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Anne-Cécile Vandalem's 'La Fête' at Théâtre national Wallonie-Bruxelles Tackles Racism and Denial

other · 2026-09-23

Anne-Cécile Vandalem, a Belgian director, playwright, and actress, has created a new theatrical work titled 'La Fête' that adapts a tragic news story. The play examines racism and the refusal to acknowledge it. It is presented at the Théâtre national Wallonie-Bruxelles. The source material is the death of Sanda Dia, a Belgian-Senegalese student who died in December 2018 in Louvain. Dia was the victim of an extremely brutal hazing ritual. Vandalem's adaptation brings this event to the stage, using it to confront issues of racism and denial. The production is part of the theatre's current season. No further details about the creative team, cast, or exact performance dates are provided in the source. The work contributes to ongoing conversations about racism in Belgium and beyond, using a real-life tragedy as its foundation.

Key facts

  • Anne-Cécile Vandalem is a director, playwright, and actress.
  • Her work 'La Fête' is staged at the Théâtre national Wallonie-Bruxelles.
  • The play denounces racism and its denial.
  • It adapts the story of Sanda Dia, a Belgian-Senegalese student.
  • Sanda Dia died in December 2018 in Louvain.
  • Dia was the victim of a brutal hazing ritual.
  • The source is an article from Le Monde.
  • The article was published on September 23, 2026.

Entities

Artists

  • Anne-Cécile Vandalem
  • Sanda Dia
  • Joëlle Sambi
  • François Ebouele
  • Habib Ben Tanfous
  • Oscar Van Rompay
  • Anne-Pascale Clairembourg
  • Arne De Tremerie
  • Eva-Maria Betschy
  • François Makanga
  • Tidjane Pokou
  • Moussa Pokou
  • Malik Devrese
  • Jeanne Dupuis
  • Laurent Van Wezembeek
  • Olivier Van Wezembeek
  • Lucien Van Wezembeek
  • Sophie Van Wezembeek
  • Christophe Engels
  • Julia Garlito Y Romo

Institutions

  • Théâtre national Wallonie-Bruxelles
  • Le Monde
  • Théâtre National
  • Théâtre de Liège
  • Maison de la culture de Tournai
  • Théâtre de Namur
  • KU Leuven
  • Reuzegom
  • De Singel
  • Théâtre de la Cité
  • Malraux scène nationale Chambéry Savoie
  • Les Célestins, Théâtre de Lyon
  • Rührfestspiele
  • Ruimtevaaders
  • Inferno Magazine

Locations

  • Louvain
  • Belgium
  • Bruxelles
  • Belgique
  • Liège
  • Tournai
  • Namur
  • Anvers
  • Congo
  • Toulouse
  • France
  • Chambéry
  • Savoie
  • Lyon

Sources