Universal Ryan - MAD (Original Score)
2025, self-released
For the past 8 years, I’ve had the privilege of producing and composing music for over 20 performances and theatre shows. Next to Know V.A., I’ve quietly been crafting my own sound—one that’s evolved and transformed into something entirely new. A new 𝓼𝓸𝓾𝓷𝓭, a new 𝓪𝓵𝓲𝓪𝓼, and a new 𝓹𝓮𝓻𝓼𝓸𝓷𝓪.
The original score of Me, a Depiction by Lisa Schamlé, out now on all streaming platforms. The piece earned the DocLab Immersive Non-Fiction Award at IDFA.
2025, self-released
For the past 8 years, I’ve had the privilege of producing and composing music for over 20 performances and theatre shows. Next to Know V.A., I’ve quietly been crafting my own sound—one that’s evolved and transformed into something entirely new. A new 𝓼𝓸𝓾𝓷𝓭, a new 𝓪𝓵𝓲𝓪𝓼, and a new 𝓹𝓮𝓻𝓼𝓸𝓷𝓪.
The original score of Me, a Depiction by Lisa Schamlé, out now on all streaming platforms. The piece earned the DocLab Immersive Non-Fiction Award at IDFA.
Commissioned score for performance/installation piece Me, a Depiction by Lisa Schamlé, shown at IDFA.
Music by Universal Ryan/Marijn Brussaard.
Music by Universal Ryan/Marijn Brussaard.
5G Live
2025, multi-media performance
Experimental multimedia performance group 5G embody the feelings of being submerged in disinformation and media exhaustion. Tapping into electromagnetic fields and subsonic frequencies, they fuse maximalist noise, synthetic rituals, and live video into a hypnotic experience. Raw paranoia processed through body, wire, and screen.
2025, multi-media performance
Experimental multimedia performance group 5G embody the feelings of being submerged in disinformation and media exhaustion. Tapping into electromagnetic fields and subsonic frequencies, they fuse maximalist noise, synthetic rituals, and live video into a hypnotic experience. Raw paranoia processed through body, wire, and screen.
Concept, performance by Javier Mars, Ruperto Herrador, Marving Heberger, Marijn Brussaard.
Thanks to Gross Encounters, Noam Toran, Reem Saleh, Dirty Art Department, Sandberg Institute.
[OT301] — 27/03/25
Documented by stray receivers
Thanks to Gross Encounters, Noam Toran, Reem Saleh, Dirty Art Department, Sandberg Institute.
[OT301] — 27/03/25
Documented by stray receivers
Doom Board
2025
Steel frame, old hardcore & metal t-shirts sewn together into two panels, collage of internet sourced material.
2025
Steel frame, old hardcore & metal t-shirts sewn together into two panels, collage of internet sourced material.
Made and shown at Dirty Art Department,
Sandberg Institute.
Last photo by Ruperto Herrador
Sandberg Institute.
Last photo by Ruperto Herrador
Beast Mode
2024, series
Silk screened posters. 3D printed stegosaurus figures.
2024, series
Silk screened posters. 3D printed stegosaurus figures.
Made and shown at Dirty Art Department,
Sandberg Institute.
Photo’s by Camille Dumay.
Sandberg Institute.
Photo’s by Camille Dumay.
Demon Time
2024, performance
2024, performance
Freaky Dancing x Theater Kikker. Made possible by Culturele Zondag.
