This event is wheelchair accessible.
Recommended for ages 8 and up
Little language / easy-to-understand English
The Belgian newspaper De Standaard once called Maxim Storms the “Charlie Chaplin of his generation.” His play Nuggets is full of slapstick and offbeat humor.
In a strange world, a clown figure rummages through a pile of building materials. She digs through pipes, cables, and plastic tarps—lovingly, but also somewhat frantically. It is clear that it has to do something. But what exactly? And why?
The character seems to wander aimlessly from one place to the next – as if it were part of a video game that has frozen. Every now and then, a few words escape it. Otherwise, it is completely absorbed in its search for the “right” material.
With grotesque acting, perfect timing, and a mustachioed poker face, Maxim Storms creates a theatrical universe all his own!
“Maxim Storms' solo performance is a gem. This is clowning at its finest. With more mastery than ever before.” **** De Morgen
As part of BAFF - International Basel Puppet Theater Festival
figurentheaterfestival.ch
Part of the Familientag on Sunday, September 21
Credits
Concept & play: Maxim Storms
Coaching: Jan Steen & Lisbeth Gruwez
Light: Geert Vanoorlé
Feedback: Linde Carrijn & Rachid Laachir
Coproduction: CAMPO, C-TAKT & De Grote Post
Distribution: Vincent Company In samenwerking met c o r s o & kunstencentrum nona
Maxim Storms
Maxim Storms creates dark, uncomfortable and comedic theatre. The way he uses language is more important than the literal meaning it holds. For Maxim, language is music and rhythm and sounds have a visual effect. His intuitive imagination demands a distinct openness of his audience in order to capture something of essence.
Maxim’s work takes on meaning through montage. The kneading and shaping creates something magical. In all his performances he is interested in beings – human or otherwise – who either have a goal or who don’t know what to do and are thus inclined to take spontaneous action. The characters’ condition is conveyed by means of form or performance style. He will never choose a straight-forward, clear-cut character. Everything is fluid and deviates from the norm.
In the creation of his theatre work for adults, he is able to draw on his experience as a musician-performer with Brik Tu-Tok and as a performer-maker with Ballet Dommage. The common thread throughout his work: a poker face with a moustache, flawless timing and comedic collages. In recent years, Maxim (together with co-creators such as Katrien Valckenaers and Lobke Leirens) has earned no fewer than five selections for Het TheaterFestival and Circuit X. In September 2023 De Acteursgilde awarded him the prize for Best Acting Performance in the under-35s category.
In 2024–2025 and 2025-2026 he will reprise his solo piece NUGGETS as well as research the musicality of his theatre work. In the course of 2026, he will premiere with Marshmallow BBQ, a new production together with Lobke Leirens. More info on Marshmallow BBQ will follow soon.