To the main content To the footer
KVS
© Danny Willems

VALENTIJN DHAENENS

Valentijn Dhaenens (°Ghent, 1976) is a theatre and film actor. He graduated from the Antwerp Conservatory in 2000 as a master in the Dramatic Arts under Dora Van der Groen.

He is a co-founder of theatre company SKaGeN and has acted in performances by, amongst others, NTGent, KVS, Kaaitheater and Ontroerend Goed. The wider audience may be more familiar with Dhaenens through his film and television work, including De helaasheid der dingen (Felix Van Groeningen), Stranger in Paradise (Guido Henderikx) and Girl (Lukas Dhont). The films De helaasheid der dingen and Girl received ample international acclaim, including at the Cannes film festival, where Girl was awarded the Camera d’Or. Dhaenens took on the lead role in Dutch documentary fiction film Stranger in Paradise, which was nominated for the European Film Awards, opened the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam in 2017 and took home the IDFA Special Jury Award. The film also received several accolades at international film festivals.

Dhaenens’ theatre breakthrough came with BigmoutH, an ode to rhetoric, which was followed by the equally successful monologue SmallWaR. Both productions were written by Dhaenens and toured worldwide.

For KVS, Dhaenens created Domestica and Onbezongen. The English version of the latter premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2018 as Unsung, which won him the Fringe First, one of the most important awards at the festival. 

In 2019 he performed in Knaus with Alexia Leysen and he joined the cast of Vita Siyo Muchezo Ya Watoto, a play by Frédérique Lecomte. Together with Lecomte, Dhaenens visited East Congo, where they created the performance together with local artists.

From 4 September 2020 you can see Dhaenens on our stage in collaboration with Bruno Vanden Broecke for the first time, in the performance Jonathan.

PHOTOS
(high-res images which you can use free of charge with attribution)

Performances by and with Valentijn Dhaenens

  • Rexit!

    Bruno Vanden Broecke, Valentijn Dhaenens & Vincent Stuer / KVS
    Mon 09.12.2024 - Wed 22.01.2025
    09.12.2024
    -
    22.01.2025
    Tickets
    • 09.12.2024
      20:00 - 21:15
      Internationaal Theater, Amsterdam
      On tour
    • 19.12.2024
      20:15 - 21:30
      CC De Meent
      On tour
    • 15.01.2025
      20:00 - 21:15
      Het Gasthuis, Aarschot
      Theaterzaal
      On tour
    • 22.01.2025
      20:00 - 21:15
      KVS, Blankenberge
      Saveryszaal
      On tour
    • 16.01.2024
      20:00 - 21:15
      TRY-OUT
      KVS, Brussels
      KVS BOL
      Past event
    • 17.01.2024
      20:00 - 21:15
      TRY-OUT
      KVS, Brussels
      KVS BOL
      Past event
    • 18.01.2024
      20:00 - 21:15
      TRY-OUT
      KVS, Brussels
      KVS BOL
      Past event
    • 19.01.2024
      20:00 - 21:15
      PREMIERE
      KVS, Brussels
      KVS BOL
      Past event
    • 20.01.2024
      20:00 - 21:15
      KVS, Brussels
      KVS BOL
      Past event
    • 25.01.2024
      20:00 - 21:15
      KVS, Brussels
      KVS BOL
      Past event
    • 26.01.2024
      20:00 - 21:15
      KVS, Brussels
      KVS BOL
      Past event
    • 27.01.2024
      20:00 - 21:15
      KVS, Brussels
      KVS BOL
      Past event
    • 28.01.2024
      15:00 - 16:15
      KVS, Brussels
      KVS BOL
      Past event
    • 30.01.2024
      19:00 - 20:15
      KVS, Brussels
      KVS BOL
      Past event
    • 31.01.2024
      20:00 - 21:15
      KVS, Brussels
      KVS BOL
      Past event
    • 03.10.2024
      20:15 - 21:30
      Cultuurhuis de Warande, Turnhout
      Schouwburg
      Past event
    • 04.10.2024
      20:00 - 21:15
      CC De Schakel, Waregem
      Schouwburg
      Past event
    • 05.10.2024
      20:00 - 21:15
      CC Leietheater, Deinze
      Past event
    • 17.10.2024
      20:00 - 21:15
      Cultuurcentrum de Brouckere, Torhout
      Theaterzaal
      Past event
    • 18.10.2024
      20:15 - 21:30
      CC Het Perron, Ieper
      Het Perron - Theaterzaal
      Past event
    • 19.10.2024
      20:00 - 21:15
      Vrijetijdscentrum De Meermin, Waasmunster
      Past event
    • 01.11.2024
      20:00 - 21:15
      De Spil, Roeselare
      Schouwburg
      Past event
    • 05.11.2024
      20:15 - 21:30
      CC Maasmechelen, Maasmechelen
      De Schouwburg
      Past event
    • 06.11.2024
      20:00 - 21:15
      CC De Werf, Aalst
      Schouwburg
      Past event
    • 08.11.2024
      20:15 - 21:30
      CC De Kern, Wilrijk
      Past event
    • 13.11.2024
      20:00 - 21:15
      KVS, Brussels
      KVS BOL
      Past event
    • 14.11.2024
      20:00 - 21:15
      KVS, Brussels
      KVS BOL
      Past event
    • 15.11.2024
      20:00 - 21:15
      KVS, Brussels
      KVS BOL
      Past event
    • 16.11.2024
      20:00 - 21:15
      KVS, Brussels
      KVS BOL
      Past event