Performance, art-direction Marijn Brussaard
Light-design Scott Jun
Co-production sound Ytem
Photo’s Cees Martens, Vincent Amboy, Camille Dumay
Performance, art-direction Marijn Brussaard
Light-design Scott Jun
Co-production sound Ytem
Photo’s Cees Martens, Vincent Amboy, Camille Dumay
cvmarijnbrussaard2024.pdf
Currently
2025 De Ontwerpersprijs, Nederlands Theater Festival, NL (initiator)
Selected showings
2025 5G Live, Gross Encounters, Dirty Art Department, OT301, NL (maker/performer)
2024 Freaky Dancing x Theater Kikker, performance, NL (maker/performer/art-director)
2024 Styx and Stones, group show, Dirty Art Department, Sandberg Instituut, NL (maker/performer)
2023-24 Center Stage Robotics residency, Ulrike Quade Company, Creative Robotics, Universiteit Utrecht, NL - ism Niek Vanoosterweyck (maker)
2023 Touch the sky, video-installation, Life Potential group show Arti et Amicitiae, Marijn Brussaard, NL (maker)
2023 Undefined, video-installation, Life Potential groupshow Arti et Amicitiae, Marijn Brussaard, NL (maker)
2022 Strange Days ADE, club night, Amsterdam Dance Event, Melkweg, NL (curator/dj)
2022 I Want More, performance/installation, Gardening, GREENHOUSE, Veem House of Performance, BAU platform, NL (maker)
2022 The Zone, performance/installation, The Grey Space in the Middle, Lente Kabinet, Zaal 3, workspacebrussels, NL/BE (maker)
2021 Station Electronique, live-set, La Station, Know V.A., Paris FR (performer/dj)
2020 Lunchmeat festival, live-set, Know V.A., Prague CZ (performer/dj)
2019 Boiler Room, dj-set, Strange Days x Hard Dance, Know V.A., NL (curator/dj)
2019 China tour, dj-set, Know V.A., Shanghai, Beijing, Xi’an, Hangzhou, CHN (performer/dj)
2018 India tour, dj/live-set Know V.A., New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Pune, IND (performer/dj)
2018-22 Strange Days event series, Know V.A., NL (curator/dj)
2018 Strange Days x Modern Day Rogues, club night/exhibition, OT301/4bid gallery, Boris Postma & Know V.A., NL (curator/dj)
2018 RE:VIVE, live-set, Know V.A., Eye Filmmuseum, NL (performer/live set)
2018 De Onzichtbare Man, performance, Theater Artemis, NL/BE (performer)
2017 Why, why ohh why, performance, Nikki Hock, De School, Theater aan het Spui, Eye Filmmuseum, Scopitone Festival Nantes, NL/FR (performer/composer)
2017 Blue, performance, Frascati Producties, Lowlands, MoMo Theater Rotterdam, NL (maker/performer)
2016 NTS, Know V.A., UK (performer/dj)
2016 Forever Young, performance, Frascati Producties, Het TheaterFestival Vlaanderen, DeSingel, TF, NL/BE (maker/performer)
2015 Variety Show, performance, Theater aan het Spui, de Parade, NL (maker/performer)
2014 Rhythm of the Night, performance, Het Bijbels Museum, Museumnacht, ITs festival, Via Rudolphi, Het Debuut, NL (maker/performer)
2013-15 HOAX club night, Melkweg, NL (curator/dj)
2013 Lowlands festival, dj-set, Know V.A., NL (performer/dj)
2013 Mysteryland festival, dj-set, Om Unit b2b Know V.A., NL (performer/dj)
Music, sound-design
2025 Hen, Roos Bottinga, Ada Ozdogan, Theater Bellevue, Het Nationale Theater, NL - collaboration w/ Boudewijn Scholten (composer)
2024 Me – a depiction, Lisa Schamlé, IDFA, NL (composer)
2024 Beste Mensen, Bureau Vergezicht, Theater Rotterdam, NL (composer)
