BRUGES, BELGIUM
I’m Robbert De Neve, a theatre technology specialist at Cultuurcentrum Brugge. My interest in technology started as a child with LEGO and K’NEX. First building, then figuring out how something worked, and finally seeing whether it could be done differently. That curiosity has stayed with me, although the things I build have grown a little larger.
At secondary school I studied electrical engineering, then switched to stage technology for the final two years. I went on to complete a three-year bachelor’s degree in stage technology. Immediately after graduating, I joined CC Brugge as a stage technician. Since 2021, I have worked there as a theatre technology specialist.
My work ranges from technical preparation and production coordination to tendering, purchasing and safety. I also work hands-on in lighting technology and lighting design. Investigating and solving problems is a natural part of that. What gives me the most satisfaction is making an improvement that others had not yet thought of, but that makes everyday work noticeably easier.
Theatre buildings fascinate me, both old and new. How does modern technology find its place in a historic, sometimes listed building? And how well does a new building work once equipment needs to move through its corridors, maintenance is required or an installation needs to be expanded? Storage, passageways and room for utilities may not sound particularly spectacular, but behind the scenes they make a big difference. Safety, escape routes and accessibility are also part of how I look at a building.
I pursue that interest through digital plans, 3D models and reconstructions of buildings and technical installations. Modelling a building digitally reveals details and connections that are easy to miss on an ordinary walk-through. I enjoy investigating how something used to be, how it works today and what could be improved in a future renovation.
A colleague once described me as a sharp observer who rarely raises his voice, keeps the bigger picture in mind and analyses rather than panics. I recognise myself in that. I enjoy working with different people and personalities, with a healthy dose of scepticism and dry, sometimes slightly absurdist humour. “You always lose a little along the way” is a phrase that comes up regularly.
That technical curiosity does not stop at home. Work is a hobby and my hobby is work; the line between them can sometimes be hard to find. On this website, I share the projects, models and technical discoveries that grow out of it. It gives work that usually stays behind the scenes a moment in the light.