Co-presented with The Athenaeum of Philadelphia

Handle with Care is a theatre performance in a box. No actors, no technicians. Just a box. And you.

A box is mailed to the theatre.
The instructions are clear:
Invite a group of people, on a specific date, at a specific time.
Let the audience take their seats.
Place the box at the centre of the stage.
The audience is waiting.
And then an audience member stands up and opens the box.
The show has started.

In Handle with Care, the audience is in control. The artists provide the structure; you shape the experience. Choose your role—take the lead or observe as others make choices. Together, you create something special: a shared experience filled with reflections on time, transience, and togetherness. And don’t worry—there are no wrong choices. For one hour, you’ll live something unique, fleeting, and unrepeatable. Here. Now. Together. No one is watching.

Performance Information

September 17-19, 2026

Pricing

$40 Supporter
$20 Standard
$15 Students & 25-and-Unders
$2 FringeACCESS

FringeArts Member discounts & benefits available

Venue

The Athenaeum of Philadelphia

219 S 6th St, Philadelphia, PA 19106

About the Artist

Ontroerend Goed

The Belgian theatre-performance-group Ontroerend Goed (a punning name, roughly translated as “Feel Estate”) produces self-devised work grounded in the here and now, inviting their audiences to participate as well as observe. Whether they are performing Backwards, turning spectators into voters who eliminate actors, guiding strangers through a labyrinth of mirrors and avatars to meet themselves, or placing the audience at the controls of the financial system, the company has made it its trademark to be unpredictable in content and form.

Creative & Production Team

Creators: Alexander Devriendt, Karolien De Bleser, Samir Veen, Leonore Spee, and Charlotte De Bruyne
Designers: Nick Mattan and Edouard Devriendt
Production Team: Leda Decleyre, Lynn Van den Bergh, Willie-Marie Hermans and Hannes Pieters
Photography: Ans Brys and Joëlle Desmet
Voices: Silvio Vovk, Jong Wook Yang, Gina Beuk, Karolien De Bleser, Leonore Spee, Samir Veen, Charlotte De Bruyne, Aurélie Lannoy, and Alexander Devriendt
English Translation: Samir Veen
Translation Editor: Tiffer Hutchings
Assembly Team: Jana Vos, Emma Verhaegen, Roos-Marie De Schryver, and Juta Donckers
Video: Aaron Denolf

Accessibility

Wheelchair/Limited Mobility Seating  and Sensory Kits Available. Venue social narrative is available online. Check PhillyFringe.org for additional services for specific shows.

Content Considerations

• This event is appropriate for ages 13+
• Audience Interaction

Health & Safety

Masks are optional, vaccines are not required. More information about FringeArts COVID policies can be found here.