Festival Beyond the Black Box
Exploring Live Arts
You love live experiences but want more than the theatre’s ‘black box’ or the museum’s ‘white cube’ offer? Then Festival Beyond the Black Box is your perfect match. For four days, Vlaams Cultuurhuis de Brakke Grond will buzz, bubble, and burst with art that stretches the boundaries of perception.
From an artistic bouncy castle and a stumbling workshop to live concerts, intriguing city walks and intimate encounters: the works will appeal to all the senses, defy categorization into any single genre or discipline, and always come to life on the spot. The entire building and (its surroundings) will be part of this journey of discovery, including even the broom cupboard.
When you perceive not just with your eyes but with your entire body, a performer, object or space – just like the world itself - reveals unexpected facets and surprising dimensions. Our advice? Come and enjoy immersing yourself in the (sensory stimulating) freedom embraced by curious artists from Flanders and the Netherlands.
Day Pass:
To attend Beyond the Black Box, a day pass is required. This pass gives you access to most of the program. Some events (accessible to a limited group of visitors) require an additional free reservation. On the respective event pages, you will find more information.
Want to secure your spot in advance? Simply make your reservations online.
Prefer to decide during the festival itself? That’s possible too! This year, we’ve introduced something new: you can now also reserve tickets on-site, allowing you to decide on the spot what you’d like to attend. Be quick, though … availability is limited!
Additional free reservation is required for:
The Cud - Sipan Sezgin Tekin
Breakfastclub: Through Night and Days
Ways to listen to a river - Nahuel Cano
Hands Made - Begüm Erciyas
Breaskfastclub: Stories of Home and Traditions
The Moon in Your Mouth - Samah Hijawi
The Indictment - Raul Balai & Ehsan Fardjadniya
Before the Black Box - Rita Hoofwijk
A deluded state of mind - Liesbet Hermans
Pay what you can
We strive to make Festival Beyond the Black Box as accessible as possible to as many people as possible. With our pay-what-you-can model, you can purchase a day pass at a price you choose.
You are free to select the price for your day pass that suits your budget. If a lower rate better fits your financial situation, you are able to choose that. Can you afford a bit more? By doing so, you support others who may have less financial flexibility.
Thank you for your solidarity!
Relaxed venue
During Beyond the Black Box, the Brakke Grond will be a relaxed venue, with a more informal atmosphere then usual. For example, during performances, the audience is free to make noise, move around, leave the space, and re-enter at any time. Prior to the festival we will provide detailed information online about the sensory and thematic stimuli of the performances, allowing our visitors to make well-informed choices. During the festival, everyone who wants to take a break is welcome in the designated quiet space. Our goal is to make the festival more accessible for anyone who might feel limited by traditional 'theater etiquette’.
Accessibility
Soon you will find more information here about accessibility, sensory stimuli, and triggers during the various performances.
Quite Space
In this space with dimmed lighting, you can take a moment for yourself and enjoy peace and quiet in one of the cozy seating areas. We provide fidget toys, sketchbooks, and noise-canceling headphones to help you unwind. This space offers the opportunity to process and reflect on the many sensory impressions you’ve experienced during the festival.
Accessible for children
Because it’s possible to make noise, move around freely, and leave the space if needed, families with children are more than welcome. On Saturday and Sunday, the festival is free of charge for children under 12. In the Main Hall, you’ll find WOW19 (an artistic bouncy castle) and the Stumbling Corner by Salomé Mooij. At the information desk, you can ask for more details about the suitability of the various performances for children.
