Site Specific Work

Theatre at Comp. Marius is accompanied by another social event: sitting around the table together. During longer performances, the audience pulls up a chair to join a convivial meal; during shorter performances, everyone raises a glass together at a bar, serviced by the actors themselves. The audience reception is part of the identity of the company: the actors are the hosts of this social gathering.

During open air performances, the company’s red truck is turned into a lodge. The audience always gets a peek into the theatre wings.

With its mobile wooden stands, Comp. Marius always performs on location: by the water, in parks, on fallow land, or in old hangars. A first stand was built in 2001, a second in 2008 (capacity of 250), and a third, smaller one in 2014.

2001 stand. Koen Schetske in collaboration with Waas Gramser and Kris Van Trier (design), Timber Engineering (calculations), Ravelin Cielen, Waas Gramser, Kris Van Trier, Koen Schetske (wood execution), Moker (iron execution). Production and financing: De Onderneming.

2008 stand. Koen Schetske in collaboration with Waas Gramser and Kris Van Trier (design), Vinçotte (calculations), Stevie Van Haver, Koen Schetske (wood execution), Moker (iron execution). Production and financing: Comp. Marius.

2014 stand. Recuperation and remodelling of 2001 stand. Koen Schetske (realisation). Financing in collaboration with City of Antwerp.

Since 2013, the company’s offices and workspace have been housed in a construction made of recuperated high-cube containers of 40ft (2) and 20ft (2). With this construction, the company manages to minimise private space and maximise public space in its daily operations.

Built in 2013. H&H architects in collaboration with Waas Gramser, Kris Van Trier (design), Van Dooren container depot (welding and polishing), Fen Van Trier (woodwork). Production: Comp. Marius. Financing thanks to City of Antwerp.

For the 2009 presentation of the radio play ‘Allen die vallen’ (‘All Who Fall’), Comp. Marius created listening booths and benches (design and realisation Koen Schetske). For the presentation of the 2014 radio play ‘Een man verliet een keer zijn huis’ (‘A Man Once Left His House’), the company created a listening booth where the listener produces the required electricity by pedalling.

For the presentation of radio plays, in 2018 scaffolding is built which requires listeners to put on a safety helmet with built-in headphones to climb the structure (8m). Waas Gramser (concept), Peter Haverhals (realisation), Maarten Baarda (realisation), Dago Sondervan (audio helmets).