Troubleyn/Laboratorium is Jan Fabre's new home base. The building has
been converted thanks to subsidies from the Ministry of the Flemish Community and the City of Antwerp, and in part also sponsorship and a substantial contribution by Troubleyn/Jan Fabre itself.
The building (+/- 2500 sq. m.) includes two rehearsal rooms of full production size.
The theatre itself has a proscenium opening of 12.5 metres and a stage
of 17 x 12 metres. In addition to this there is a spacious
multifunctional studio with an area of 10 x 20 metres, sprung parket
floor and natural light. (Architect: Jan Dekeyser)
Troubleyn/Laboratorium
is located on the boundary of the Seefhoek (where Jan Fabre was born),
a working-class district in Antwerp that is known to be an area in development. The Troubleyn/Laboratorium tries to be a motor for the social revaluation of the area.
What makes Troubleyn/Laboratorium particularly inspiring is the fact that a number of internationally renowned visual artists installed permanent works of art. press quotes:
It is striking that Fabre's workplace looks as if it has grown
organically out of the existing remains. At the same time, everything
is structured in such a way that without too much effort it can in time
become a public place, where the creation and presentation of theatre
and art can take place in a 'suitable unsuitability'. The fascinating
thing about the architecture of Fabre's 'new' workplace is precisely
that it embraces the paradox of useful unsuitability. This ultimately
makes it a more interesting public building than many purpose-built
theatres. Fabre and Dekeyser show that an artist's individual approach
can enrich architecture. But they demonstrate above all that the
individualistic artist can in the long term enrich society with a
lasting piece of cultural heritage. De Standaard (Belgium)
"This is a sovereign place to be able to complete an artistically
mental process", Fabre explains. "Young scientists and artists who,
just like me, do research on the body and on language, can work
here without any form of competitive spirit." De Volkskrant (The Netherlands)
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