Minimum age 16+
75 minutes
Dutch & French spoken
French & Dutch surtitled
Wed 19.11.25 – 20:00
Antigone
Kortrijk
Portrait of a mighty monument in decline
Brussels' Palace of Justice is one of Europe's most imposing buildings, designed by architect Joseph Poelaert and inaugurated in 1883. This symbol of power and bureaucracy takes centre stage in this show. With its 150 lifts, 1530 inner doors, 2432 rooms, 473 corridors, 1513 windows, permanent staff shortage, this monster of a building is a household name in Brussels, even if few people have actually seen it. few people have actually seen it. Indeed, it has been under scaffolding for more than 40 years for a thorough facade renovation.
Sébastien Hendrickx explores how this monumental building not only represents justice, but also reflects the complexity and sometimes oppressive structures of our society. Through a performative portrait, he invites the audience to reflect on the role of justice, power and the human experience within these structures.
Sébastien Hendrickx is a Belgian performance artist, dramaturge, and art critic. He has worked as a dramaturge for NTGent, Toneelhuis and KVS, among others, and has written for magazines such as Etcetera and De Witte Raaf. As a teacher, he is attached to the Ghent KASK/School of Arts His work is characterised by a profound reflection on social themes, often with a focus on ecological and social issues. His debut performance The Good Life (2021) was an immersive trip around the question of the good life in times of ecological mutation. The narrative theatre production Moddertong (2022-2024) focused on a utopian community of humans and non-humans affected by a heat wave
With The Palace of Justice, Hendrickx continues this line, inviting audiences to consider the structures that shape our society and the impact they have on our daily lives.
Brussels' Palace of Justice is one of Europe's most imposing buildings, designed by architect Joseph Poelaert and inaugurated in 1883. This symbol of power and bureaucracy takes centre stage in this show. With its 150 lifts, 1530 inner doors, 2432 rooms, 473 corridors, 1513 windows, permanent staff shortage, this monster of a building is a household name in Brussels, even if few people have actually seen it. few people have actually seen it. Indeed, it has been under scaffolding for more than 40 years for a thorough facade renovation.
Sébastien Hendrickx explores how this monumental building not only represents justice, but also reflects the complexity and sometimes oppressive structures of our society. Through a performative portrait, he invites the audience to reflect on the role of justice, power and the human experience within these structures.
Sébastien Hendrickx is a Belgian performance artist, dramaturge, and art critic. He has worked as a dramaturge for NTGent, Toneelhuis and KVS, among others, and has written for magazines such as Etcetera and De Witte Raaf. As a teacher, he is attached to the Ghent KASK/School of Arts His work is characterised by a profound reflection on social themes, often with a focus on ecological and social issues. His debut performance The Good Life (2021) was an immersive trip around the question of the good life in times of ecological mutation. The narrative theatre production Moddertong (2022-2024) focused on a utopian community of humans and non-humans affected by a heat wave
With The Palace of Justice, Hendrickx continues this line, inviting audiences to consider the structures that shape our society and the impact they have on our daily lives.
Trigger warning
Stroboscopic light
Program
Book with your CUBO subscription
concept & regie Sébastien Hendrickx
tekst Sébastien Hendrickx ism Mats Vandroogenbroeck en Yolanda Mpelé
spel Mats Vandroogenbroeck en Yolanda Mpelé
geluidsontwerp David Helbich
lichtontwerp Eduardo Abdala
kostuums Elise Goedgezelschap
grafisch ontwerp Wouter van Nes
dramaturgie Joachim Robbrecht
technische uitvoering Jan Rymenants en Michaël Janssens
productie Kunstenwerkplaats vzw
coproductie KANAL/Centre Pompidou, C-Takt
onderzoekssteun KASK School of Arts
residenties Kunstenwerkplaats, Campo, Grand Theatre Groningen, CC Westrand, Leietheater
met de steun van de Vlaamse Gemeenschap en Vlaamse Gemeenschapscommissie
met dank aan Het Zuidelijk Toneel
An organisation of
With the support of