2024 *click*, Niek Vanoosterweyck, Theater aan de Rijn, NL (sound-design/composer)
2024 Roof, Ada Ozdogan, Theater Bellevue, Likeminds, NL - collaboration w/ Boudewijn Scholten (composer)
2024 The Returned, Ada Ozdogan, Theater RAST, NL (composer)
2023 Freaky Friday Face Off, De Warme Winkel, ITA, NL (composer)
2022 Casting, De Warme Winkel/toneelgroep Amsterdam, Holland Festival, NL (sound-design)
2021 Een oprechte ode aan de Ironie, performance, De Warme Winkel, ITA, NL (composer)
2021 Yogi Anni, Annica Muller, Boulevard, NL (composer)
2021 Odette, Kater de en Lul, performance, La Isla Bonita, Frascati, NL (composer)
2019 De Witte Kamer, Ada Ozdogan, Theater Sonnevanck, NL (composer)
2019 Thunderdome Never Dies, documentary, Know V.A., NL (composer)
2019 Calvin Klein ad, CK One x Glamcult, Know V.A., NL (composer)
2019 Party Dialogues, performance, Theater Artemis, Oerol, NL (composer)
2019 Dubbelgangers, Ada Ozdogan, Theater Rast, NL (composer)
2017 Why, why ohh why, performance, Nikki Hock, De School, Theater aan het Spui, Eye Filmmuseum, Scopitone Festival Nantes, NL/FR (performer/composer)
2017 everything must be interpreted as intensity, Francesca Lazzeri, Frascati, NL (sound-design/composer)
2017 The Family, Casper van der Putte, Theater Utrecht, NL (sound-design/composer)
Performer
2025 Camiel Fortgens vid, Jeroen Dankers, NL (performer)
2023 The Invisible Man, Theater Artemis, Unicorn Theatre London, UK (performer)
2018 De Onzichtbare Man, Theater Artemis, NL (performer)
2017 Quality Time, Daan Bakker, NL (performer)
2016 Made in here, Davy Pieters, Frascati Producties, NL (performer)
2014 De dag dat de papegaai zelf iets wilde zeggen, Theater Artemis, NL (performer)
2014 Victoria, Sanne Nouws, Frascati Producties, NL (performer)
2013 Spectaculaire voorstelling, Boogaerdt/Van der Schoot, Oerol, NL (performer)
2007 Double Points-Rudi, Emio Greco, Nederlandse Dansdagen, NL (performer)
Awards, nominations, stipends
2024 Offies - TYA Performance, The Invisible Man, Theater Artemis, Unicorn Theatre, LDN, UK (performer)
2023 Werkbijdrage muziekauteur FPK, ism Warme Winkel, ITA, NL (sound-design/composer)
2018 Nominatie VSCD Mimeprijs, Nederlands Theater Festival, De Onzichtbare man, Theater Artemis, NL (performer)
2018 Zilveren Krekel, VSCD, Nederlands Theater Festival, VSCD, De Onzichtbare man, Theater Artemis, NL (performer)
2016-17 Circuit X, Forever Young, selection TF, Het TheaterFestival Vlaanderen, NL/BE (maker/performer)
2014 Nominatie VSCD Mimeprijs, De dag dat de papegaai zelf iets wilde zeggen, Theater Artemis (performer)
2014 Het Debuut award, Rhythm of the Night, ITs festival, Via Rudolphi, NL (maker/performer)
Residencies, workshops, lectures
2023-24 Center Stage Robotics residency, Ulrike Quade Company, Creative Robotics, Universiteit Utrecht, NL - ism Niek Vanoosterweyck (resident)
2024 Future Stages, Ulrike Quade Company residency presentation, Theater Utrecht, NL (lecturer)
2023 Echobox Radio residency, Strange Days, Know V.A., NL (resident/dj)
2022 Gardening residency, a GREENHOUSE project, Veem House of Performance, BAU platform, NL (resident)
2022 The Grey Space in the Middle residency, Lente Kabinet, The Zone, NL (resident)