  • Jonathan (NL)

    Bruno Vanden Broecke & Valentijn Dhaenens / KVS
    Mon 26.07.2021 - Thu 11.04.2024
    A strange conversation between a robot, his creator and the audience
    26.07.2021
    -
    11.04.2024
    Past event
    • 26.07.2021
      20:30
      THEATER AAN ZEE
      CC De Grote Post, Oostende
      DGP
      Past event
    • 27.07.2021
      16:00
      THEATER AAN ZEE
      CC De Grote Post, Oostende
      DGP
      Past event
    • 27.07.2021
      20:30
      THEATER AAN ZEE
      CC De Grote Post, Oostende
      DGP
      Past event
    • 03.11.2021
      20:30 - 21:30
      Cultuurhuis de Warande, Turnhout
      Schouwburg
      Past event
    • 16.11.2021
      20:00 - 21:00
      CC Sint-Niklaas, Sint-Niklaas
      Stadsschouwburg
      Past event
    • 01.12.2021
      20:15 - 21:45
      Cultuurhuis de Warande, Turnhout
      Schouwburg
      Past event
    • 02.12.2021
      20:30 - 21:30
      GC De Maalbeek, Maalbeek
      Theaterzaal
      Past event
    • 03.12.2021
      20:30 - 21:30
      GC De Maalbeek, Maalbeek
      Theaterzaal
      Past event
    • 05.12.2021
      20:30 - 21:30
      Stadsschouwburg, Utrecht
      Douwe Egbertszaal
      Past event
    • 09.12.2021
      20:00 - 21:00
      GC De Maalbeek, Maalbeek
      Theaterzaal
      Past event
    • 10.12.2021
      20:00 - 21:00
      Cultuurhuis de Warande, Turnhout
      Schouwburg
      Past event
    • 13.12.2021
      20:15 - 21:15
      Cultuurhuis de Warande, Turnhout
      Schouwburg
      Past event
    • 23.01.2022
      20:00 - 21:10
      C-mine Cultuurcentrum, Genk
      Grote Zaal
      Past event
    • 30.01.2022
      15:00 - 16:00
      NL
      KVS, Brussels
      KVS BOL
      Past event
    • 04.02.2022
      20:00 - 21:10
      NL
      KVS, Brussels
      KVS BOL
      Past event
    • 06.02.2022
      15:00 - 16:10
      NL
      KVS, Brussels
      KVS BOL
      Past event
    • 06.02.2022
      20:00 - 21:00
      GC De Maalbeek, Maalbeek
      Theaterzaal
      Past event
    • 21.02.2022
      20:15 - 21:15
      C-mine Cultuurcentrum, Genk
      Grote zaal
      Past event
    • 15.11.2022
      20:30 - 21:30
      Parktheater, Eindhoven
      Philipszaal
      Past event
    • 18.11.2022
      20:30 - 21:30
      CC De Herbakker, Eeklo
