Erik is a multidisciplinary and independent professional who connects disciplines and bridges boundaries.
Trained as a filmmaker and stage performer, passionate world traveler and driven autodidact, he inspires to see the world from a new perspective.
He combines people skills, technical expertise, humor and practical directness with artistic flair and constantly explores new possibilities and skills.
From travel photography to training and from theatre performance to lighting design:
Erik brings it all together.
“To travel is to take a journey into yourself”
“Not until we are lost do we begin to understand ourselves.”
“What if I fall? Oh, but my darling, what if you fly?”
Travel Photography
Erik’s travel photography is fueled by his love for South East Asia and storytelling
A particular fondness for kids and ordinary live shines through in his ability to reveal the character and stories of the people he encounters.
Erik’s work is a journey into the heart of a culture. Informed by his profound understanding of light, framing and narrative from a career in film and theatre, and infused with the empathy cultivated as an educator, his photographs are ment to be an intimate chronicle of our shared humanity.
Travel Photography
Erik is a visual storyteller whose work is a vibrant fusion of his diverse creative and professional pursuits. With a foundation forged in the worlds of filmmaking and theatre, his photography is not merely a record of places visited but a deeply personal exploration of the human experience.
His journey began with formal training as a filmmaker and stage performer, cultivating a deep fascination with the power of light to shape narrative. As a lighting technician in film and a designer for theatrical productions, he learned that light does more than illuminate—it tells a story, sculpts emotion, and guides the viewer’s eye. This mastery of light is visibly woven into his photographic style, where every shadow and every sunbeam is a deliberate component of the story being told.
Beyond the technical, Erik’s art is defined by his profound empathy and ability to connect with his subjects. As an experienced educator and trainer with a special talent for working with children and families, he possesses a rare skill for dissolving the barrier between the camera and the individual. This allows him to capture authentic human moments with an effortless intimacy, revealing the true character and unguarded stories of the people he encounters.
Fueled by an enduring love for Southeast Asia, Erik’s portefolio is an immersive cultural narrative. His photographs are the result of deep immersion, a journey into the “language of smiles” and the hidden gems that are absent from tourist guides. He documents the quiet grace of everyday life, transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary. His work is a humanist chronicle, a collection of candid portraits and evocative scenes that bridge cultures and highlight our shared humanity.
Ultimately, Erik’s unique multidisciplinary background makes him a visionary artist. He brings together the cinematic eye of a filmmaker, the emotional depth of a stage performer, and the compassionate heart of an educator to create a body of work that is not only visually stunning but also profoundly moving. Through his lens, every image is an invitation to see the world from a new perspective, a story told with light, a journey into the heart of authentic connection.
Training & Education
As a passionate and experienced trainer, Erik wants to inspire and connect. He develops and provides communication training at home and abroad for various professional groups.
His versatile background as a performing artist enriches his unique and direct training approach. He knows how to convey complex subjects in an accessible way and he creates a safe environment in which participants can learn and grow.
An open attitude, humor and infectious enthusiasm make the training sessions especially fun and encourage participants to push their boundaries together
“We look back on the theme evening with satisfaction. The scenes that the actors played were impressive and educational”
“Erik Ploeg was able to summarise the reactions from the audience in a very professional way and to link them back to the actors”
Train with Erik
Erik has over a decade of experience in developing and delivering training and workshops for children, young adults and education professionals. He focuses on topics that are often experienced as difficult in education, such as bullying, sexuality, alcohol and drugs, and setting boundaries. With his direct approach, practical working method and empathy, he knows how to make these sensitive topics discussable and offer participants concrete tools.
Erik has also provided coaching and training for young adults to prepare them for their adult life after school or study. For example, he provided internship preparation training at various vocational schools and universities, where he supported students in developing communication skills, self-confidence and professional manners.
Erik’s expertise goes beyond education. He develops and provides communication training for various professional groups at home and abroad. At the GGD Amsterdam he provided training on effective communication, while in Asia he trained guides in dealing with Dutch travellers and intercultural differences. For education professionals he designed workshops on dealing with challenging behaviour or aggressive situations in the classroom.
Erik’s ability to make complex subjects understandable by combining practical exercises with clear explanations, a personal approach and his direct style, ensure that participants quickly get to the core and become actively involved in the training. Whether it concerns students, guides or professionals, Erik always creates a safe learning environment in which there is room for growth.
With his dedication, Erik makes a valuable contribution to the personal and professional development of his participants. His training courses are not only educational but also inspiring, so that participants go home with new insights and practical skills.
Stage Performance
As a trained and graduated stage artist, Erik is a versatile actor and singer.
He combines his love for text treatment, storytelling and chansons with roles in kids theatre, musicals and film and TV.
He directs, writes, translated texts and composed music for theatre. In addition, as a presenter he knows how to involve and inspire his audience with his humorous, energetic and direct presentation style.
