Theater Aan Zee festival in Oostende concludes with 100,000 visitors

Oostende, Belgium – The 29th edition of the Theater Aan Zee (TAZ) festival concluded after 11 days, drawing an impressive 100,000 visitors to the coastal city. The organization reported that three-quarters of the paid performances sold out, with free events and activities also attracting significant crowds.

Across more than 40 locations, festival-goers had access to over 600 performances and activities. The average attendance rate for paid shows reached 90 percent. The program featured 14 premieres, musical performances, and a wide array of free events.

This year's festival centered on the theme 'Message in a Bottle,' drawing inspiration from messages from the sea. Artistic director Cindy Godefroi curated the program with the assistance of two 'wave breakers': artist Sarah Yu Zeebroek and lawyer Walter Van Steenbrugge.

At the festival's close, the Caroline Pauwels grant was presented. This grant honors the memory of Caroline Pauwels, former rector of VUB, who was a curator for TAZ in 2021 and passed away from cancer two years later. The award supports individuals who promote the collaboration between art and science. This year's recipients are actress and theater maker Britt Bakker and bio-engineer Eveline Peeters. The jury noted their work exploring how microbiology insights can lead to new artistic forms where performance, visuals, and experimentation meet. The grant includes a 20,000 euro prize, dramaturgical support from KVS, and production assistance from Theater Aan Zee. The 30th anniversary edition of Theater Aan Zee is scheduled from July 28 to August 7.