Brussels Shakespeare Society

BSS: Our Country’s Good (19-23 March 2019)

BSS presents ‘Our Country’s Good’ by Timberlake Wertenbaker
Directed by Joanna Jack

Special group discount price of €10 for groups of 5+

After the novel ‘The Playmaker’ by Thomas Keneally, Timberlake Wertenbaker’s dramatisation won her an Olivier Award, six Tonys and ‘Best New Foreign Play’ award from the New York Drama Critics’ Circle.

Based on real events – the staging by convicts and officers of 18th C. dramatist George Farquhar’s ‘The Recruiting Officer’ – follow the progress of the first Convict Fleet to Australia. Discover with us whether theatre brings social cohesion and the birth of a new society…for better or worse, for the newcomers and indigenous peoples.

Tuesday 19th to Saturday 23rd of March, 8pm
and Saturday 23rd at 3 pm

Theatre: Theatral Scarabaeus, Rue Creuse, Schaerbeek
googlemap of venue

Tickets: €20, students/under 18: €15, group of 5+ (adults and/or students/under 18): €10!

BSS: Henry V (25-29 June, 2019)

A history play by William Shakespeare
Directed by Stephen Challens

Henry is king now. His days of mischief and hanging around with his roguish friends are over. He now carries the huge responsibility of leading his armies in a war against France and living up to his father’s memory.
It’s a whirlwind of emotions, strategy, distrust, hope and growth.

To top it off he even has to find time for love.

Part of the 1st Annual Shakespeare Summer Festival, come see this play in combination with ‘Mopsa and Dorcas Hit the Town’ / ‘Nadir Nachtmerrie’ and enjoy our Shake-your-Spear Sunday Social as a fun extra.

Venue: Balsamine Theatre, Avenue Félix Marchal / Felix Marchallaan 1, 1030 Schaerbeek
(Very close to Dailly)

googlemap of venue location

Tickets via  https://thelittleboxoffice.com/bss
17 euros for single tickets, 15 euros for under 18s and groups (5+)

BSS: Mopsa and Dorcas Hit the Town / Nadir Nachtmerrie (20-22 June 2019)

Mopsa and Dorcas Hit the Town
An original play by Patrick Stephenson
Directed by Esther Pozo Vera

 

They’re full-time doctorate students and part-time pole dancers. They’ve just lost their jobs. But tonight, they’ll start to save the world.
“Hilarious… The Bard would be proud.” – Sarah Crew, Editor-in-Chief, The Bulletin Magazine

 

 

Nadir Nachtmerrie
An original play by Stephen Challens
Directed by Esther Pozo Vera

Inspired by William Shakespeare’s tale of A Midsummer Night’s dream, this tale is turned upside down and takes on a darker feel.
Can this play within a play within a play within a play illuminate anything new on this traditional light and funny comedy?
Smiling from the shadows, Puck thinks so.

 

Part of the 1st Annual Shakespeare Summer Festival, come see this double feature in combination with ‘Henry V‘ and enjoy our Shake-your-Spear Sunday Social as a fun extra.

Venue: Balsamine Theatre, Avenue Félix Marchal / Felix Marchallaan 1, 1030 Schaerbeek
(Very close to Dailly)

googlemap of venue location

Tickets for 13 euro via  https://thelittleboxoffice.com/bss

 

 

BSS: 1st Annual Brussels Shakespeare Summer Festival (20-29 Juin, 2019)

One ticket, three plays and our Sunday Shakespeare Festival Day!

Get a lovely dose of theatre just before the summer break.

The first week enjoy the double feature of original plays ‘Mopsa And Dorcas Hit the Town’ and ‘Nadir Nachtmerrie’. The second week the BSS is presenting the classic ‘Henry V’.

