A brief history
The Theaterzaal is the jewel in Vooruit’s crown. The first thing that catches your eye is the slogan “Kunst Veredelt” (Art Ennobles): a somewhat high-flown phrase that perfectly expresses the idealistic principle of the former workers’ palace. Through the beauty of the arts, the Socialist movement wanted to culturally emancipate the working class. To put it in the words of the famous – and politically committed – Belgian architect Henry Van de Velde: “We have chosen beauty as a means of improving society”.
Speaking of Socialists, you can still discern the opening notes in the stained-glass ceiling. Today, Vooruit is an internationally oriented Arts Centre, with fresh new theatre, dance and music for a broad and primarily young audience.
After the renovation, we were left with fewer seats than before, but at the same time we have more. There used to be 820 seats, but 200 of those weren’t really sellable. Now, the theaterzaal only has 720 seats, but at least they all offer the best seating conditions.
Facts
This former dance hall came to be known as the Grote Cinema (Grand Cinema) after WWII. Originally, three saddleback domes and a stained glass ceiling (250 m2) allowed light to pass through into the Concertzaal below. In the late fifties this ceiling had to be removed for fire safety reasons. As well as being a cinema, the room was used for political meetings, concerts and grand commemoration ceremonies.
Between ‘82 and ‘85 the hall was completely shut down. After 1985, it was mainly used for performances and concerts. The definitive restoration took place between the summers of 1999 and 2000. The heavily damaged stained glass, with its colourful garlands, satyr heads and musical staves, has been restored and replaced. The flamboyant marble effect on the walls and the gold-plated balconies are eye-catchers as well. The 720 deep red seats are imitations of the originals.
At the back of the Theaterzaal three of the four former lobbies have been rebuilt into fine rehearsal studios. The Theaterzaal, Vooruit’s biggest treasure, was reopened after 18 years of restoration on the 6th of September 2000. Now it’s up to the actors, dancers, musicians, authors, performers, film directors, debaters and the public to keep it buzzing with activity.
