The National Theatre in Brussels will close for one week and cancel all performances following the suicide of a staff member.
The National Theatre of Wallonia and Brussels is located on Boulevard Émile Jacqmain in the city centre. Serge Damenez, the head of the theatre's machinery department, took his own life at the theatre on Saturday.
The National Theatre expressed its deepest condolences to Damenez's family and friends in a statement signed by management and staff.
"Faced with such a tragic and emotionally complex event, it is important to take the necessary time to process it," the statement read. "To enable the teams to get through this painful time, we have therefore decided to suspend activities in consultation with all staff."
Theatre performances scheduled for Saturday evening had already been cancelled. The venue will reopen on Tuesday 3 December.
Anyone experiencing suicidal thoughts can contact the Suicide Prevention Centre's helpline at 0800 32 123. It is anonymous, free, and available 24/7. Find more information here.