During this festival we offer you three different takes on Shakespeare’s plays with ‘Mopsa And Dorcas’, inspired by the characters of the tragedy of ‘A Winter’s Tale’. ‘Nadir Nachtmerrie’ is inspired by one of Shakespeares most popular comedies, ‘A Midsummer night’s dream’, but viewed from the other side of the mirror. This is a tale you know, but not as you know it.
We’re finishing with the history play ‘Henry V’, picking up the story where ‘Henry IV’ stopped.

So with this combo ticket you get a peek into the wonderful world of the Bard.

If this has wet your appetite, come join us on the Shakespeare Sunday Social, for a hopefully sunny afternoon with drinks, food and entertainment.

Mopsa and Dorcas Hit the Town / Nadir Nachtmerrie
Henry V
Shake-your-Spear Sunday Social

Venue: Balsamine Theatre, Avenue Félix Marchal / Felix Marchallaan 1, 1030 Schaerbeek
(Very close to Dailly)

googlemap of venue location

Tickets, including entrance to all three plays, the Shakespeare Sunday Social and one drink,
for 26  euro via https://thelittleboxoffice.com/bss (Only 100 combo festival tickets available)

BSS: Shake-your-Spear Sunday Social (23 June 2019)

Master and Mistress,
Quickly come to our event;
Shake your Spear;
Henry a Fifth of wine;
Fall on your Staff;
Nick your Bottom;
the next day, see Doctor Butts.

Dive into the world of the Bard and join us for an afternoon filled with lovely food and drinks and, obviously, a healthy helping of Shakespeare related entertainment.

One of the highlights of our 1st Annual Shakespeare Summer Festival

Venue: Balsamine Theatre, Avenue Félix Marchal / Felix Marchallaan 1, 1030 Schaerbeek
(Very close to Dailly)

googlemap of venue location

Tickets for only 5 euro via https://thelittleboxoffice.com/bss

BSS: Summer Festival (1-11 June 2022)

BSS Summer Festival 2022 main production

The Brussels Shakespeare Society presents Macbeth as our main production (Dir. Steve Challens) plus three new short plays.

Macbeth dates:
1st-4th & 9th-11th at 8pm
4th & 11th of June, matinées at 2pm.

Macbeth will be performed with French surtitles.

In addition we present 3 new short plays on Shakespearian themes which were entered in our 2020-21 Playwriting competition.

Shortly To Go (Dir. Tim Myers), Yellow (Dir. Geoffrey Mamdani) & Will.I.am am I? (Dir. Guillem Chevalier)

Short Play Nights, 8pm:
Monday 6th of June, Will.I.am am I? and Yellow
Tuesday 7th of June, Yellow and Shortly To Go.
Wednesday 8th of June, Shortly To Go and Will.I.am am I?

All shows at Espace Lumen, Ch. de Boondael 36, Ixelles 1030.

Further info and Tickets available here.

BSS Festival Event Day(5 June 2022)

It is not all about watching! On the middle Sunday of the BSS Festival fortnight, there will be a fun ‘Event’ day at Espace Lumen from 12 am to 6 pm.

Besides a bar offering food, there will be a variety of events both for adults and children, including a ‘Shakespeare Miscast Competition’ – an opportunity for anyone to do a few lines from any Shakespeare play regardless of the character’s gender, age, etc in any style they please! for more details of that apply to:
Johanna.kainz92@hotmail.com

Admission free for ticket-holders to Macbeth or the Short Play evenings or an option to buy a ticket on the door for any of those performances, or €5 per person on the door.

