http://www.deroovers.be

After completing their studies at Antwerp Conservatory, Robby Cleiren, Sara De Bosschere, Luc Nuyens and Sofie Sente founded de Roovers in 1994. De Roovers is an ensemble of 4 actors/theatre-makers. For most of the productions the collective collaborates with the set designer photographer Stef Stessel. De Roovers opt for a small-scale organisational model, precisely so that they can focus all their attention on the content and artistic aspect of their work.

De Roovers make theatre productions as a collective (and thus without a director). In principle the work is based on textual material – usually drama, but also novels and essays – which on a first read evoke a powerful sense of theatricality. Essentially, the work process is one of dramaturgic analysis, an imaginative look at space and material, and an approach to acting that keeps thought and empathy in a shaky balance. For de Roovers, making theatre is a process in which artistic means – (dramatic) literature, (scenic) architecture and ‘acting pleasure’ – are used to penetrate to today’s topics and social sensitivities in a broad sense. They are then broached on stage for a varied, interested audience. Although on the one hand de Roovers can count on a very loyal audience, on the other they continue to attract new young theatre-goers. 

The collective has already been nominated three times for the Theatre Festival and in 1997  for the Océ Podium Prize. De Roovers present most of their performances in the mainstream theatre circuit in Flanders and the Netherlands, in open-space theatres and in larger theatres. Apart from this they regularly opt for location projects and festivals.

The actors and theatre-makers collaborate on a regular basis with like-minded artists such as Maatschappij Discordia and Dood Paard (NL), comp.Marius, Benjamin Verdonck, Jan Decorte, Walpurgis, Muziektheater Transparant, tgStan, Laika and so on.