A Bronks tale

Kids' theatre festival works for those from any language

Have you ever been called a lunch box? Even if you haven’t, you can probably recall the smarting humiliation and existential misery that came with such petty schoolyard taunts. And that means you – and your children – are likely to love Brooddoos, a brilliant and sympathetic glimpse into a shy schoolgirl’s mind thought up by Flemish actor and writer Dimitri Leue.

Brooddoos (Bread Box) is one of the highlights of this year's Bronks Festival, an entertaining, witty and provoking festival of Dutch- speaking theatre for children and teens that kicks off next week in the slick and airy Bronks building on Brussels' Varkensmarkt.

That particular play will also be repeated, in French translation under the title Gamelle, at partner theatre La Montagne Magique, reflecting a desire on the part of organisers to reach out to non- Dutch-speaking communities with a handful of productions in French, plus non-verbal theatre, dance and music performances. So even if your kids' Dutch is less than fluent, they might be tempted away from their computers and i-phones with Steen, papier, schaar (Rock, Paper Scissors), a zesty exploration of the generation gap in which all the sets, props and puppets are made of paper (five and up); Da/Fort, a cramped acrobatics act inside an old truck (eight and up); or Huub de Kuub, a multimedia installation that turns dance steps into sizzling hot musical compositions (eight and up).

The festival will close with a promising new addition called Big Bang, a one-day event at Bozar that sets out to make classical and contemporary music more agreeable to young ears. French pianist Sophie Agnel plays a concert with a giant mirror hanging over her grand piano, revealing its complex mechanism at work. There will also be chances to fight musical terrorists and peep inside musicians' changing rooms. Feel free to don a hoody and tag along.