History
Image Foundry DE MAAN builds on the long tradition of the Mechels Stadspoppentheater, which was founded in 1948 by Jef Contryn, pioneer of the puppet theatre. Louis Contryn, Jef’s son, continued his dad’s tradition.
From 1995 to 2013 Willem Verheyden succeeded Louis Contryn as managing director. At the same time he combined the functions of artistic director, writer and stage director at DE MAAN. He wrote and directed Roos, Neuze Neuze, Ik wil een vis zijn and many other MAAN productions.
In July 2013 Stef De Paepe was appointed general and artistic director. He had already built up a reputation as stage director, instructor, writer and actor. He had worked with great names and renowned theatre companies. De Paepe has transformed the original figure theatre into a medium-sized, multimedia art house for children and young people.
Stef De Paepe’s efforts to expand the visual playing field have yielded more than satisfactory results. As director/author he was responsible for successful (and often daringly provocative) performances such as Kleine Rode Eva (Little Red Eva), Uilskuiken en Takkeling or Pjotr en de Wolfski, an adaptation of Peter and the Wolf.
In January 2020, DE MAAN entered a new phase in its history. Stef De Paepe passed the torch to the artistic trio of Greet Jacobs, Gorges Ocloo, and Femke Stallaert. These three creators and performers were already closely connected to DE MAAN. They had appeared in several of the company’s productions (including Kleine Rode Eva, Raya, Uilskuiken en Takkeling, and Futur Simple) and had created the in-house productions Planeet Nivanir and Anansi. Alongside their artistic leadership at DE MAAN, they continued to pursue their individual artistic careers outside the company.
In April 2026, Simon D’Huyvetter joined the artistic leadership of DE MAAN. Together with Greet Jacobs and Femke Stallaert, he now forms the company’s artistic trio. After five remarkable years, Gorges Ocloo leaves the DE MAAN with a heart full of pride and gratitude. He continues his multidisciplinary work within the performing arts landscape and expands his artistic horizons. Simon has a diverse career as a creator, actor, and director. As a freelance artist, he has collaborated with various theatre companies, including Kopergietery, BRONKS, hetpaleis, and DE MAAN. Since 2023, he has also been the artistic director of 4Hoog.
Paul Contryn, son of Louis Contryn, remains a constant presence as a creator and manipulator of puppets and figures, as well as a draughtsman and painter. In close consultation with directors and creators, Paul always seeks the most suitable form to serve the story. He is not tied to a single material, type of figure, or category of objects, but continuously engages in artistic exploration and research.
DE MAAN remains a house where everyone is welcome and where visual theatre is celebrated from the widest variety of perspectives. Drawing on its long and rich tradition in puppet and object theatre, it continues to explore the exciting frontier where traditional techniques and new technologies meet and elevate one another.
DE MAAN aims to be a place in Mechelen where children and young people not only come to watch performances but also become part of the company themselves. Through an extensive educational and participatory programme, we strive to make our audience part of our team.
Not only puppetry, humour, playfulness, the unexpected, the strange and the magical are key concepts for our theatre, a critical view of the world around us is equally essential. Art becomes a celebration to be shared together or a starting point for dialogue through performances, installations, festivals, workshops, and other activities.
The Building
In november 2015 Image Foundry DE MAAN moved to its new premises, 3 Minderbroedersgang, 2800 Mechelen. Postcards are always welcome!
DE MAAN’S new premises consist of offices, a workshop, a large and a small theatre plus amenities. Most probably you have already seen the golden cube, inspired by the Moon Lander, the first manned vehicle to land on the moon during the Apollo XI mission. In 2015, after a two-year period of reconstruction and renovation, DE MAAN finally landed. We wish to explicitly thank the City of Mechelen.
The new premises are state of the art architecture in terms of child-friendliness and fire safety. The new section was built by the architectural firm Import/Export, the historic buildings (De Heilige Geestkapel and the Heilige Geesthuis) were renovated by Beeck architects. City architect Barbara Adriaensen and her professional team supervised the building works.
The main assets of the new premises are: a culture café (owned/run by the city), a large theatre (175 seats) and a smaller theatre (124 seats) for rehearsals, research and smaller productions.
DE MAAN went through a long process, following the entire dossier. It was involved in all the fundamental choices and was responsible for the technical equipment of the rooms. An example of good practices in the field of cooperation between the city and a non-profit organization.
We are very happy to be able to welcome our audience to this warm new place.