Laboratorium

Troubleyn/Laboratorium is the home of Jan Fabre and his company in the north of Antwerp. Located in the heart of Antwerp’s Seefhoek, as a wonderful place of creation. Jan Fabre transformed the depilated classical theatre into a place of inspiration with more than 70 (inter)national artists contributing and integrating a piece of their artistic soul into the building. Art is always created in a dialogue, and this building encourages creative exchange with and through its walls; it is a building that invites one to explore one’s own artistic being. Apart from rehearsal space, research and training are also important parts of the mission.

BUILDING & ART COLLECTION
Troubleyn/Laboratorium has been the operating base of Jan Fabre and his company since 2007. This former ‘Ringtheater’, which was destroyed by a fire in 1974, has been rebuilt (by architect Jan Dekeyser) with the help of subsidies from the Flemish Community and Antwerp City Council, and also with financial support and a considerable contribution from Troubleyn/Jan Fabre.

This complex (about 2,500m²) has two rehearsal rooms of production proportions with integrated performer facilities. These include a theatre hall with a 12.5 metre curtain with a stage of 17 x 12 metres and a spacious multipurpose studio with a floor of 10 x 8 metres, parquet, and natural daylight.

Moreover, what makes Troubleyn/Laboratorium special is the collection of integrated works of art, which are part of the building. There are works on show from figures such as Marina Abramovic, Chantal Akerman, Ben Benaouisse, Guillaume Bijl, Michaël Borremans, Dirk Braeckman, Romeo Castellucci, Hugo Claus, Jan Cremer, Berlinde De Bruyckere, Peter De Cupere, Carl De Keyzer, Luc Deleu, Wim Delvoye, Robert Devriendt, Braco Dimitrijevic, Bruna Esposito, Jan Fabre, Michel François, Alberto Garutti, Stefan Hertmans, Irwin collectief, Stef Kamil Carlens, Jan Lauwers, Antun Maracic, Attilio Maranzano, Kris Martin, Enrique Marty, Tjen Meylemans, Jorge Molder, Johan Muyle, Maryam Najd, Orlan, Mikes Poppe, Pascal Rambert, Bernardi Roig, Matthias Schoenaerts, Rob Scholte, Francesco Schiavulli, Chiharu Shiota, Paul Sochacki, Nedko Solakov, Berend Strik, Pjeroo Roobjee, Ritsaert ten Cate, Koen Theys, Luc Tuymans, Erik Van de Mert, Koen van den Broek, Johan Van Geluwe, Hans van Houwelingen, Jan Van Imschoot, Joep Van Lieshout, Wim Vandekeybus, Koen Vanmechelen, Angel Vergara, Peter Verhelst, Fabien Verschaere, Henk Visch, Bob Wilson. This list of artists grows longer each year.

The richly illustrated publication Troubleyn/Laboratorium offers a unique view inside the building and gives a list of the works of art. It also covers the history of this ‘little Bourla’ and the contribution made by Troubleyn/Jan Fabre.

More information about this publication by Mercatorfonds can be found HERE.

More images of the artworks can be found HERE.

‘Just by leafing through the book, with Nadia Sels, Frank Peeters, Luk Van den Dries, and Koen Van Synghel as easy-going guides who give more insight into the works, the building, and the language of Fabre in six short and readable essays, you can roam through the magnificent property where a touching, amusing, or disruptive image lurks behind every corner, in every room, or in every corridor. Why isn’t every house designed in such inspirational fashion? It shows Fabre as someone with a genuinely great love of the arts. A heart that beats just as fast at night as during the day.’ (Els Van Steenberghe in Knack, April 2016)

 

GUIDED TOURS
Guided tours are organised regularly throughout the year. As well as giving the history of the building and introducing the company’s work, company employees take the public on a journey through the more than 70 works of art that are inextricably intertwined with the building. These guided tours are designed for groups of between 10 and 20 people. More guides can be deployed for bigger groups. The tours last about two hours and are designed to introduce a wide audience to the artistic house.

> More information via joost.claes@troubleyn.be


HIGH-LEVEL MASTER CLASSES
Under the title Masters of the 21st Century (MC21), Troubleyn has been organising master classes by exceptional international educators and thinkers for over a decade. Performers, directors, and dramaturges who wish to nurture themselves in terms of content and technique can work with top-level directors, theatre and dance pedagogues and choreographers. It is our belief that, only from a confrontation with what exists and lives internationally in terms of artistic practices, young artists can chart their own individual trajectory.

In recent years, master classes have been organised with Anatoli Vasiliev, Emio Greco, Franz Marijnen, Viviane De Muynck, Raimund Hoghe, Theodoros Terzopoulos & Savvas Stroumpos, Peter Brook and Robert Wilson.

In 2024, we are looking forward to a Masterclass by the renowned Italian theatre master, author & founder of the legendary Odin Theatre, Eugenio Barba.