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ETC: La Verbena De La Paloma (1-4 Oct 2025)

La Verbena de la Paloma is one of the most popular Spanish zarzuelas (a type of Spanish operetta), with music by Tomas Breton, and a libretto by Ricardo de la Vega, first staged in 1894 in Madrid.

Warm-hearted, of the people, funny, energetic. With live music, singing and dancing, including flamenco.

The zarzuela is performed in Spanish, with surtitles in French and English.  It will be preceded by some famous arias from Bizet’s Carmen, in French.

Musical director: Steven de Mesmaeker, Stage Director: Lluis Bronsoms

Venue: Jacques Franck Cultural Center, Chaussée de Waterloo 94, St Gilles, 1060 Brussels

Performances: 1st to 4th October 2025 at 8pm; plus matinée on Sat 4th October at 2.30pm.

Buy your tickets here: billetweb.fr/la-verbena-de-la-paloma

Seats are not numbered; we suggest you get there early for the best seats.

BSS: Measure for Measure (5-9 Nov 2025)

Director: Esther Pozo Vera. 5th to 9th of November

Venue: La Maison Qui Chante, Rue Viaduc 122, 1050 Ixelles

Set in a fictional modern-day America under an ultra-conservative religious regime, this production explores the State’s control over private life, sexual morality, and personal freedom. It delves into questions of consent, hypocrisy, and the tension between mercy and strict moral judgment—issues as urgent today as in Shakespeare’s time. The production contains mature references to sexuality, religious belief, and power dynamics.

For student groups of 10 students or more, contact us via bss.boxoffice@gmail.com to benefit from the special large-group student discount. 

TICKETS HERE

BSS ‘Measure for Measure’ (26 Feb-2 March 2025)

The director will be looking for dancers for a lavish choreography at the play’s start. She will also be looking for:

Duke, the President: male between 40 and 60 years old
Angelo, the Prime Minister: male between 40 and 60 years old
Lucio, a friend of Claudio: male between 40 and 60 years old
Claudio, a young man condemned to die: male between 20 and 35 years old
Escalus, State Secretary: male between 60 and 70 years old
Pompey, a pimp / Friar Thomas / officer: male between 30 and 40 years old 
Provost: male between 30 and 50 years old
Isabella, a novice who is Claudio’s sister: female between 20 and 35 years old
Julietta, Claudio’s girlfriend / Sister Francisca / prostitute: female between 20 and 35 years old
Mariana / Mrs Overdone: female between 35-50 years old

  • 26 February at 20:00
  • 1 March at 12:00
  • 2 March at 12:00

Additional audition dates will soon be announced, with a specific audition date for dancers. Audtioners should be prepared to attend call-backs. 

Want more details? Fill out this Form to receive the full what-when-where, and see you there!!

BSS: Antony And Cleopatra (19-23 May 2026)

Antony and Cleopatra will play at the Jacques Frank theatre from 19 to 23 May. Set as a ‘future history’ in the 2030s, the show will portray a modern-day autocrat, Octavian, facing off against the lovers of the title in a battle for the soul of Europe. Get your tickets now!

In our shows, we like to highlight Shakespearean themes that might be more relevant for modern audiences. As our October 2024 show Measure for Measure considered how sexuality intersects with power and as our January 2024 show Julius Caesar explored how populism subverts democracy, Antony and Cleopatra will focus on how disinformation and AI, if left unchecked, could serve as a road leading from populism to dictatorship.

Historians note that Gaius Octavius’ war against his rival Antony was in part a disinformation war, and arguably one of the most successful disinformation wars in history. Among many examples, he compelled the Roman Senate in 32 BC to declare war against Cleopatra, not Antony. By doing so, he portrayed a Roman civil war as a fight against Egypt, a devious foreign enemy. His narratives lived on in his memoirs, now lost to us. But they influenced later accounts that survived, most famously Plutarch’s Life of Antony. Many centuries later, Shakespeare would use Plutarch’s work as the basis for his play.