The 2019 Festival Sunday Party was great fun – and provided many laughs! Come along to this year’s and enjoy – or take part in! – the festivities.
Sunday June 5th, 12-6. Espace Lumen, Chaussée de Boondael 36 (very near Flagey)

BSS: The Tempest (9-11 Sept 2022)

Auditions will take place at 13 rue du Boulet, 1000 Bruxelles (Metro Saint Catherine, Bus stops Bourse/De Brouckère)
9 September at 21:00
10 September at 14:00
11 September at 11:00
 
Possible call-backs
30 September at 20:00
1 October at 14:00 

If you intend to audition, please send an email to estherpozovera@hotmail.com

We are looking for: 

• Prospero (Duke of Milan): Male between 50 and 70 years old
• Miranda (his daughter): Female between 16 and 20 years old
• Caliban (original owner of the island): Female of African origin, between 30 and 40 years old
• Ariel (inhabitant of the island – a spirit): Male or Female between 30 and 40 years old
• Alonsa (Queen of Naples): Female between 50-70 years old
• Sebastian (her brother): Male between 40-50 years old
• Antonia (sister of Prospero and now Duchess of Milan): Female between 40-50 years old
• Gonzalo (head of cabinet of the queen): Male between 50 and 70 years old
• Ferdinand (Son to the queen of Naples): Male between 20-30 years old
• Trinculo (a member of government): Male between 30-40 years old
• Stephano (assistant to the queen): Male between 40-50 years old
• The three goddesses: Female between 20-60 years old
• We are also looking for people who can sing and dance and musicians willing to have fun. 

BSS: The Taming Of The Shrew (5-8 Oct 2022)

The Brussels Shakespeare Society presents ‘The Taming Of The Shrew’, directed by Charles Bouchard.

Venue: Centre Culturel Jacques Franck, Chau. de Waterloo 94, 1060 Saint-Gilles.

Dates: Wednesday 5th to Saturday 8th of October. 20.00

Matinée: Saturday 8th, 14.00

Tickets: €17 adults, €14 full-time students.

Googlemap of venue

Tickets online here.

BSS: King Charles III (24-28 Oct 2023)

The Brussels Shakespeare Society presents ‘King Charles III’ by Mike Bartlett.

Inspired by Shakespeare’s History Plays, in 2014 Mike Bartlett produced a modern day ‘imagined future’ about the current monarchy. Since it opens with the funeral of the late Queen Elizabeth, one might think real events have now overtaken Bartlett’s play, but not so…

Firstly, one soon realises just how prescient the playwright was about those real events, as Charles grapples with imposing his own personality and convictions on the institution he now heads. But also as the play develops – with a clash of principle with both Parliament and family – it builds a credible and steadily increasing tension, leading towards a finale one can easily believe might still happen.

Indeed, it is not fanciful to think it could have happened in very first few weeks of Charles’ reign – when Downing Street bluntly instructed him not to attend the COP27 Climate summit in Egypt, an issue so close to his heart…

First performed in 2014, ‘King Charles III’ garnered wide praise from the press.

DATES
Tuesday 24th to Saturday 28th of October 2023, at 20:00.
and Matinee on Saturday 28th at 14:30.

VENUE: Petit Théâtre Mercelis, Rue Mercelis, 13, 1050  Ixelles

Tickets

BSS: Charles III (Feb-Mar 2023)

The Brussels Shakespeare Society will be auditioning for Charles III, written by Mike Bartlett, directed by Johanna Kainz. The play will be perfomed from the 24th to 28th October 2023 at Mercelis Theater, Rue Mercelis, 13 1050 Ixelles.

The Play (written in 2014!):
Prince Charles has spent his entire life yearning for the crown, which is now within reach. But even before the coronation, King Charles III’s idealism is put to the test as Parliament just enacted a new bill that drastically restricts journalistic freedom. It is customary for the monarch to sign the bill, but Charles refuses. And so within a month of his mother’s funeral he sees himself in a direct clash with the Prime Minister.
Whilst most of the family struggles with what King Charles’ actions mean for the future of the monarchy, Prince Harry meets someone who makes him wonder about his own future potentially away from it all.

