From 13 to 22 October 2022, the Festival van de Vrijheid returns to the Théâtre National Wallonie-Bruxelles for its 21st edition, which focuses on the theme "Unleashing the Connections".
The festival is supported by the vzw Bruxelles Laïque in partnership with the Théâtre National Wallonie-Bruxelles and creates a link between reflection and a series of artistic and festive proposals. On the programme of this 21st edition: theatre, concerts, an international documentary competition, unique events and premieres, engaged exhibitions and debates.
Food aid during COVID, reception of Ukrainian refugees, support for flood victims... Both here and elsewhere, recent current events are creating new forms of solidarity. What do these acts mean? What do they say about our political and social climate?
To explore this theme, the Festival van de Vrijheid offers a full and diverse programme over 10 days, focused on discovery and the invention of new possibilities.
During the Festival van de Vrijheid, numerous meetings – all free of charge – are organised to deepen questions about solidarity and responsibilities from different perspectives. What solidarity and for whom? What are employers' and employees' responsibilities? Where does our responsibility lie towards the climate? What is the place of collective responsibility in conflicts? What can we do if solidarity is considered an act of civil disobedience? These questions, and many others, will be discussed with numerous speakers during this new edition of the Festival van de Vrijheid.
An international competition featuring around twenty documentary films allows the audience to immerse themselves in numerous issues linked to human rights and freedoms. The competing documentaries compete for various prizes.
In terms of theatre, the Festival makes room for daring with a selection of productions with original scenography. We highlight the spectacular collective experience Warning (Cirque Inextremiste) or Nous sommes Partout (Cie Yan Duyvendak), a sensitive repertoire of voices in struggle.
For the third time, the Festival presents a mock trial, a combination of theatre and conference. On va où maman ? calls on the audience, who are placed in the shoes of the youth judge, to reflect on the placement of children and the ethical, social and institutional issues that arise. The audience will decide whether the child should be placed or not.
On the musical front, the Festival van de Vrijheid this year welcomes the Belgian duo Juicy Orchestra in an acoustic set in an arrangement by composer Jean-Marie Rens, Fishbach and Mansfield. TYA in an unpublished baroque and disco double bill, French rappers and poets Odezenne, Senegalese musician and king of mbalax Youssou N'Dour, Belgian jazzmen Aka Moon celebrating their 30th anniversary, fusion jazz legend Marcus Miller, the eccentric and capricious Feu! Chatterton, the lively Deluxe and a historic double concert for reggae fans with Max Romeo and Eek-A-Mouse. Throughout the ten-day festival, numerous free concerts are on the programme at the Théâtre National Wallonie-Bruxelles.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Festival van de Vrijheid
From 13 to 22 October
Théâtre National Wallonie-Bruxelles
Emile Jacqmainlaan 111-115
1000 Brussels