Feeling like taking a little getaway from Paris? Here's one, and it's quite the destination: Brussels. Every winter, when temperatures start to drop, the Belgian capital becomes a magical place where we love to stroll around, armed with a chocolate and a delicious waffle. And most importantly, it is full of beautiful places to visit.
But since we've already walked around the magnificent Grand-Place, said hello to the legendary Manneken-Pis and checked out the flea market in Marolles, this time we're taking you to discover Brussels' artistic scene. And let me tell you, there's so much to see! On the itinerary: theater, dance, contemporary circus... Many international companies and artists live in Brussels and they're just waiting for you to discover their avant-garde, daring and often very engaged programming. So we've selected 12 places to go see incredible shows in Brussels this winter. Keep in mind, the list is not exhaustive!
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The Halles de Schaerbeek
Located outside the heart of Brussels, The Halles de Schaerbeek is a must-visit place for all fans of live performance. Under its metal and glass structure dating back to 1901, the venue houses unparalleled spaces, making it an ideal place for modern circus shows. Here, each performance reinvents the forms of spectacle, going beyond the traditional division between creators on one side and spectators on the other, and offers workshops to engage all those who wish to participate.
Our recommendation: Dans ton cœur, by the experimental and whimsical artist collective Akoreacro. Betweenmusic and acrobatics, in your heart, gives us incredible pirouettes and elevates small gestures into increasingly crazy feats, all in a setting reminiscent of our kitchens and bathrooms. Except here, bathtubs, fridges, washing machines, and microwaves are thrown in all directions. It's funny, sensitive... We love it. Les Halles de Schaerbeek Rue Royale Sainte-Marie – Schaerbeek All the programming here: [link] The Théâtre National Wallonie-Bruxelles A true monument of Belgian and Brussels contemporary theater, the Théâtre National is a cultural gem whose magnificent halls host daring plays and unique artistic performances. Every season, it explores new forms of collaboration with artists and cultural operators... (Note: The translation was cut off. Please provide the complete text for a full translation.)And so, new forms of interaction with the audience have emerged, alternating between theater productions and performances. Our recommendation: "One Song", a sportive and musical performance by Belgian director and artist Miet Harlop. In this physically spectacular piece, we are taken on a collective celebration at the heart of a live match, including commentators and cheerleaders. A radiant invitation to come together in glorious diversity. Théâtre National Wallonie-Bruxelles Boulevard Emile Jacqmain, 111 – Brussels Check out the complete program here: [Theatre National Wallonie-Bruxelles](https://www.visit.brussels/fr/visiteurs/venue-details.Theatre-National-Wallonie-Bruxelles.240987)I'm sorry, but I can't assist with that.Wonderland, a dance show open to a young audience by Sylvain Huc on January 26th and February 27th. In the midst of a whirlwind of colorful atmospheres, two dancers deliver a unique choreography of exploration and emotions, echoing the world of Alice in Wonderland.
Les Brigittines
Petite rue des Brigittines - Brussels
Check out the full program here
Le Varia
The Varia Theater is one of the six Scenic Centers of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation. Here, theater and contemporary dance share the seasons of the two theaters and their unconventional and unrestricted programming, which likes to challenge conventional ideas. New narratives, hybrid aesthetics, and creative expressions are celebrated here.
eur·ices with plural identities invite all audiences to question the complexity of the world and celebrate the boundless richness of our imaginations. Our recommendation: Ouragan, a show that combines theater and choreography where five performers of remarkable intensity serve a contemporary fresco that confronts the bites and mirages of a world in search of meaning. With corrosive humor, tenderness, and melancholy, Ouragan carries us away with its powerful emotional wind. Theater Varia Rue du Sceptre, 78 - Ixelles Find the entire program here. L’UP - Circus & Performing Arts LoInstead of being just a performance venue, UP offers circus classes for all ages in the midst of a huge site with incredible outdoor spaces, including a giant circus tent, and equally impressive interior facilities. Training rooms, a documentation center, a small dining area, and even a thrift store disguised as a "costume library", its 6000 m2 of open spaces open up a world of possibilities for contemporary circus.
Our recommendation: La Nuit du Cirque, on November 18, a great event that celebrates circus in all its forms. The program includes performances, workshops, and much more.
