Mercelis Theater

Théâtre Mercelis is a small, intimate theatre in the Brussels municipality of Ixelles (Elsene), tucked away between Avenue Louise and Place Fernand Cocq, on Rue Mercelis. It is a place where the neighbourhood's history intertwines with living, contemporary culture — today the venue specialises mainly in productions for young audiences, though its roots go back to a very different era.

Where does the building come from?

The building on Rue Mercelis was constructed at the beginning of the 20th century, but it was not originally a theatre in the modern sense. The ground floor housed a café with a billiard room, while a back room served as a banquet hall. Alongside these, a small stage was used for all sorts of purposes: conferences, amateur performances, charity evenings, and even electoral meetings. In other words, before it became a cultural institution in the strict sense, it functioned as a local hub of social and community life.

How did the theatre come under municipal ownership?

In the 1930s, the municipality of Ixelles began leasing spaces within the building, and shortly after the end of the Second World War it became the full owner. That marked the start of a gradual transformation of the former multi-purpose hall into a genuine municipal theatre serving the district's residents.

What was the surrealist episode of 1926?

One of the more intriguing moments in the venue's history took place on the evening of 2 February 1926, when the Belgian surrealist group "Correspondance" organised a concert at Théâtre Mercelis, followed by a performance titled "Le Dessous des cartes" ("The Underside of the Cards"). This episode shows that despite its modest, neighbourhood character, the hall was able to attract avant-garde artistic circles active in interwar Brussels.

When did the theatre take on its current appearance?

The decisive moment in the building's architectural history came in 1953. That year, municipal architect Armand Poppe carried out a thorough renovation — both inside and out. It was this post-war overhaul that gave Théâtre Mercelis the traditional look still recognisable today, nearly seventy years later.

What role does the theatre play today?

Today, Théâtre Mercelis — also known as Petit Théâtre Mercelis — sits at the very heart of Ixelles and focuses primarily on programming for children and young audiences. In 2017, the municipality decided to increase its seating capacity to 178, installing upholstered grey fabric chairs with wooden armrests: a comfortable and understated solution suited to family audiences.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where exactly is the theatre located? On Rue Mercelis, at numbers 13 and 15, between Avenue Louise and Place Fernand Cocq in Ixelles.

Since when has the building served as a municipal theatre? The municipality of Ixelles leased spaces there from the 1930s and became the owner shortly after the Second World War.

What made the venue notable in the past? It served as a community gathering place — home to a café, a billiard room and a banquet hall — and in 1926 it hosted a surrealist evening staged by the "Correspondance" group.

Who is the theatre's programme aimed at today? Théâtre Mercelis specialises in productions for young audiences while remaining an important cultural landmark of the Ixelles district.