Audition Dates:
Wednesday 22nd February 19:00 – 21:00
Saturday 25th February 10:00 -12:00
Thursday 2nd March 19:00 – 21:00
Sunday 5th March 11:00-14:00

Audition Location: Rue de Belle-Vue 40, 1000 Bruxelles
https://goo.gl/maps/opKbUwyDi9m2odpw8

We are looking for

Male Cast

  1. Charles, the King of England (yet uncrowned) male, 50-70
  2. William, the heir to the throne, male 25-35
  3. Harry, the second son of Charles III, male 25-35
  4. James Reiss, the royal press advisor, male 45-55
  5. Prime Minister Tristram Evans, labour, male 40s/50s

Doubled Roles

  1. Cootsey (friend of Harry’s) /Sir Michael (Head of the Met), male any age
  2. Spencer(friend of Harry’s) /Sir Gordon (Head of the armed forces), male any age
  3. Speaker of the House of Commons/Achbishop of Canterbury, male 60+
  4. Nick (royal underbutler)/Clive (Kebab salesman) male any age

Female Cast

  1. Camilla, wife of Charles, queen consort, female 50-70
  2. Kate, William‘s wife female 25-35
  3. Jess, Harry’s Girlfriend female, 20s
  4. Leader of the Opposition Ms. Stevens, Conservative, female, 40s/50s

Doubled Roles

  1. Ghosts/ TV Producer, female mid 20s to mid 30s
  2. Sarah (Right hand of the PM)/Newspaper Lady, female any age

BSS: Merry Wives of Windsor (11-16 June 2024)

It’s summer 2024. Falstaff arrives at the Garter Hotel in Windsor with his semi-criminal ‘retinue’, looking to scam some easy money by romancing two wealthy wives there with his fading charms, Mrs Ford and Mrs Page. His overtures to the former excite the jealousy of Mr. Ford, leading to comically furious scenes.

Meanwhile the hotel’s host enjoys setting up practical jokes between two other guests, the Reverend Sir Hugh and Doctor Caius. A further guest, the ancient retired Justice Shallow, is there to find a suitable wife for his cellar-dwelling video gamer nephew, Slender.The Pages are on the same quest for their daughter Anne. Her father favours Slender; Mrs Page, Doctor Caius. But anyone is better than Anne’s current squeeze, louche aristo ‘bad boy’ Fenton.

Will the scatterbrained Ms. Quickly – personal message deliverer to all of them – manage to get the right messages to the right people? Who will marry Anne? Who will come out top practical joker? Will Falstaff’s scheming succeed? Come and enjoy Shakespeare’s light frothy farce – and the worst joke he ever wrote!

11-16 of June at 20:00
Matinée: Saturday 15th of June 14:00
Venue: Théâtre Mercelis, Rue Mercelis 13, 1050 Ixelles
Googlemap of location

Tickets on sale here: https://thelittleboxoffice.com/bss

BSS: 2 Gentlemen of Verona (23 Nov-Dec ’24)

BRUSSELS SHAKESPEARE SOCIETY is casting TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA by William Shakespeare, for performance from 24th to 29th of June, 2025, directed by Tom Mallan.

Auditions will be held on Saturday 23rd and Sat, 30th of November, with possible callbacks on Sunday, 1st of December.

For fuller details please follow the link at: http://tinyurl.com/2GentsInfo

If you are interested in participating (either as an actor or in some other capacity) please follow the link to the submission form to book an audition time.

BSS: Julius Caesar (21-25 Jan 2025)

The Brussels Shakespeare Society presents Julius Caesar directed by Emily Bowles.

With a few brief exceptions, Rome’s proud boast was that it had been a republic for several hundred years. But the familiar internal strains of Left and Right – the ‘Plebeians’ versus the wealthy ‘Patrician’ families – had always been there. They came to a head in 44 BCE with Caesar, a deeply ambitious Roman general, the darling of his troops and of the Roman populace who had benefited from the spoils of his foreign conquests. It suited him well to be seen in that light, even though he himself was descended from one of Rome’s oldest Patrician families, the Claudian line. Does this seem familiar…?

Tickets available at https://thelittleboxoffice.com/bss.

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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!!