Vital Schraenen

Vital began his professional career in 1988. Between 1994 and 2010, he ran his own music theater company, Tirasila. Through MetX, Vital is also closely involved in citizen initiatives such as Hart Boven Hard, Zinneke Parade, and Día de Muertos dans les Marolles.

Vital starts his professional career in 1988. He works for various theatre, dance, musical theatre, opera and circus companies in Belgium and abroad. To name but a few: De Tijd, Vlaamse Opera Stichting, Internationale Nieuwe Scene, Ensemble Leporello, Fabuleus, Compagnie Thor, Theater Stap, Théâtre Varia, De Nieuwe Snaar, Muziekmaatschappij Excelsior, Brussel Brecht Eisler Koor, The Primitives, Rideau de Bruxelles, Thomassenko, Vieze Gasten or Bozar.

Between 1994 and 2010, he led his own music theater company, Tirasila. There, he created performances such as K-bel, ballade van een spookmijn (K-bel, ballad of a ghost mine), Ubu roi, and Slachtwerk (Slaughter). He also collaborated on large-scale urban spectacles for various festivals in Flanders, such as OdeGand, 30CC Ouvertures, and Canta Luna in Leuven, and Stadsvisioenen Mechelen. But his heart beats above all in the metropolitan hotbed of Brussels. He contributed to the celebration of Brussels as European Capital of Culture in 2000 and has been involved in every edition of the Zinneke Parade since 2012.

During the 2018 Parade, he teamed up with Leuven-based guerrilla percussionist Jo Zanders to create BRUiTAL. This rousing punk fanfare now stands on its own two feet and rocks many a street party and festival in Belgium and beyond.

As a barrel full of social engagement, Vital is also closely involved in the citizens' initiative Hart Boven Hard. For example, he co-organized La Grande Parade in 2015 and the Christmas revue Tina & Tamara at the end of 2018. In addition, together with MetX, he also keeps the artistic heart of Brussels' Marolles district pumping through projects such as MegafoniX, la Fête de la Musique, and Día de Muertos.