Had Shakespeare been a lesser genius, he might have repeated the disinformation narratives about Cleopatra that Octavian Caesar Augustus promoted. But he could not help but portray Cleopatra as a real human being, with her own goals, passions, and contradictions. Among other themes, Antony and Cleopatra will explore this tension in a text that, at times, seems ambivalent about whether Cleopatra was an evil archetype or a tragic heroine.

TICKETS HERE

BSS: Othello Night, 2 short plays(21-23 May)

BSS Othello Night poster

‘Green-Eyed Monster’, inspired by Shakespeare’s play, is a new original one-act piece by Fintan O’Higgins. It will run in conjunction with Hugh Dow’s ‘speed adaptation’ of the original, ‘Othello In 40 Minutes’.

They will play in the Studio space at CC Jacques Franck, in tandem with our main house production of ‘Antony And Cleopatra’ (Hint: Don’t book tickets for both shows on the same day! – unless you want to catch the Saturday matinée of one and the evening show of the other.)

Tickets for ‘Othello Night’ and for ‘Antony And Cleopatra’ HERE

BLOC: The Zoo/Trial By Jury (11-14 June 2026)

BLOC presents 2 One-Act musicals composed by Arthur Sullivan

The Zoo by Sullivan and Rowe

At the zoo we meet two young men, in love with different women. One man faces rejection from his beloved’s father due to his low social status as an apothecary, while the other has a more favourable situation with a lady working at a refreshment stall. Following suicide attempts and dramatic revelations, will love prevail in the end?

Trial by Jury: Gilbert and Sullivan

Edwin, having fallen in love with another woman, has jilted Angelina, who is suing him for Breach of Promise of Marriage. The Judge and Jury all favour Angelina. Edwin proposes to marry both women on consecutive days, to which Angelina objects, but in the end the Judge finds a solution which will satisfy everyone.

Directed by Marie Rousseaux and Lilian Horner; Musical Director, Lionel Bams

Thursday, 11.06.2026 at 20:00
Friday, 12.06.2026 at 20:00
Saturday, 13.06.2026 matinée at 14:30
Saturday at 20:00 (be sure to book for the Saturday performance you want!)
Sunday, 14.06.2026 matinée at 14:30

Venue: De Bosuil Cultural Centre in Jezus-Eik/Overijse
Googlemap of location

TICKETS HERE

The New Musical Company: The Awakening (24-26 June 2026)

A brand new musical composed and directed by Alexandre Diaconu, ‘The Awakening’ is a science fiction musical comedy that’s funny, moving, and deeply human. When Ellie, a young widow, finds her solitude disrupted by the arrival of two beings from another world, she’s drawn into a mission that is as absurd as it is life changing. Blending humour, emotion, and inner awakening, the show takes the audiences on an unexpected journey through grief, love, and renewal.

When: 24-26 of June, 2026, at 20:00

Where: Auderghem Cultural Centre – Foyer Hall

Book, Music & Lyrics: Alexandre Diaconu

Stage Director: Alexandre Diaconu

Musical Director: Beatriz Drummond

Tickets at: https://www.thenewmusicalcompany.com/theawakening

Promo: Early Bird Tickets 10% OFF with the code: AWAKE2026 (limited promotion)

ETC: La Périchole (2-5 July 2026)

The European Theatre Club presents ‘La Périchole’ by Jacques Offenbach, a brilliant operetta brought to you by the producers of ‘La Verbena de la Paloma’ and The Grand Duchess of Gérolstein’.

La Périchole is Offenbach at his most irresistible, blending comic exuberance with moments of genuine tenderness. Inspired by the real-life Peruvian street singer Micaela Villegas, it tells the story of a pair of impoverished musicians in Lima, Peru. Their attempts to be together are constantly thwarted by a wicked Spanish viceroy.

This production is directed by Andy Fisk and features one of Offenbach’s most joyful musical scores, conducted by Steven De Mesmaeker with a live orchestra, full chorus, and some of the best soloists in Brussels musical theatre.

Performance in French with surtitles in English and Spanish.

