The theme that is woven throughout the festival is ‘care’. Jozefien Mombaerts, artistic director of TAZ: “On the one hand, there are performances that literally deal with themes within healthcare. They are about the climate, eco-feminism, foster care, poverty, vulnerable young people. These are all themes that pass within the performances. On the other hand, we want making theater for everyone and not for an elite. It is important that young people can also come, which is why we created the youth pass.”
“Take care of each other better”
Every evening the festival house on the park pond is occupied by a conductor. On the opening night it is dramaturge and writer Louise Van den Eede’s turn. Louise Van den Eede: “It is actually an argument to take better care of each other in the theater sector. An artist has just taken her life. I actually want us to look at each other better as a sector and take care of each other.” (read more below the photo)
TAZ will take place this summer for the 25th time. It all started as a small-scale street theater. Now it is a top festival that appeals to thousands of culture lovers. Jozefien Mombaerts, artistic director of TAZ: “We have 450 employees at work, 150 different productions at 35 locations in Ostend. There are 60,000 tickets of which 40,000 have already been sold. 20,000 left over.”