      Past event
    • 22.11.2022
      20:15 - 21:15
      GC 't Blikveld, Bonheiden
      Polyvalente zaal
      Past event
    • 24.11.2022
      20:30 - 21:30
      CC Mortsel, Mortsel
      CC Mortsel theater
      Past event
    • 25.11.2022
      20:00 - 21:00
      Cultuurhuis de Warande, Turnhout
      Schouwburg
      Past event
    • 26.11.2022
      20:15 - 21:15
      Cultuurcentrum Guldenberg, Wevelgem
      CC Guldenberg
      Past event
    • 28.11.2022
      20:15 - 21:15
      CC Sint-Niklaas, Sint-Niklaas
      Stadsschouwburg
      Past event
    • 01.12.2022
      20:15 - 21:15
      GC De Maalbeek, Maalbeek
      Theaterzaal
      Past event
    • 02.12.2022
      20:15 - 21:15
      Spikkerelle, Avelgem
      Spikkerelle CC
      Past event
    • 03.12.2022
      20:00 - 21:00
      GC De Maalbeek, Maalbeek
      Theaterzaal
      Past event
    • 06.12.2022
      20:15 - 21:15
      CC Geel, Geel
      De Werft
      Past event
    • 07.12.2022
      20:15 - 21:15
      Cultuurhuis de Warande, Turnhout
      Schouwburg
      Past event
    • 08.12.2022
      20:15 - 21:15
      CC Ieper, Ieper
      Perron theaterzaal
      Past event
    • 09.12.2022
      20:30 - 21:30
      CC Palethe, Pelt
      Zinnezaal
      Past event
    • 10.12.2022
      20:15 - 21:15
      CC De Kern, Wilrijk
      Past event
    • 17.12.2022
      20:00 - 21:00
      Cultuurhuis, Merelbeke
      Merelbeke CC
      Past event
    • 06.01.2023
      20:30 - 21:30
      GC De Maalbeek, Maalbeek
      Theaterzaal
      Past event
    • 07.01.2023
      20:15 - 21:15
      GC De Maalbeek, Maalbeek
      Theaterzaal
      Past event
    • 11.01.2023
      20:00 - 21:00
      CC Schoten, Schoten
      De Kaekelaar
      Past event
    • 13.01.2023
      20:00
      Rumst, Rumst
      Podium CC
      Past event
    • 29.03.2024
      20:00 - 21:30
      Zaal Rhetorica
      Past event
    • 02.04.2024
      20:00 - 21:00
      C-mine Cultuurcentrum, Genk
      Grote zaal
      Past event
    • 03.04.2024
      20:00 - 21:00
      30CC, Leuven
      Minnepoort
      Past event
    • 04.04.2024
      20:00 - 21:00
      Cultuurhuis de Warande, Turnhout
      Schouwburg
      Past event
    • 11.04.2024
      07:00
      CC De Kern, Wilrijk
      Past event

  • Jonathan (FR)

