Portrait and video portrait
Comp. Marius
Comp.Marius was founded by Waas Gramser and Kris Van Trier, whose artistic careers have been inextricably linked since1991. They met each other at the Antwerp theater school, played together in tgStan (1991-1993), founded ‘Maten’ together with Guy Cassiers (1994-1996), later De Onderneming (1997-2005) and finally Comp.Marius (since 2006). As actors, translators, adaptors, as directors of their plays, their work continuously focuses on the autonomy of the actor and the development of own acting style.
Subtle dramaturgy
Comp. Marius translates and adapts classic plays as well as novels, displaying a preference for comedies with an existential and philosophical undertone. Previously unknown work by sometimes forgotten authors is presented in a new language and sometimes even undergoes a full dramaturgical revision. These include works by Samuel Beckett, Thomas Bernhard, Marcel Pagnol, Bruno Schulz, Charles Dickens and Pierre August Beaumarchais.
Site-specific theatre
With its own tiered wooden seating for the audience, Comp. Marius performs on river banks, in public parks, on wasteland and in disused hangars, under a radiant sun as well as in pouring rain, under the motto:
What I expect art to be is not only that it is good as art, but also that it is deeply embedded in life…. I prefer the Chopin that reaches me in the street from an open window to the Chopin served in great style from the concert stage.
– Witold Gombrowicz
Focused on the audience
Comp.Marius succeeds in linking theatre to another social event of crucial importance: sharing a meal. During break in the long performances, the audience shares a table to enjoy a traditional meal. In shorter performances, the audience is invited to a drink, offered by the actors themselves. Making the audience feel welcome is part of the identity of the company: the actors are always the hosts.
International audience reach
Marius’ warm-hearted site-specific performances are enthusiastically received abroad. Comp. Marius tours extensively in France with a French-language version made for almost every performance on the repertoire.
Ruimte voor het toneelspelerschap
In de coronazomer van 2020 bouwt Comp. Marius haar werkplek in het Middelheimmuseum uit tot een zomerpodium. Vanaf 2021 wordt tijdens dit jaarlijks initiatief nieuw werk gepresenteerd, repertoire gespeeld, worden bachelor- en masterstudenten uitgenodigd, en samenwerkingen met toneelscholen getoond. Met dit initiatief wilt het gezelschap de ontwikkeling van het toneelspelerschap centraal stellen.