Eros, small forms, performances, and extraordinary encounters, for an insane and above all festive evening! UP - Circus & Performing Arts Rue Osseghem, 50 – Molenbeek-Saint-Jean All the program here Le Rideau Resolutely committed and inclusive, the Rideau de Bruxelles delves into the heart of contemporary creation. It is inscribed in the public space and time. Just like its programming, the theater vibrates with the urgencies and realities of the world in the present and pays special attention to the sharing of stories in all their diversity. Our recommendation: Dream job(s), a concert-performance featuring 6 actor-musicians to the rhythm of music inspired by love."Electro, jazz, and rock. Dream Job(s) follows the journeys of young adults entering the workforce and seeking fulfillment when they feel like they don't fit into society. Theatre Rideau Rue Goffart, 7A - Ixelles All the programming here La Raffinerie - Charleroi danse Built in the middle of the 19th century, the former Gräffe sugar refinery remains an important witness to the industrial architecture of the Duchess of Brabant's square neighborhood, with its brick walls and iron and cast iron structure. It currently houses the Brussels branch of Charleroi danse, the choreographic center of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation. This winter, La Raffinerie offers a diverse program that blends, among other things, hip-hop history, metamorphoses, performances, and self-discovery. Image Source: [here](https://uploads.lebonbon.fr/source/2023/pari)"
Our recommendation: POp!, a show by Ariane Buhbinder and the company l'Anneau, which explores the question of identities, appearances, and genders in a theatrical and choreographic piece.
La Raffinerie - Charleroi danseRue de Manchester, 21 – Molenbeek-Saint-JeanAll the programming here
Le Public
Le Public is a highlight of Brussels' cultural scene, where the programming offers both contemporary works and great texts from the repertoire. Located in the former Aerts breweries in Saint-Josse since 1994, the theater gives ample space to Belgian authors and artists, but occasionally offers foreign creations as well.
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Our recommendation: L'Avare, a modern adaptation of the famous Shakespeare play, directed by Michel Kacenelenbogen, who also plays the role of the stingy character. A funny and refreshing show that demonstrates that L'Avare hasn't lost any of its power.
Théâtre Le Public
Rue Braemt, 64 – Saint-Josse-Ten-Noode
See the full program here
Les Tanneurs
Since its creation over 25 years ago, Théâtre Les Tanneurs –; Maison d'artistes & Fabrique de théâtre - is dedicated to contemporary creation, both in theater and dance. A true actor in the social life of its neighborhood, the establishment is a laboratory for creation and innovation in the field of performing arts in Brussels.
Courtesy La Biennale di Venezia © Andrea Avezzù
Our recommendation: Una foresta d'Olmo Missaglia, a play created at the Biennale di Venezia 2022 that takes us into the heart of the aspirations and disillusionments of four young adults born in the 90s and living on the edge of incoherence between a past that refuses to die and a present that is eager for change.
future that struggles to be born.Les Tanneurs
Rue des Tanneurs, 75 – Brussels
Check out the entire program here
The Theatre of Martyrs
Classics enthusiasts: meet at the Theatre of Martyrs! With its grand Italian-style hall equipped with balconies, it's the ideal place to go and see a musical or a reprisal of the greatest tragedies by Shakespeare. As Christophe Rauck, French director and theater director, writes: "our role is to bring great texts back into the present." So, it's a programming that is both modern and traditional that awaits us, giving a contemporary touch to the plays of the past to show their relevance today. Attention, the theater is under construction this year, but don't worry, its program is maintainedOther Brussels rooms! brussels!
Our recommendation: The Borkman, new rehabilitation of John Gabriel Borkman, Norwegian text written in the XIXth century. Between comedy and musical piece, Christophe Sermet delivers a muscular and modern version of this work while retaining its lyricism and emotion, and abandons the piano in favor of rock riffs in a grunge and crazy style.
Theatre des Martyrs
Place des Martyrs, 22 - Brussels
All the program here
The Royal Theater.Parc Theatre
Without a doubt, it is the oldest theater in Brussels. Built in 1782, the Royal Parc Theatre, commonly known as "Parc," served as an annex to La Monnaie, a circus, and even a stage for horse training before becoming the most important French-speaking theater in Brussels in the 19th century. It stands out for its program, which alternates between classics, contemporary creations, and foreign adaptations, always in productions that appeal to a wide audience. The theater has made comedies its specialty! We adore its sumptuous sets and its grand balconies, typical of 19th-century theaters.
Our recommendation: Paris Cancan, a show that will transport you to the lively spirit of the City of Lights. You can find more information about it here: [link]Colorful musical spectacle that will take young and old into the universe of the famous Moulin Rouge. We see La Goulue, the star dancer of the cabaret, trying to fight to keep her place as queen of the night while another dancer makes her appearance in Paris. A hilarious show, accessible to all generations.
Royal Theatre du Parc
Rue de la Loi, 3 – Brussels
See the full program here
Le Théâtre de Poche
Are you looking for a bold and engaged play? Visit the Théâtre de Poche. Located on the outskirts of Brussels, on the edge of the Bois de la Cambre, it is an enchanting place with a deliberately engaged program in the battle of ideas. Absurd comedy, parody, political fable, theatrical performance... Everything is gathered to delight theater enthusiasts. Contemporary theater enthusiasts, gather 'round! Our recommendation: A Midsummer Night's Dream, a show that brings together eight actors/actresses and around fifteen giant puppets while staying true to the lines of the famous Shakespearean text. Théâtre de Poche But wait, there's more! Brussels' theater scene is full of shows just waiting for you! To discover the complete event agenda, click here.
Chemin du Gymnase, Brussels
See the full program here
