's still trying.)
Sylvia
Hansje is a Dutch actor based in the Netherlands, known for her grounded stage presence and strong instinct for character. Trained at The Mulholland Academy and currently continuing professional performance training, she has experience across theatre, film, television, and commercial work within the Netherlands, in both Dutch- and English-language productions. She is valued for her sense of humor, professionalism, collaborative spirit, and responsiveness to direction.
Edy
Jacquelyn Poplar is an actress, writer, and director. Recent projects include Secondhand Furniture (co-author, director) and Little Women (co-director) for Bird Brain Theatre, Spamalot (director) for Happily Ever After Productions, and Couch (co-author, director) for Leiden English Theatre. She will be appearing as Gertrude in Bird Brain Theatre's upcoming Hamlet. Jacquelyn has an MFA in Acting from Penn State University, and is currently working on completing her Lessac Training certification. Her new acting and body/voice studio, Poplarts Studio, will be opening soon.
Varying roles
Anna has over 35 years' experience in theatre as an actor, clown, director, writer and teacher/trainer, working in both the UK and the Netherlands. Recent credits include directing Cauldron Performing Arts' sell-out She Kills Monsters; playing Nanny Ogg in InPlayers' Wyrd Sisters; and appearing as Maia in Tellus Theatre Company's London run of their philosophical comedy, Night Train. She has also performed with Happily Ever After Productions in Avenue Q (Lucy T. Slut, 2022 & 2025), Chicago and Chicago Revival (Matron Mama Morton, 2023), and Heathers Revival (Ms. Fleming, 2025), and is currently directing their upcoming production of Spring Awakening (The Musical).
John
Keith is originally from Oldham in the North of England, and currently works as a Drama teacher at the British School of Amsterdam. He has been in the Netherlands for over ten years, and in that time he has performed in a variety of English language productions, including The Wolf & Cinderella's Prince in Happily Ever After's production of 'Into the Woods', Algernon in QETC's 'The Importance of Being Earnest', and appeared in many productions by InPlayers. Keith collaborated with Strike Me Pink on multiple projects, such as ‘Calamus’, ‘Dancing with Daffodils’ and as a director/writer for the short play ‘Hunk’d’.
Ralph is a Dutch actor and playwright who trained at Meisner Toneelacademie ('14 - '17). After graduating, Ralph pursued his love of theatre by doing classic plays, including Wilde's 'The Importance Of Being Earnest' and Chekov's 'The Seagull,' and more contemporary pieces such as 'Noises Off,' by Michael Frayn. In 2020, he created Strike Me Pink Productions and wrote and adapted several plays. After his directorial debut with ‘Dancing with Daffodils’ in 2023, ‘Morning Sun’ will be his second play as a director.
Merel is a multifaceted theatre maker, presenter, actor, and teacher. She draws inspiration from film and literature and is fascinated by the beauty of discomfort. In the theatre, she creates and teaches, wanting to take the audience and participants into a moment where something seemingly unremarkable is lifted from the everyday.
Cristina loves getting shit done. Lists are her natural habitat, and few things bring her more joy than a freshly ticked box. As a supporting producer, she is here to make sure things run smoothly - even when they absolutely shouldn’t. Beyond her obsession with structure, she is also a human. She has trained in storytelling and stand-up comedy in Amsterdam and is currently deepening her acting practice through Meisner-based training. She’s fascinated by people - their quirks, contradictions, and everything in between - which makes theatre feel like home.
Evan began his career designing shows in New York City and London before moving to Amsterdam. He has designed for many productions - including TV & film. He was a specialist designer for the feature “Hardcore Never Dies” and the upcoming “De Eetclub” on Netflix. Evan has been the designer for Strike Me Pink since its founding and loves to create these shows.
“I’ve never seen female desire portrayed on stage in that way. The chemistry between the two leads is amazing and it’s great the way the story evolves.”
“The emotional changes the actors had to make were outstanding.”
“A masterclass in storytelling and performance. I laughed out loud, I cried, and saw myself in it.”
“Such a beautiful story. It was so captivating.”
“It was so layered and deeply emotional. The two main characters had an electrifying vibe.”
“I was really moved by the play. It gets to you deeply.”
“I was constantly finding things in myself from both of the main characters.”
