The award is presented in four different categories:
• Lifetime Achievement
• Initiative of the Year
• Volunteer of the Year
• Professional of the Year

The entire [meeuw] team received the award for “Professional of the Year”. The jury praised the team for “bringing together different elements in an innovative way to create a production with a major impact – both within the deaf community and in society in general”.

After the Theo d'Or for Most Groundbreaking Stage Performance, this recognition is a special appreciation from the deaf community. It strengthens our ambition to make Toneelhuis a warm and deaf-friendly house where everyone feels welcome.

Watch Stijn Van Opstal's acceptance speech
 

Toneelhuis, a deaf-friendly theatre

As a city theatre, Toneelhuis aims to be a place where everyone feels welcome and where as many people as possible can enjoy theatre. For years, we have been pioneers in making performances accessible to blind, visually impaired and hearing-impaired people. We welcome wheelchair users and ensure that people living in poverty can also come to the theatre.

Since 2024, we have also been strongly committed to making our offerings accessible to deaf visitors. The creation of [meeuw] by Olympique Dramatique (premiere 14 November 2024) marked a breakthrough in this regard: for the first time, a repertoire text was fully translated and performed in Flemish Sign Language (VGT), with a mixed cast of deaf and hearing actors.

The collaboration with the Flemish deaf community inspired us to make part of our programme structurally accessible to deaf and sign language visitors from now on. With each new creation, we explore how we can provide a translation in VGT, and we ourselves are communicating more and more often in VGT. For example, you will find short teasers and invitations in VGT on our website, and all employees have taken introductory lessons in Flemish Sign Language. When a performance with VGT is staged at the Bourla, we welcome the audience with a VGT interpreter at the ticket desk wherever possible. In addition, an iPad is always available to facilitate communication with our desk staff.

Everyone is welcome! 

Deaf-friendly offerings at Toneelhuis for the 2025-2026 season:

• VGT and/or vibrating vests at performances
• Introductions and post-performance discussions in Dutch and VGT
• WhatsappKANAAL VGT at Toneelhuis: we will keep you informed about all our performances and other initiatives involving VGT. 
• Tickets for performances with VGT can be reserved at the ticket office or by emailing tickets@toneelhuis.be. This allows us to assign you seats with a good view of the VGT interpreters.