For the one with the closed book
For the one with the forgotten names
For the one who searches in vain
Must know now we are all together
Ramses Shaffy
Erik Performing Artist
Erik is a versatile performing artist who combines his broad experience and talents as a singer, actor, writer and translator in various projects. Graduated from STEM theatreschool, he has built a theatre career in which he effortlessly switches between different disciplines. He writes music, lyrics, theatre texts and translates, using his love of language and music to bring stories to life. As a singer, he feels at home in the musical and chanson repertoire, with great admiration for artists such as Jacques Brel, Ramses Shaffy and Dutch lyricists as Rob Chrispijn, Harry Jekkers and Jurrian van Dongen.
Erik performed in kids theatre, including “De Bende van de Korenwolf” and “De Griezelbus”, where he could fully utilise his playful energy. In addition, he wrote texts for varieous shows and directed performances for both professionals and amateurs. In musicals such as “Pierre Cuypers de Musical” he brought his singing and acting talent together on stage.
For many years he was part of the choir of “Musicals in Concert”, where he performed in large-scale productions with well-known musical hits. In dinner shows Erik combined acting, singing and presenting, including his role as the Amsterdammer Johnny in “Cursus Amsterdams”. At the Efteling he brought iconic characters to life, such as Tita Tovenaar and the Fakir. His goal on stage is always to enchant and let his audience see and experience the world with different eyes.
Erik has also proven his versatility outside the theatre. He played smaller roles in TV and film productions, appeared in commercials and translated pieces such as the musical “The Last 5 Years”.
Collaborations with renowned directors including Dirk Tanghe at the theatre company De Paardenkathedraal have further broadened his artistic horizon. Erik also worked as a training actor for various companies, where he combined his acting talent with communication and interaction skills to create realistic training situations.
Erik wrote, directed, played and managed Bureau Horizon. Here he created interactive educational theatre for children and young adults, in which social themes were dealt with in an accessible way.
What sets Erik apart is his transformative power and the ability to bring all his skills and experiences together into a versatile whole. Whether it concerns singing a chanson, playing for children, performing in musicals or presenting during a dinner show: Erik always manages to surprise with creativity, craftsmanship and passion. His performances are not only an experience, but also an invitation to see the world in a new way.
Lighting Design
Erik is fascinated by light, both in film and theatre as in the world around us.
Educated at the Dutch Film Academy, he started his career as a lighting technician in film, but later switched to lighting design for theatre productions. He creates lighting designs for both intimate and large-scale productions.
Light is everywhere: intangible and elusive, but it can dance, inspire and move. Light tells a story.
Erik’s Light
For Erik, light is more than a technical tool; it is a powerful way to tell stories and convey emotions. Graduated from the Dutch Film Academy as a cameraman and lighting technician, he began his career in film and television. He worked as a lighting technician on well-known productions such as “Baantjer” and “Pleidooi”, as well as on music videos and commercials. This experience gave him a keen eye for how light can add atmosphere and meaning to images.
After his work in film, Erik made the switch to theatre, where the magic of light comes into its own. In theatre, light becomes an independent element that tells stories and creates worlds. Erik designed lighting plans and worked as a theatre technician for various productions. For example, he provided the lighting and stage design for Sanne Wallis de Vries’ show “Sop” and accompanied it during the tour.
His background in film gives him a keen sense of composition and visual impact, while his experience in theatre shows him how light can enhance dynamics and emotion in live performances. For Erik, light is not a supporting element, but a protagonist that brings scenes to life, enriches stories and enchants the audience. His designs show the power of light in creating magic on stage.
Webdesign
Erik is a creative web designer who designs functional, visually appealing and adventurous websites.
He combines technical expertise with an eye for aesthetics to create unique online experiences that are effective and fun to use.
He has designed websites for artists, individuals, small businesses and foundations.
With his creative approach and personal touch, he ensures that every website is not only functional, but becomes a journey of discovery and tells a story.
Erik ensures that every design is user-friendly and meets the needs. With attention to detail and a practical approach, he translates ideas into digital designs that inspire and surprise.
Webdesign by Erik
Voluntary
As a versatile and committed volunteer, Erik uses his knowledge and experience to support others.
He worked for the GGD Amsterdam, among other things, where he set up a chemsex consultation hour and counseling. In addition, he provided information at Man tot Man for ten years and was active at Unity, where he provided alcohol and drug information.
With his psychological insight, practical approach and personal commitment, Erik knows how to make complex subjects discussable and help people move forward.
Miscellaneous
- Currently Erik works exclusively for Sawadee Reizen as their Online Photo Editor Southeast Asia
- Erik has successfully completed the cognitive and skills evaluations in accordance with the curriculum of the American Heart Association Heartsaver First Aid CPR AED Program
- Erik is a licenced Padi Diver and Apnea Total Freediver
- Erik is the founder and proud sole member of ‘The Buro Of Unsolicited Advice’
