Ghent (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Comedian Els Degryse and director Walter Janssens launched CabaretBOM, a monthly cabaret night at Bi’ De Vieze Gasten starting in March 2025, giving new and experienced cabaret artists a platform to perform until June 2025, with plans to continue.
Els Degryse is a comedian who recently changed her career. She found it hard to perform her new show, ‘The Woman Who Sells Her Clitoris’. Audiences liked her show, but she struggled to get venues to book her. According to officials, there is interest in cabaret, but not many chances to perform. Stand-up comedy is growing in Flanders. Many places let new comedians try out their jokes.
They mentioned that this is different from the past when Flemish comedians had to go to the Netherlands to start their careers. They performed there to improve, which helped them succeed back in Flanders. Now, stand-up comedians have many ways to grow, but cabaret artists still lack the same opportunities.
“It is a mixture of comedy and theatre – often with music – where the maker always wants to tell a bigger story.“
Cabaret artist Els Degryse
Will CabaretBOM create new opportunities for Cabaret artists?
Degryse saw that cabaret artists needed more chances to perform. She teamed up with director Walter Jansens to start a monthly program. Cabaret is different from stand-up because it mixes humour, music, and theatre.
They mentioned that stand-up is quick and has many jokes, while cabaret tells stories more slowly. By creating this program, Degryse wants to help Cabaret grow. She hopes artists will have more chances to improve and that audiences in Flanders can enjoy different kinds of comedy and theatre.
“There has been a catch-up movement in Flanders. Stand-up comedy can be done in many places, there are many opportunities for beginners to try out material,”
Says Degryse.
Starting in March 2025, Bi’ De Vieze Gasten will host a monthly cabaret night called CabaretBOM. Comedian Els Degryse and director Walter Janssens are leading this project. It will give both new and experienced cabaret artists a chance to perform.
According to officials, each night will have popular performers. This helps beginners get stage experience and learn from others. New performers will also get coaching and feedback from Janssens. Each show will be recorded so they can watch and improve their performances.
“We sometimes choose more well-known names, but we always pair them with a new talent. There is room for experimentation,”
Says Degryse.
CabaretBOM will happen on the first Sunday of every month until June 2025. Degryse and Janssens want to keep this program going after summer. They hope it will become a long-term place for cabaret in Flanders. They invite cabaret creators to reach out for chances to perform.
They want to make cabaret more known and easier for people to enjoy. Their goal is to bring cabaret back into the spotlight and provide a steady space for it to grow. By supporting both new and experienced artists, CabaretBOM aims to refresh cabaret and strengthen its role in the performing arts.
“We would like to continue with the initiative after the summer. Cabaret makers with performances can contact us to be programmed. We hope that this can be a new platform to put the genre on the map.”
Degryse said.
