Launch of the Crush Festival

The new theatre biennial in Brussels, 9–12 December 2026

Le Rideau, Les Tanneurs, the Théâtre National Wallonie-Bruxelles and the Varia Théâtre & Studio have joined forces to launch this unique biennial event, celebrating the vitality and diversity of contemporary theatre writing, with the essential support of Wallonie-Bruxelles Théâtre-Danse and Wallonie-Bruxelles International. 
 

Habib Ben Tanfous & FiNEK
Lucile Charnier & La FACT
Yousra Dahry / Cathy Min Jung
Adeline Rosenstein / Maison Ravage
Lucie Yerlès
Florence Minder / Venedig Meer
Olga de Soto
Agathe Yamina Meziani
Geneviève Damas
Fany Ducat
Cie Tchaïka

Full programme

 

For professionals, all the information can be found on this page.

Danse
CRUSH

Empty Orchestra, Longing for You

Habib Ben Tanfous & FiNEK
09—11.12.2026
Orchestre vide, Longing for you / Habib Ben Tanfous
arrow teaser
09—11.12.2026
Revoir
Théâtre Varia
A dance-filled journey through the world of karaoke, ranging from exuberant emotions to self-reinvention.
Singing
Theater
Performance
CRUSH

The Call of the Mutants

Lucile Charnier & La FACT
10—18.12.2026
L'appel des mutantes / Lucile Charnier
arrow teaser
10—18.12.2026
Studio Varia
A funny and heart-warming one-woman show that playfully explores – with incredible tenderness – the unspoken truths surrounding the onset of illness within a family.

Actus

Launch of the Crush Festival
"I'd like to be able, one day, to say 'popular culture' without having to add 'in the noblest sense of the term'."
“Supporting creativity means embracing the unknown”
Varia Passes at a reduced price until 19 June 🔥
Preamble to the 2026–2027 season
A look back in pictures and our endless gratitude!
In our blue trainers
Thank you for continuing to fight
Call for applications — Management of the Varia bar-restaurant, Theatre and Studio (Brussels)
Francophonie Celebration Evening
‘Save Her Skin’ by Point Zero has won the UP x Varia call for projects!
"We liked the idea of making the audience part of the set design"
Fundraising for the school library in Darou, Senegal
Job vacancy: Head of Administration, Finance and Accounting
Our gift ideas 🎁
Launch of the Métamorphose Festival
"We wanted to create a show that would be like an immersive experience, so that the audience is part of the stories rather than just watching them."
Call for proposals for interdisciplinary circus projects
"An amâna is a trust, a promise, a word, a commitment."
"Social domination entrenches a particular version of history at the expense of those at the bottom of the ladder."
"Instagram is both a space where we can find freedom and a place where our neuroses play out."
"It's somewhere between bubblegum and science fiction"
Discover our family-friendly shows
🎤🧚‍♀️ Back-to-School Karaoke — After Chwallow feat. Karaofée
Join the Varia team
Urban Escapes: An audio tour to explore this summer in the Théâtre Varia neighbourhood
Our 2025–26 season is now online!
Launch of the 2025–2026 season on 23 May
🍉
The Ambassadors for Civic Expression are opening a new exhibition on Palestine at the Varia
One evening, two shows: discover our double bill, *La Salope du Village* x *a l b u m*, at the Studio
"By humanising androids and robotising humans, we wanted to create a new generation of humans"
"The performance presents gentleness and vulnerability as a space for alternative possibilities."
Our thoughts for Moh
"Sisterly support is the future of feminism."
"Sous le Volcan offers an attempt to heal the community"
"Ancora Tu is the story of an actor who shares with the audience the archives of a love story that has just come to an end"
Create a lovely surprise by giving the Varia as a gift this festive season
"It would be nice if we had a bit more say in how we say goodbye."
The call for applications for the Factory Platform is now open! 🗓️
The "En Familles" programme: 6 shows designed for all ages
(CLOSED) Call for applications: Graphic designer(s) to create the new visual identity for the 2025–26 season
Come and celebrate autumn at Varia
Do an internship with us and go behind the scenes at Varia
"Summoning the invisible as a powerful source of imagination"
Pooling resources and working together: the watchwords of 24–25
Varia & Studio Pass (new!)
Varia would like to share with you the words of Marie Darah
Take part in our end-of-season survey and win some prizes!
Join us at Théâtre Varia to celebrate the end of the season on 21 June
Job vacancy: Ticketing Manager
Leslie Mannès joins our partner artists
Audition – role replacement: "What Happens"
Job vacancy: Technical Director
From Revolt to Redress: A dialogue between Puissant·es and Brèches at the Varia
Awaken Your Senses and Unleash Your Pen: Erotic Writing Workshop
The photos from our little Métamorphose festival are just lovely 🌸
Meet Florence Minder, who is presenting "Good Mourning VOSTBIL" at Studio Varia
Enjoy Métamorphose at a great price with our passes!
Before I go...
Take part in our end-of-year survey and be in with a chance to win a 5-person pass!
Discover the story behind Sarah Devaux’s *Plonger*
Discover the Varia Gift Pass for the festive season!
Nathalie Béasse makes her debut in Belgium at the Varia
Come and meet Louisa Yousfi on 11 November to discuss *La Fracture*.
What do you think is the most beautiful song in the world?
CALL FOR PROPOSALS CLOSED — UP – Circus & Performing Arts and Varia are launching a call for proposals for a new circus production on the main stage
Varia is teaming up with Librairie Flagey for the final performance of "Belle Dame"
What is the cost of integration? A conversation with Nadine Baboy on "Cultural Disintegration"
Fiction, reality and witchcraft: Jessica Fanhan tells us about "Belle Dame"
Are the "En Familles" plays just for children?
FABRIQUE – A conversation with Fatou Traoré
Are you aged between 16 and 24? Come along to the preview screening of "Bellissima"!
"There’s a certain mystique surrounding the creative process": garçongarçon tells us about "Bellissima"
The Mediation Service is looking for an intern between October and May!
The Karyatides win the Minister for Culture’s Award at the Huy Young Audiences Festival
What is "Pay What You Can"?
How to apply: applying for a cultural communications internship at Varia
5 nominations for the Maeterlinck Awards for plays created and/or staged at Varia!
Writing our many selves with Bye Bye Binary
Our seasonal editorial: Worlds in the making
Emulation has awarded two prizes for Thymios Fountas’s *Save Bastard*
Explore the Au Gray neighbourhood
Behind the scenes of the creation of the Hippocampe costumes featuring Lion ascendant Connasse
Take a peek behind the scenes of Ifeoma Fafunwa’s “Ecoute!”
Take a look at the photos from the little Métamorphose de Printemps festival
The Francisco Ferrer College is coming to Varia for a pop-up exhibition
For a fully immersive festival experience
Varia: together, connected, shared
Prices: pay what you can
Upcoming family show: "BEAUX JEUNES MONSTRES" – Collectif Wow!
The Seasonal Editorial