We have to admit that Vooruit softened around the edges in the 90s. Government policy (subsidies), media (attention) and the public (ever-growing) were all in our favour. Vooruit was even awarded a European prize for the preservation of architectural heritage. The anarchy of the 80s made way for increased professionalism, as much in the artistic choices, marketing and business management as in dealing with the majestic building itself. In that sense, the growth of the Arts Centre ran parallel to improvements in the building. It was an inseparable marriage.
Remarkable, daring even, was the decision to continue using the building throughout the entire restoration process, from 1990 to 2000. While the building was surrounded by scaffolding and while construction workers continually ran in and out of the building, Vooruit continued to fill the bill and the café continued to serve its audiences. The actors of the legendary theatre marathon, Ten Oorlog by the Blauwe Maandag Co. (Directed by Luk Perceval and written by Tom Lanoye after William Shakespeare), including famous names such as Jan Decleir, Els Dottermans, Wim Opbrouck and Lucas Van den Eynde, grew numb in their dressing rooms huddled around small electric heaters. They didn’t even have so much as a roof over their heads, for the Theatre hall was covered by a tarpaulin. When needs must…