2022 workspacebrussels residency, The Zone, Brussels, BE (resident)
2019 Het Huis Utrecht residency, The Zone, NL (resident)
2018 Dag van de Mime, De Meervaart, NL (lecturer)
2015-17 Frascati production house, Forever Young and Blue, NL (maker)
2016 Workshop performance, KABK, NL (teacher)
2015 Pecha Kucha #18, w/ Nikki Hock, Zaal 3, Het Nationale Theater, NL (lecturer)
2015 Zaal 3, Het Nationale Theater, NL (maker)
2013-20 Red Light Radio resident, Know V.A./HOAX, NL (resident/dj)
Selected press
↪Freaky Dancing review, 3voor12
↪Feature CSR residency, Dansmagazine
↪The Invisible Man review, The Guardian
↪Open brief Actie Onbekend, Theaterkrant
↪De ellende onder de loep nemen, Know V.A. interview Noisey
↪Hardcore is springlevend (en net zo spannend als toen), DJBroadcast
↪Review Blue, Theaterkrant
↪Bühne Bisoux #02: Marijn Brussaard, Fringe Festival
↪NRC Handelsblad, review Rhythm of the Night
↪Volkskrant - review Rhythm of the Night
↪Een Uur Cultuur (min 50), Anoek Nuyens, VRPO, Radio 1 (Dutch) 22/12/2024
↪Review Freaky Dancing x Theater Kikker, 3voor12 (Dutch) 26/11/2024
↪Review Beste Mensen, Trouw (Dutch) 17/11/2024
↪Feature CSR residency, Dansmagazine (Dutch) 11/04/2024
↪Review The Invisible Man - The Guardian (English) 05/06/2023
↪Review The Invisible Man - The Stage (English) 02/06/2023
↪Kuba Paris - Life Potential groupshow 22/03/2023
↪Review De Onzichtbare Man - pzazz (Dutch) 31/12/2022
↪Feature Strange Days ADE - Subbacultcha (English) 22/10/2022
↪Gardening #2 - Greenhouse (Dutch) 03/06/2022
↪The Grey Space x Lente Kabinet - The Zone (Dutch) 26/02/2022
↪Review Odette, Kater en de Lul - NRC (Dutch) 20/09/2021
↪Review Know V.A. - Lunchmeat 2020 - Inverted Audio (English) 09/11/2020
↪Feature Know V.A. - Lunchmeat 2020 - The Brutalist (English) 14/10/2020
↪Feature Know V.A. - Lunchmeat 2020 - Prague Morning (English) 25/09/2020
↪Interview Cousin - Metal Magazine (English) 2020
↪Interview Know V.A. - Noisey (Dutch) 04/11/2019
↪Feature Strange Days - Mixmag (English) 04/11/2019
↪Interview Know V.A. - Subbacultcha (English) 04/11/2019
↪Review Strange Days - 3voor12 (Dutch) 20/10/2019
↪Feature Strange Days - DJBroadcast - (Dutch) 09/05/2019
↪Review Dubbelgangers - Theaterkrant (Dutch) 15/04/2019
↪Feature Know V.A. - Dummy (English) 03/04/2019
↪Feature Strange Days x Modern Day Rogues - DJBroadcast 31/10/2018
↪Interview Strange Days x Modern Day Rogues - Noisey (Dutch) 11/10/2018
↪Feature Know V.A. - Glamcult - Pain Issue (English) 2018
↪Review De Onzichtbare Man - de Volkskrant (Dutch) 15/03/2018
↪Feature Know V.A. - The Astral Plane (English) 15/03/2018
↪Review De Onzichtbare Man - Theaterkrant (Dutch) 04/03/2018
↪Interview - Bühne Bisoux zine (Dutch) 2017
↪Interview YYOY - Vice (Dutch) 19/05/2017
↪Review Blue - Volkskrant (Dutch) 18/02/2017
↪Review Blue - Theaterkrant (Dutch) 18/02/2017
↪Review Blue - The Cultural Lifestyle (Dutch) 21/02/2017
↪Feature Know V.A. - XLR8R (English) 19/10/2016
↪Interview Know V.A. - Zenith EP - Noisey (Dutch) 17/10/2016
↪Interview - het TheaterFestival Vlaanderen (Dutch) 01/09/2016
↪Review Forever Young - Concertnews.be (Dutch) 31/08/2016
↪Circuit X - Focus Knack (Dutch) 04/03/2016
↪Interview - Frascati Magazine (Dutch) 2015
↪Review Variety Show - Scenes.nu (Dutch) 2015