    Bruno Vanden Broecke & Valentijn Dhaenens / KVS
    Thu 24.06.2021 - Tue 09.04.2024
    A strange conversation between a robot, his creator and the audience
    24.06.2021
    -
    09.04.2024
    Past event
    • 24.06.2021
      19:00 - 20:15
      FR
      Grand Théâtre Genève, Genève
      Past event
    • 25.06.2021
      19:00 - 20:15
      FR
      Grand Théâtre Genève, Genève
      Past event
    • 01.02.2022
      19:00 - 20:10
      FR
      KVS, Brussels
      KVS BOL
      Past event
    • 02.02.2022
      20:00 - 21:10
      FR
      KVS, Brussels
      KVS BOL
      Past event
    • 03.02.2022
      20:00 - 21:10
      FR
      KVS, Brussels
      KVS BOL
      Past event
    • 11.11.2022
      20:30 - 21:30
      Centre culturel de l'Arrondissement de Huy, Huy
      Centre Culturel Huy
      Past event
    • 09.04.2024
      20:30 - 21:30
      Maison de la Culture, Arlon
      Théâtre
      Past event

  • Schaambot

    Musia Mwankumi & Valentijn Dhaenens / SKaGeN & De Studio
    Fri 08.12.2023 20:30 - 22:00
    How should we handle our lauded literary heritage when it is considered hurtful and gross today, when in fact it was for many all along?
    KVS, Brussels
    KVS BOX
    08.12.2023
    20:30 - 22:00
    Past event

  • Horizon

    Manuela Infante / KVS & Kaaitheater
    Wed 22.02.2023 - Thu 09.11.2023
    Exploring the borders of the unknown
    22.02.2023
    -
    09.11.2023
    Past event
    • 22.02.2023
      20:00 - 21:30
      TRY OUT
      KVS, Brussels
      KVS BOL
      Past event
    • 23.02.2023
      20:00 - 21:30
      TRY OUT
      KVS, Brussels
      KVS BOL
      Past event
    • 11.10.2023
      20:00 - 21:30
      premiere
      KVS, Brussels
      KVS BOL
      Past event
    • 12.10.2023
      20:00 - 21:30
      KVS, Brussels
      KVS BOL
      Past event
    • 13.10.2023
      20:00 - 21:30
      KVS, Brussels
      KVS BOL
      Past event
    • 14.10.2023
      17:00 - 18:30
      KVS, Brussels
      KVS BOL
      Past event
    • 14.10.2023
      20:00 - 21:30
      KVS, Brussels
      KVS BOL
      Past event
    • 18.10.2023
      20:00 - 21:30
      KVS, Brussels
      KVS BOL
      Past event
    • 26.10.2023
      20:15 - 21:45
      Cultuurhuis de Warande, Turnhout
      Schouwburg
      Past event
    • 09.11.2023
      20:00 - 21:30
      Cultuurhuis de Warande, Turnhout
      Schouwburg
      Past event

  • Unsung

    Valentijn Dhaenens / KVS & SKaGeN
    Tue 02.04.2019 - Fri 06.11.2020
    A portrait of the homo politicus
    02.04.2019
    -
    06.11.2020
    Past event
    • 02.04.2019
      20:00
      Toneelhuis, Antwerpen
      Bourlaschouwburg
      Past event
    • 05.04.2019
      20:00
      Cultuurhuis de Warande, Turnhout
      Schouwburg
      Past event
    • 20.04.2019
      20:00
      GC De Maalbeek, Maalbeek
      Theaterzaal
      Past event
    • 24.04.2019
      20:00
      CC Ter Vesten, Beveren
      Past event
    • 02.05.2019
      20:30
      CC De Herbakker, Eeklo
      Past event
    • 09.05.2019
      20:00
      CC De Mol, Lier
      Past event
    • 11.05.2019
      20:30
      Cultuurhuis de Warande, Turnhout
      Schouwburg
      Past event
    • 23.05.2019
      20:00
      CC Schoten, Schoten
      De Kaekelaar
      Past event
    • 10.09.2019
      19:45
      Theatre Royal, Plymouth
      The Drum
      Past event
    • 11.09.2019
      19:45
      Theatre Royal, Plymouth
      The Drum
      Past event
    • 12.09.2019
      19:45
      Theatre Royal, Plymouth
      The Drum
      Past event
    • 13.09.2019
      19:45
      Theatre Royal, Plymouth
      The Drum
      Past event
    • 14.09.2019
      19:45
      Theatre Royal, Plymouth
      The Drum
      Past event
    • 25.09.2019
      20:15
      Cultuurhuis de Warande, Turnhout
      Schouwburg
      Past event
    • 07.10.2019
      20:00
      Cultuurhuis de Warande, Turnhout
      Schouwburg
      Past event
    • 09.10.2019
      20:30
      Cultuurhuis de Warande, Turnhout
      Schouwburg
      Past event
    • 11.10.2019
      20:30
      Theater Orpheus, Apeldoorn
      Rabobankzaal
      Past event
    • 12.10.2019
      20:15
      De Lawei, Drachten
      Roel Oostrazaal
      Past event
    • 19.10.2019
      20:00 - 21:20
      C-mine Cultuurcentrum, Genk
      Grote Zaal
      Past event
    • 22.10.2019
      20:15 - 21:35
      CC Sint-Niklaas, Sint-Niklaas
      Stadsschouwburg
      Past event
    • 26.10.2019
      20:15 - 21:35
      C-mine Cultuurcentrum, Genk
      Grote zaal
      Past event
    • 06.11.2020
      -
      30.06.2021
      From 20:00
      FREE LIVESTREAM VIA 247.KVS.BE
      At home, Earth
      Online
      Past event

