Theatre la Balsamine

What Theatre la Balsamine does

Theatre la Balsamine is a non-profit performing arts venue (asbl) located in a repurposed 19th-century military barracks in Schaerbeek, Brussels, where it has operated since 1981 following its 1974 founding by Martine Wijckaert. The theatre's core offering is a seasonal programming calendar of approximately 20+ productions spanning theatre, dance, music, drag, puppetry, and interdisciplinary performance, with a curatorial emphasis on supporting emerging and early-career artists through research residencies, production accompaniment, and coproduction arrangements. Its physical infrastructure comprises two performance spaces — the 170-seat Amphithéâtre and the 70-seat Studio — plus a 200m² Foyer with bar and restaurant, all available for rental to external clients.

The business model blends four revenue streams: ticket sales via a Pay What You Can pricing system (€8–€24 range, with Article 27 accessibility tariff), recurring public subsidies from Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles and multiple regional and municipal bodies (Wallonie-Bruxelles Théâtre/Danse, Région Bruxelles-Capitale, visit.brussels, commune of Schaerbeek), space rental income from events, and bar/restaurant revenue during performance evenings. The venue serves a diversified customer base including general audiences, families and young audiences (Balsatoiles children's cinema, Festival Noël au Théâtre), schools and educational institutions via a dedicated mediation coordinator, Schaerbeek associative networks, and emerging artists. Distribution combines online ticketing (Utick), email/phone reservations, on-site box office, and direct enterprise sales for space rentals.

The theatre operates under a cooperative governance model with co-artistic directors Isabelle Bats and Mathias Varenne (appointed 2021), founder Martine Wijckaert as associated artist, and a management team of approximately 12 named staff covering direction, technical, press, mediation, production, and finance. It co-founded the international R.O.M (Residencies On the Move) network in 2019 with Creative Europe support, linking artist mobility across France, Switzerland, Italy, Canada, and Iceland.

Name

Theatre la Balsamine

Legal name

La Balsamine

Website

https://balsamine.be

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Theatre la Balsamine is a Brussels-based nonprofit performing arts venue that supports emerging artists through seasonal theatre, dance, and interdisciplinary programming, operating from a heritage building in Schaerbeek under a public subsidy model with Pay What You Can ticketing, space rentals, and community outreach.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Performing Arts Venue

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Classical & Contemporary Theatre (Plays/Drama) (MPAGABAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Theater & Performing Arts Venue Operations (Playhouses, Opera Houses) (MPAGALAB), Children’s & Youth Theatre (MPAGABAE), Performing Arts & Cultural Event Venues (Theaters, Museums) (THAHAAAG)

Keywords

• Performing arts venue
• Contemporary theatre programming
• Artist residencies
• Space rental services
• Cultural community outreach

Headquarters

HQ city

Schaerbeek

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Ticket sales: Ticket revenue from performances using Pay What You Can pricing system (€8-€24 range), with suggested prices for each event. Article 27 tariff remains available for eligible attendees.
2. Public subsidies: Subventioned by Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles, part of the network of Scènes choregraphiques of the Commission Communautaire Française de la Région de Bruxelles-Capitale. Additional support from Wallonie-Bruxelles Théâtre/Danse, Wallonie-Bruxelles International, Région Bruxelles-Capitale, visit.brussels, and the commune of Schaerbeek.
3. Space rental: Rental of theatre spaces (Foyer, Amphitheatre, Studio) for events including seminars, workshops, weddings, birthdays, formations with professional technical infrastructure and bar.
4. Bar and restaurant: Vegetarian dishes, soups, and snacks available each evening of performances, featuring local and seasonal products for artists and audience members.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Théâtre la Balsamine is a non-profit performing arts venue that produces, hosts, and co-produces contemporary theatre and performing arts programming, including seasonal shows, festivals, and slam poetry evenings. The venue supports emerging artists through residencies, production assistance, and staged readings, and rents its three performance spaces (Foyer, Amphithéâtre, Studio) to external organizers for seminars, workshops, and private events. Complementary offerings include children's cinema programming (Balsatoiles), school mediation, and a bar/restaurant.

Product overview

Theatre la Balsamine is a performing arts venue in Brussels dedicated to supporting emerging artists through theatrical programming, space rentals, and educational outreach. The core offering is seasonal theatre programming featuring emerging artists across disciplines (theatre, dance, music, drag, puppetry). Ancillary offerings include space rentals of three distinct venues (Le Foyer, L'Amphithéâtre, Le Studio), children's cinema (Balsatoiles), slam poetry events (Scènes slam), annual festivals (Festival Boutures, Festival Noël au Théâtre), and educational/association partnership programs. The theatre also operates a bar and restaurant service during performances.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Programmation de spectacles (seasonal theatre programming) Season-long contemporary performing arts programming presented across the Foyer, Amphithéâtre, and Studio spaces. Targets individual audiences and group attendees in Brussels, with a mix of established and emerging artists and inclusive Pay-What-You-Can pricing.
• Balsatoiles (children's cinema program) Dedicated children's cinema screenings presented at the venue, designed for young audiences and families. Functions as a complementary family and youth-oriented offering alongside the main theatre programming.
• Scènes slam (slam poetry evenings) Recurring evenings dedicated to live slam poetry performance, tapping into the spoken-word and contemporary poetry scene. Targets adult and young-adult audiences in Brussels.
• Festival Boutures An annual festival focused on debut or early-career artists and contemporary performing arts works, used as a showcase of emerging talent. Targeted at audiences interested in discovering new performance work.
• Festival Noël au Théâtre An annual seasonal Christmas theatre festival aimed at families and general audiences. Acts as a year-end programming anchor with family-friendly performance slate.
• Location d'espaces (space rental: Foyer, Amphithéâtre, Studio) Rental of the venue's three performance spaces (Foyer, Amphithéâtre, Studio) to external organizations for seminars, workshops, rehearsals, weddings, screenings, and recordings. Targets B2B renters and event organizers, with technical crew support available.
• Programmes éducatifs (school mediation and educational programs) Curated school-group visits and educational performances coordinated by the venue's mediation team (Mathilde Hanique). Targets schools in Brussels and broader Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles, with group pricing and pedagogical support.
• Residences et accompagnement d'artistes (artist residencies and support) Workspace, production assistance, and staging support for emerging artists, often culminating in work shown during the Festival Boutures. Service is performed for artists rather than sold as a priced ticket, but is a core program of the venue.
• Bar et restauration (on-site bar and light catering) Bar and light refreshment service operated on-site for audience members before, during intermissions, and after performances. Enhances the on-site experience and provides ancillary on-premise revenue.