↪Review Forever Young - Theaterkrant (Dutch) 26/11/2015
↪Interview - Radio de Richel (Dutch) 06/11/2015
↪Review Variety Show - Trouw (Dutch) 14/07/2015
↪Feature Rhythm of the Night - Theaterkrant (Dutch) 23/06/2015
↪Interview - Den Haag FM (Dutch) 05/05/2015
↪Review Fraslab - Theaterkrant (Dutch) 12/03/2015
↪Interview Know V.A. - DJBroadcast (Dutch) 11/02/2015
↪Feature Rhythm of the Night - Theaterkrant (Dutch) 20/11/2014
↪Feature - Terugblik Mime 13-14 Theaterkrant (Dutch) 16/11/2014
↪Review Rhythm of the Night - NRC (Dutch) 29/09/2014
↪Review Rhythm of the Night - Haarlems Dagblad (Dutch) 29/09/2014
↪Review Rhythm of the Night - Toneelblog (Dutch) 23/09/2014
↪Review Rhythm of the Night - de Volkskrant (Dutch) 22/09/2014
↪Review Rhythm of the Night - Theaterkrant (Dutch) 21/09/2014
↪Review Rhythm of the Night - 8weekly.nl (Dutch) 20/09/2014
↪Interview - Check dit FF (Dutch) 16/09/2014
↪Feature - Fonds Podium Kunst (Dutch) 2014
↪Feature ITS Het Debuut Award - Theaterkrant (Dutch) 2014
↪Review Theater Artemis - Theaterkrant (Dutch) 06/04/2014
↪Interview Know V.A. - Thump/Noisey (Dutch) 12/02/2014
↪Interview Know V.A. - Noisey (Dutch) 27/08/2013
↪Feature Know V.A. - Lowlands - 3voor12/VPRO (Dutch) 17/08/2013
↪Interview Know V.A. - DJBroadcast (Dutch) 24/07/2013
↪Review Freaky Dancing x Theater Kikker, 3voor12 (Dutch) 26/11/2024
↪Review Beste Mensen, Trouw (Dutch) 17/11/2024
↪Feature CSR residency, Dansmagazine (Dutch) 11/04/2024
↪Review The Invisible Man - The Guardian (English) 05/06/2023
↪Review The Invisible Man - The Stage (English) 02/06/2023
↪Kuba Paris - Life Potential groupshow 22/03/2023
↪Review De Onzichtbare Man - pzazz (Dutch) 31/12/2022
↪Feature Strange Days ADE - Subbacultcha (English) 22/10/2022
↪Gardening #2 - Greenhouse (Dutch) 03/06/2022
↪The Grey Space x Lente Kabinet - The Zone (Dutch) 26/02/2022
↪Review Odette, Kater en de Lul - NRC (Dutch) 20/09/2021
↪Review Know V.A. - Lunchmeat 2020 - Inverted Audio (English) 09/11/2020
↪Feature Know V.A. - Lunchmeat 2020 - The Brutalist (English) 14/10/2020
↪Feature Know V.A. - Lunchmeat 2020 - Prague Morning (English) 25/09/2020
↪Interview Cousin - Metal Magazine (English) 2020
↪Interview Know V.A. - Noisey (Dutch) 04/11/2019
↪Feature Strange Days - Mixmag (English) 04/11/2019
↪Interview Know V.A. - Subbacultcha (English) 04/11/2019
↪Review Strange Days - 3voor12 (Dutch) 20/10/2019
↪Feature Strange Days - DJBroadcast - (Dutch) 09/05/2019
↪Review Dubbelgangers - Theaterkrant (Dutch) 15/04/2019
↪Feature Know V.A. - Dummy (English) 03/04/2019
↪Feature Strange Days x Modern Day Rogues - DJBroadcast 31/10/2018
↪Interview Strange Days x Modern Day Rogues - Noisey (Dutch) 11/10/2018
↪Feature Know V.A. - Glamcult - Pain Issue (English) 2018
↪Review De Onzichtbare Man - de Volkskrant (Dutch) 15/03/2018
↪Feature Know V.A. - The Astral Plane (English) 15/03/2018
↪Review De Onzichtbare Man - Theaterkrant (Dutch) 04/03/2018
↪Interview - Bühne Bisoux zine (Dutch) 2017
↪Interview YYOY - Vice (Dutch) 19/05/2017
↪Review Blue - Volkskrant (Dutch) 18/02/2017
↪Review Blue - Theaterkrant (Dutch) 18/02/2017
↪Review Blue - The Cultural Lifestyle (Dutch) 21/02/2017
↪Feature Know V.A. - XLR8R (English) 19/10/2016
↪Interview Know V.A. - Zenith EP - Noisey (Dutch) 17/10/2016
