Eigentijdse Werkgroep Theater

EWT (Eigentijdse Werkgroep Teater) is one of the oldest independent theatre companies in the Antwerp region, based in the Deurne district. The group was founded in 1958 on the initiative of Lode Hendrickx, originally under the name Experimentele Werkgroep voor Toneel (Experimental Theatre Workshop). The name was later changed to Eigentijdse Werkgroep voor Theater, which gave rise to the shortened form used today, EWT.

Where did the group come from?

The company was formed by former members of avant-garde theatre formations active at the time — Nevelvlek, De Koperen Haan, and Theater op Zolder. This background shaped EWT's early repertoire, which leaned heavily into absurdist theatre, a style widely explored across postwar Europe by independent stages looking for an alternative to conventional programming.

What were the group's first years like?

Before settling into a permanent home, the company moved through several makeshift venues. Its first performances took place in the Hessenhuis, a historic warehouse in central Antwerp, though fire-safety concerns cut that arrangement short. The group then relocated to a small attic space on the Paardenmarkt, measuring only about 10 by 10 metres, followed by a spell at a location on Leysstraat. These modest conditions reflect just how improvised and grassroots the independent theatre scene in the city was at that time.

Why did Deurne become the theatre's home?

A turning point for the company came when the municipality of Deurne provided it with a permanent building. This made EWT the first suburban theatre in Flanders — an institution operating outside Antwerp's city centre, yet fully professional in terms of programming and performance frequency. The original hall seated 100 spectators. In 1979 the venue was renovated and expanded, raising capacity to 134 seats, a sign of the company's growing popularity and its increasing stability over the following decades.

What does EWT offer today?

The theatre at Hertstraat 2 in Deurne continues to run a regular performance schedule, staging its own productions while also hosting guest performances from other companies as part of its dedicated guest-production programme. Frank De Kaey serves as the company's artistic director. Audiences can follow the current programme and book tickets through the theatre's official website, and can also get in touch by phone or email for questions about events and ticketing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where exactly is EWT theatre located? At Hertstraat 2, in the Deurne district, part of the greater Antwerp area.

When was the company founded? In 1958, as Experimentele Werkgroep voor Toneel, on the initiative of Lode Hendrickx.

How many seats does the theatre hall have? Following its 1979 expansion, the hall seats 134, up from the original 100.

What defined the group's repertoire in its early years? An absurdist, avant-garde character rooted in the tradition of formations such as Nevelvlek and Theater op Zolder.

Does EWT only stage its own productions? No — alongside its own repertoire, the theatre also hosts performances by other companies through a separate guest-production programme.