Handle With Care
Handle With Care is a participatory theatrical experience by the Belgian collective Ontroerend Goed, running at the Studio Theatre’s Stage 4 from October 14 through October 25, 2026. The premise is disarmingly simple: a box is mailed to the theatre with instructions to gather an audience on a specific night at a specific time, place the box at centre stage, and let someone from the audience open it. At that moment, the show begins. There are no actors and no technicians on stage — only the box and the people in the room. For roughly one hour, the audience is given complete control, making each performance one-off and unrepeatable. The work asks what meaning can be created collectively when no one is watching, and it positions the audience as both the material and the makers of the event.
The production is created and conceived by Alexander Devriendt, Karolien De Bleser, Samir Veen, Leonore Spee, and Charlotte De Bruyne, with design by Nick Mattan and Edouard Devriendt. English translations are by Samir Veen, with editing by Tiffer Hutchings. The recorded or pre-existing voices heard during the piece belong to Karolien De Bleser, Leonore Spee, Samir Veen, Charlotte De Bruyne, Aurélie Lannoy, Alexander Devriendt, and others. The production team consists of Lynn Van den Bergh, Leda Decleyre, Willie-Marie Hermans, and Hannes Pieters. The show is produced by Ontroerend Goed.
When: October 14–25, 2026.
Showtimes: Evening performances at 8:00 PM on October 14, 16, 22, and 23. Matinee and evening performances at 2:00 PM and 8:00 PM on October 17 and 24. Matinee performances only at 2:00 PM on October 18 and 25.
Location: Studio Theatre, Stage 4.
Run time: Approximately one hour.
Lineup: Concept and creation by Alexander Devriendt, Karolien De Bleser, Samir Veen, Leonore Spee, and Charlotte De Bruyne. Design by Nick Mattan and Edouard Devriendt. English translations by Samir Veen. English editing by Tiffer Hutchings. Voices by Karolien De Bleser, Leonore Spee, Samir Veen, Charlotte De Bruyne, Aurélie Lannoy, Alexander Devriendt, and others. Production team includes Lynn Van den Bergh, Leda Decleyre, Willie-Marie Hermans, and Hannes Pieters.
Production: Ontroerend Goed.
Tickets: Price not available; tickets are offered for purchase through the venue’s booking system.
Note: The piece is described as theatre stripped down to its essence, with no performers or technical crew on hand — just a box and the audience.