Culture beat – October 10

There’s a feast of rock, reggae and soul in Flagey on Saturday night with Tournée Générale De Gaule. The Franco-Belgian music and food festival inhabits the square and its bars from 18.00-22.00. On the musical menu: young French talents We Are Enfant Terrible/Flavien Berge/69/Two Square Meter Of Machine/Boweinn. Meanwhile BBQ stands and food trucks provide sustenance to party goers. The event is a return match following an equivalent event in Paris on September 20 featuring Belgian musicians.

Autumn is  a busy period for local thespians with many of Brussels’ amateur theatre groups in final rehearsals. First up on stage is Brussels Shakespeare Society performing an abridged version of the bard’s famous tragedy, entitled Hamlet Unplugged, from October 13 to 18. Limited to the Danish prince’s  dialogue, it involves four actors (in English) at the Warehouse Studio Theatre. The prompt then passes to The American Theatre Company and its production of Doubt: A Parable on October 21 to 25 at Théâtre de la Toison d'Or near Porte du Namur. The 2004 gripping mystery by John Patrick Shanley won the 2005 Pulitzer Prize for drama and was subsequently made into an Academy Award-nominated film (Doubt 2008) with Philip Seymour Hoffmann and Meryl Streep.

The annual Freedom Festival 2014 returns to Théâtre National on October 16 to 25 with a multidisciplinary programme of documentaries, debates, talks, shows, exhibitions  and concerts. The human rights events promotes freedom of expression in a convivial and festive atmosphere under the banner ‘obey and disobey’. Concerts include Détroit (Fr), Zoufris Maracas (Fr), MF Doom & Robert Glasper (US), Têtes Raides (Fr), Glü (Bel), Arno (Bel), Fat Freddy’s Drop (NZ), Groundation (US), Winston McAnuff & Fixi (Jam/Fr), among others. An international film competition features around 15 documentaries.

Brussels show off its cutting-edge catwalk skills in a show with ten designers on Friday, October 17, part of Brussels Fashion Days that runs until October 19. The opening event at The Egg, includes works by young and talented designers who have all been selected by the MAD Brussels (Mode and Design Center). It is part of Brussels fashion week which provides an overview of Belgian design. Elle Belgium magazine is hosting events at the theatre over the weekend.

English comedy show Stand Up Brussels takes the stage next Friday (October 17) with a double order of live humour. Comedians John Shuttleworth and Stefano Paolini both perform extended sets at Théâtre 140 in Schuman. Shuttleworth is the fictional singer-songwriter and radio presenter created by comedian Graham Fellows, star of several award-winning series on BBC Radio 4. His television appearances include 500 Bus Stops, Euro Pigeon and Later with Jules Holland. Support act Paolini is a an impressionist and beatboxer who regularly headlines shows on the UK circuit. His TV credits include Double Take on BBC2 and BBC Radio 4’s Dead Ringers. A pre-show Indian meal is available for 12€.

It is now an established event on both the expat and local art scene. The Accessible Art Fair from October 17 to 19 (Thursday evening is an exclusive VIP preview), is designed to make buying art an easy exercise by connecting artists with art lovers. Set up in 2007 by Canadian Stephanie Manasseh it features 50 artists displaying paintings, photographs and designs. Admission is free and the art is sold from anywhere between €50 and €5000. At the Cercle de Lorraine in Place Poelaert. 

Outside Brussels

Rolling out the red carpet from October 14 to 25 is the Ghent Film Festival, one of the biggest hitters on the Belgian movie circuit and unique in its showcasing of the work of film composers. The 41st edition is focusing on French cinema, screening some choice classics (Belle de jour with Catherine Deneuve) as well as  François Ozon’s latest Une nouvelle vie and Jean-Luc Godard’s Cannes winner Adieu au langage. No less than 10 Flemish films premiere at the event and Spandau Ballet puts in a live performance.

No sooner than everyone is rushing around in the back to school frenzy, than it’s time to prepare for the next school holiday. Spicing up the autumn half-term in Hainaut  is the offbeat arts fixture Charleroi Bis-Arts from October 24 to November 1. The city’s annual international festival of arts and street theatre returns for its 19th edition with a multidisciplinary programme of theatre, dance and music. Circus arts are under the spotlight with the Spanish Cridacompany and Gandini Juggling from London, plus a focus on the art of clowning. Homegrown talent includes Virginie Strub’s new production En attendant Gudule and a show for children by choreographer Thomas Hauert. Danse étoffée is set to music by contemporary American composer John Cage. The finale of the 10-day programme is a Grand Bal Blanc at Eden cultural centre.