Once Upon a Castle

Once upon a time there was… a castle. This is how the intriguing fairy tale, created by the British theater company and artists’ collective WildWorks on the theme of Gaasbeek Castle and its highly unusual occupants, begins. But is it really a fairy tale? WildWorks is no traditional theater company: its members focus on a place and the people who “live” there. They came to Gaasbeek, got a feel for the atmosphere, had a good look around, spoke with different people and delved into the archives. Afterwards, they incorporated all these impressions into scenic installations, the aim of which is to reveal the soul of the castle. With sights, smells, sounds, objects and performers they immerse visitors in a world halfway between history and fiction. Other dimensions are added to this world through the music of Jeroen D’hoe and costumes designed by Tim Van Steenbergen. This book provides an in-depth look at the special approach used by WildWorks and, through dozens of photographs, magnificently illustrates their visually stunning work in the castle. Text in English and Dutch.