When does the performance take place?

The performance takes place on August 29, 2026, at 21:00 in the Foundry in Duisburg-Nord Landscape Park.

How long does BREL last?

The indicated duration is 1 hour and 20 minutes.

In which language will the evening be performed?

The performance is in French and is accompanied by French and German projections on stage.

How do I get to the venue using public transport?

The Ruhrtriennale recommends tram 903 to Landscape Park Nord or bus 936 to the main entrance of Landscape Park.

Is the venue accessible?

Yes, the Foundry has a wheelchair-accessible elevator.

What does a ticket cost?

Ticket prices were found starting at 20.50 euros.

BREL ignites an evening full of dance, chanson, and stage magic in Duisburg

Name: BREL | Ruhrtriennale 2026
Start: 2026-08-29T23:00:00+02:00
End: 2026-08-30T00:20:00+02:00
Location: Gießhalle im Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord

BREL in the Foundry: When Chanson Becomes Physical Tension

With BREL, the Ruhrtriennale 2026 presents an evening on stage that does not merely retell Jacques Brel's chanson world but brings it to life. On August 29, 2026 at 21:00, the Foundry in Duisburg-Nord Landscape Park transforms into a space for dance, memory, and musical intensity. The German premiere combines the signatures of Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker and Solal Mariotte with Brel's songs into a poetic dialogue between generations and gestures. ([ruhrtriennale.de](https://www.ruhrtriennale.de/en/programme/brel/202))

An Evening Between Chanson, Body, and Resistance

BREL does not follow the easy path of illustration. Instead, a vulnerable, living embodiment of Brel's repertoire emerges, colored with humor and the emotional density his songs continue to embody today. The Ruhrtriennale describes the evening as a dialogue between dance and chanson; at its center is the tension between De Keersmaeker's classical precision and Mariotte's roots in breakdance. Thus, from music grows a choreography that pours tenderness and friction, joy of life and social sharpness into a single stage experience. ([ruhrtriennale.de](https://www.ruhrtriennale.de/en/programme/brel/202))

The Dramaturgy of the Gaze

The staging relies on reduction and presence instead of opulent distraction. The set design by Michel François, costumes by Aouatif Boulaich, and lighting by Minna Tiikkainen create a framework within which every movement gains meaning. It is precisely this concentration that is appealing: the bodies tell stories where words fall short, and the chansons open resonance spaces between intimacy and contemporary history. Those who appreciate the interplay of choreography, music, and theatrical density will experience a work with fine dramaturgical edges. ([ruhrtriennale.de](https://www.ruhrtriennale.de/en/programme/brel/202))

Industrial Architecture as a Resonance Space

The Foundry in Duisburg-Nord Landscape Park provides an extraordinary atmosphere for the production. The venue offers a tiered seating area with around 1,483 standing or 999 seated places and wheelchair access via a disabled-friendly elevator. The outdoor space, industrial environment, and lighting design of the former steelworks lend the evening a distinctive theatricality: raw, expansive, impressive, and yet precisely focused on the stage. ([landschaftspark.de](https://www.landschaftspark.de/veranstaltungslocations/giesshalle/))

Travel, Orientation, and Service

The Ruhrtriennale refers for access to tram 903 to Landscape Park Nord and bus 936 to the main entrance of Landscape Park. For those arriving by car, parking is available directly opposite the main entrance; it is free. Additionally, the ticket on the day of the event serves as a combined ticket for the entire VRR network for the round trip until 3 AM the following day. ([ruhrtriennale.de](https://www.ruhrtriennale.de/en/programme/brel/202))

The duration for the evening is indicated as 1 hour and 20 minutes. The performance will be in French and accompanied by French and German projections on stage. Thus, BREL targets an audience that loves dance theater, music theater, and the fine art of translation between sound and body. ([ruhrtriennale.de](https://www.ruhrtriennale.de/en/programme/brel/202))

Conclusion: A Celebration of Chanson, Dance, and the Present

BREL is not an evening of nostalgia but a vibrant engagement with a rich heritage of songs. Those who immerse themselves in this production will receive not just a mere homage but an intense theater experience between body poetry, musicality, and historical depth. The Ruhrtriennale 2026 thus makes a strong statement for contemporary stage art. This is an evening that should not just be read but experienced live. ([ruhrtriennale.de](https://www.ruhrtriennale.de/en/programme/brel/202))