  • Vita Siyo Muchezo Ya Watoto

    Frédérique Lecomte / KVS, Théâtre & Réconciliation
    Wed 20.11.2019 - Sat 14.12.2019
    Child soldiers and the peace industry: in the end, who’s helping who?
    20.11.2019
    -
    14.12.2019
    Past event
    • 20.11.2019
      20:00
      KVS, Brussels
      KVS BOL
      Past event
    • 21.11.2019
      20:00 - 21:40
      KVS, Brussels
      KVS BOL
      Past event
    • 22.11.2019
      20:00 - 21:40
      KVS, Brussels
      KVS BOL
      Past event
    • 23.11.2019
      20:00 - 21:40
      KVS, Brussels
      KVS BOL
      Past event
    • 26.11.2019
      20:00 - 21:40
      Cultuurhuis de Warande, Turnhout
      Schouwburg
      Past event
    • 27.11.2019
      20:00 - 21:40
      Mars Mons arts de la scène, Mons
      Théâtre le Manège
      Past event
    • 28.11.2019
      20:00 - 21:40
      Mars Mons arts de la scène, Mons
      Théâtre le Manège
      Past event
    • 06.12.2019
      20:15 - 21:55
      Theater Antigone, Kortrijk
      Past event
    • 07.12.2019
      20:15 - 21:55
      Theater Antigone, Kortrijk
      Past event
    • 10.12.2019
      20:00 - 21:40
      Toneelhuis, Antwerpen
      Bourlaschouwburg
      Past event
    • 11.12.2019
      20:00 - 21:40
      Cultuurhuis de Warande, Turnhout
      Schouwburg
      Past event
    • 13.12.2019
      20:00 - 21:40
      Le Central, La Louvière
      Le Théâtre
      Past event
    • 14.12.2019
      20:00 - 21:40
      Le Central, La Louvière
      Le Théâtre
      Past event

  • KNAUS

    Alexia Leysen
    Tue 16.04.2019 and Wed 17.04.2019
    In 3500 pages the Norwegian Knausgård wrote down his struggle with life
    KVS, Brussels
    KVS BOX
    16.04.2019
    and
    17.04.2019
    Past event
    • 16.04.2019
      20:30
      KVS, Brussels
      KVS BOX
      Past event
    • 17.04.2019
      20:30
      KVS, Brussels
      KVS BOX
      Past event
of 2

Emotion at the very forefront

Bruno Vanden Broecke and Valentijn Dhaenens are creating Jonathan, a play about the wonders of technology and the future awaiting all of us. We asked Bruno Vanden Broecke all about the new production.
Interview