Venue: Comédie Royale Claude Volter, Avenue des Frères Legrain 98 – 1150 Brussels

Performances:
2nd to 4th July 2026 at 8pm.
Matinées on Saturday 4th July and Sunday 5th July at 2.30pm.

Ticket sales: Full price: 25€; Student/Child 22€
www.billetweb.fr/perichole

The New Musical Company: The Awakening (14-16 Oct 2026)

An original new musical comedy, written and directed by Alexandre Diaconu.

14th,15th and 16th of October at 20.00 (8pm)

Venue: Centre Culturel d’Auderghem , Boulevard du Souverain 183, Bxl 1160. Googlemap

Two aliens arrive. One woman begins to return to life.

After burying her husband, Ellie retreats into the apartment they shared, unable to imagine a life beyond grief. Then Argo and Arpi materialise beside her bed. They are visitors from another galaxy, one disciplined and severe, the other affectionate, chaotic, and fascinated by broccoli.

Their mission leads to ETADD, the secret agency where Ellie works. Its director has captured the Monarch of Velarrion Prime, whose absence threatens their world. To rescue him, the aliens need Ellie’s access, her trust, and a series of increasingly improbable disguises.

What begins as a forced alliance becomes an unexpected friendship. While Ellie teaches Argo and Arpi what it means to be human, their chaotic presence draws her back towards laughter, connection, and the beauty of ordinary life.

Link to Box Office

BSS: Othello Abridged (12-14th Nov)

Adapted and directed by Hugh Dow.

Following its acclaimed debut during the 2026 BSS Summer Festival, Othello Abridged returns to the stage this autumn. Running at just under an hour, this one-act adaptation takes audiences on an intense and gripping emotional journey as Iago connives, Othello turns a missing handkerchief into a force ten crisis, Desdemona cringes then strikes back, and Emilia struggles to speak up. Ahead of our full-length production of Othello coming in 2028, don’t miss your chance to see this unique take on Shakespeare’s timely domestic drama. A glass of post-show ‘bubbly’ is included in the adult ticket price.

Venue: Warehouse Studio Theatre, 69a Rue Waelhem, Schaerbeek, 1030

Dates:
Thursday-Saturday, 12th-14th November 8pm,
Saturday matinée: 14th of November 5pm

TICKETS AVAILABLE HERE

Post expires on Saturday November 14th, 2026

ETC: Chers Parents (2-18 June 2026)

ETCetera is delighted to announce auditions for its Spring 2027 production: Chers Parents , directed by Janet Middleton, to be performed in French and English at La Petite salle, Auderghem Cultural Centre 24th-27th February and 3rd-6th March 2027.

When the Gauthier parents win the lottery, the family’s resentments, hypocrisies and secrets are revealed with dramatic effect.

The early audition date is due to the nature of the piece: how the play will be divided between the two languages will depend upon the casting of the piece. In addition Janet has prior commitments which means that the rehearsal process will be sporadic and only fully commence in mid November.

Dates
Tuesday 2nd June:  7.30pm
Thursday 4th June:  7.30pm
Sunday 7th June:  11.00am
Thursday 18th June:  7.30pm

Location: Rue des Atrebates 27, 1040 Brussels

Casting: The Gauthier Family:

The Parents:
In their late 60s, Jeanne, Vincent The casting of these 2 roles will be that one parent is a native French speaker, the other a native English speaker. The designation of these 2 roles will directly affect the French/English division of the play.

The Children:
Pierre: the eldest, and seemingly most successful child. Married with 2 children and a successful Eco business.
Jules: younger brother, wants to write his epic novel, but for now is a poor and somewhat unsuccessful journalist supported by his parents.
Louise: youngest child. Trainee doctor who cannot settle to a speciality, single with only her cat for company and not entirely happy with her life. Slightly dippy.

Rehearsals will be in Etterbeek.

For further information, to get the address for auditions and to let us know when you would like to audition, please contact Janet Middleton: 0495 94 2991 / email: middletonjanetk@gmail.com