↪Interview - het TheaterFestival Vlaanderen (Dutch) 01/09/2016
↪Review Forever Young - Concertnews.be (Dutch) 31/08/2016
↪Circuit X - Focus Knack (Dutch) 04/03/2016
↪Interview - Frascati Magazine (Dutch) 2015
↪Review Variety Show - Scenes.nu (Dutch) 2015
↪Review Forever Young - Theaterkrant (Dutch) 26/11/2015
↪Interview - Radio de Richel (Dutch) 06/11/2015
↪Review Variety Show - Trouw (Dutch) 14/07/2015
↪Feature Rhythm of the Night - Theaterkrant (Dutch) 23/06/2015
↪Interview - Den Haag FM (Dutch) 05/05/2015
↪Review Fraslab - Theaterkrant (Dutch) 12/03/2015
↪Interview Know V.A. - DJBroadcast (Dutch) 11/02/2015
↪Feature Rhythm of the Night - Theaterkrant (Dutch) 20/11/2014
↪Feature - Terugblik Mime 13-14 Theaterkrant (Dutch) 16/11/2014
↪Review Rhythm of the Night - NRC (Dutch) 29/09/2014
↪Review Rhythm of the Night - Haarlems Dagblad (Dutch) 29/09/2014
↪Review Rhythm of the Night - Toneelblog (Dutch) 23/09/2014
↪Review Rhythm of the Night - de Volkskrant (Dutch) 22/09/2014
↪Review Rhythm of the Night - Theaterkrant (Dutch) 21/09/2014
↪Review Rhythm of the Night - 8weekly.nl (Dutch) 20/09/2014
↪Interview - Check dit FF (Dutch) 16/09/2014
↪Feature - Fonds Podium Kunst (Dutch) 2014
↪Feature ITS Het Debuut Award - Theaterkrant (Dutch) 2014
↪Review Theater Artemis - Theaterkrant (Dutch) 06/04/2014
↪Interview Know V.A. - Thump/Noisey (Dutch) 12/02/2014
↪Interview Know V.A. - Noisey (Dutch) 27/08/2013
↪Feature Know V.A. - Lowlands - 3voor12/VPRO (Dutch) 17/08/2013
↪Interview Know V.A. - DJBroadcast (Dutch) 24/07/2013
Marijn Brussaard
Marijn Brussaard works as a performer, artist and composer. With a background in professional dance and performing arts, he graduated at the Academy of Theatre and Dance in Amsterdam in 2014.
He creates conceptually and musically driven performances and installations, in which he reflects on the theatrics of modern day phenomena. These include ︎hyper-masculine stardom, ︎commodification and ︎simulation of ︎the natural world, ︎demonic imagery in ︎music subcultures, and ︎sensory overload through mass media. He finds that the tension and drama often lie in the inconsistencies and contradictions of these subjects. Synonymous with contemporary states of ︎ecstasy and ︎transcendence, his work often has a dream-like and hyperreal quality.
With electronic music duo ︎Know V.A. he has performed shows internationally - including tours in China and India, Lunchmeat festival, ︎Boiler Room, Defqon.1, La Station, Fiber festival, NTS London and BBC 1Xtra. As a composer he has made commissioned soundtracks for the ︎Thunderdome Never Dies documentary, Calvin Klein, Theater Rotterdam, Theater Artemis, De Warme Winkel, Boiler Room and Eye Filmmuseum.
Under the alias ︎Universal Ryan, elements of bedroom pop and futuristic synth wave are interwoven, intent on reaching states of ecstasy, escapism and transcendence.
Universal Ryan - MAD (Original Score), 2025
Strange Days #17 - Universal Ryan @ Echobox Radio, 2025
Back catalogue of theatre compositions and sound-design.
Music, sound-design for Beste Mensen, 2024
Music, sound-design for The Returned, 2024
Music, sound-design for Formula Cum, 2023
Music, sound-design for The Zone, 2023
Music production Cousin EP, 2020