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• R.O.M - Residencies On the Move networkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019International residency and dissemination network created by La Balsamine, le joli collectif, and Le Grütli (joined by Santarcangelo Festival, Théâtre Périscope, Théâtre Prospero). Supported by Creative Europe. Enables artists to live and work across partner structures seasonally, creating collaboration opportunities linked to creative processes.
• le joli collectif / Théâtre l'Aire LibrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench theatre partner in the R.O.M network, with venues in Hédé-Bazouges and Saint-Jacques-de-la-Lande, France.
• Santarcangelo FestivalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerItalian festival partner that joined the R.O.M network in 2023, based in Santarcangelo di Romagna, Italy.
• Théâtre ProsperocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCanadian theatre partner in the R.O.M network based in Montréal, joined in 2023.
• Reykjavik Dance FestivalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIcelandic dance festival partner in the R.O.M network based in Reykjavik.
• Le GrütlicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss cultural space in Geneva, co-founder of the R.O.M network.
• United SolidarityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInitiative of the RABKO network encouraging concrete solidarity actions. Enables cultural venues to collect donations supporting associations working with vulnerable populations (La Voix des Sans-Papiers, Mentor Jeunes, Tashattot, Plateforme Citoyenne – BelRefugees).
• Apartheid Free Zone movementminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural institutions movement promoting proactive solidarity spaces with the Palestinian people, inspired by anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa.
• LundynamiteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner event/program during season 26-27.
• Bâtard festivalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFestival partner for collaborative events during the season.
• La curieuseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for November-December 2026 programming.
• Les Laboratoires d'AubervilliersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench partner for January-February 2027 activities.
• L'LminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench partner for April 2027 programming.
• KunstenfestivaldesartsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual performing arts festival in Brussels, partner for May 2027 programming.
• ReForm asblminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation partner for theatre programming in schools.
• Schaerbeek communeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal municipality providing institutional support and partnership.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• KVS (Koninklijke Vlaamse Schouwburg): Brussels' flagship Dutch-language theater with multiple venues and substantial public funding. Comparable as a large Brussels-based subsidized performing arts institution, though it operates across language communities and runs a broader commercial and international portfolio.
• Théâtre National Wallonie-Bruxelles: Belgium's national French-speaking theater, also subsidized by Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles and based in Brussels. Comparable as a publicly funded performing arts venue operating in the same funding ecosystem and serving overlapping Brussels audiences, but at a much larger scale and with broader institutional programming.

Direct peers

• Théâtre Périscope: Quebec City-based theater partner in the R.O.M network. Comparable as a mid-sized contemporary creation venue with residency programs, sharing artist-exchange infrastructure and Creative Europe backing with La Balsamine.
• Santarcangelo Festival: Italian contemporary performing arts festival in Santarcangelo di Romagna that joined R.O.M in 2023. Comparable as a partner venue supporting emerging performance and international residencies within the same network.
• Les Tanneurs: Brussels performing arts venue combining theatre, dance, and contemporary creation. Comparable as a mid-sized Brussels venue with mixed programming and a focus on contemporary/emerging artists in the same francophone cultural ecosystem.
• Théâtre de Poche: Brussels-based small theater dedicated to contemporary text-based theater. Comparable in scale and mission (intimate venue focused on living playwrights and emerging voices) within the same Brussels/Wallonia funding ecosystem.
• Théâtre Prospero: Montréal-based theater that joined the R.O.M network in 2023. Comparable as a francophone contemporary theater hosting emerging artists and international co-productions, with direct partnership ties via R.O.M.
• Le Grütli: Geneva-based cultural space and co-founder of the R.O.M (Residencies On the Move) network with La Balsamine. Directly comparable as a small publicly subsidized venue supporting contemporary creation and emerging artists, sharing the residency network and Creative Europe backing.

Regional players

• Kunstenfestivaldesarts: Brussels-based annual performing arts festival that programs across multiple venues including La Balsamine. Comparable as a contemporary performing arts presenter in the same Brussels/Wallonia ecosystem, though operating as a festival rather than a year-round venue.

Others

• RIDEAU (Regroupement des institutions de diffusion de l'art vivant): Quebec network of performing arts presenters that connects French-language venues, including R.O.M partners. Comparable as an ecosystem-level peer: an enabling organization in the same francophone performing arts distribution system.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Theatre la Balsamine