Tickets
Enigma - The story of Alan Turing
An unforgettable journey through genius, courage, and the birth of our digital world.
Step into the extraordinary life of one of the greatest minds of the 20th century: Alan Turing. In this unique breathtaking experience, storyteller Bert Verbeke brings Turing's groundbreaking journey to life, set against a powerful musical backdrop.
Turing was more than a codebreaker—he was the man who changed the world. During World War II, Turing cracked the seemingly unbreakable Enigma code, drastically shortening the war and saving an estimated 14 to 21 million lives. Yet, his heroism remained hidden in silence, as the British government ordered all traces of his work destroyed after the war.
His invention laid the foundation for what we now call the modern computer. He didn’t just help end a war. His famous question, "Can machines think?" ignited an entirely new field of research and still resonates today, especially in the age of Artificial Intelligence.
Yet his life ended in tragedy. Persecuted for his homosexuality, Turing was subjected to forced chemical castration. In 1954, at just 41 years old, he took his own life.
Brassband Ghent brings the story of Alan Turing in the iconic Wintercircus, where history meets technology, which represents the life of Turing completely. In a unique show with live music and a spectacular lightshow, the evening will be unforgettable.
🎟️ Don’t miss this captivating performance about the unsung hero who helped shape our modern world.
Book your tickets now and rediscover Alan Turing—mathematician, codebreaker, visionary, and the father of Artificial Intelligence.
Please be aware that if you book student tickets, your ID will be asked at the registration desk to verify your age.
Orchestra
Brassband Gent, made up of 30 brass players, 5 percussionists, and a conductor, has been performing at a high amateur level since 2008. The band has competed in the Championship Division of the Belgian National Brass Band Championships since 2019, achieving an impressive 4th place in 2023 — their best result to date. With a clear musical focus and regular involvement in both concerts and competitions, Brassband Gent continues to grow within the Belgian brass band scene.
Storyteller
Bert Verbeke is a Belgian actor, singer, and musician. He studied music and Dutch at Hogeschool Gent and earned a master’s degree in musical theatre at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels. Bert has performed in musicals like Ben X, 14-18, and Everybody Famous, and appeared in productions by De Zwarte Komedie, FroeFroe, and TG de LINK. On TV, he is best known for his five-year role as Bram Schepers in the soap Thuis, with additional appearances in Coppers, LISA, and Witse. As a musician, he was the frontman of Nova Zembla, toured solo with Beter Dan Ik, and now performs with the.king.lost, whose debut album is coming soon.
Componist & Storywriter
Obe Vermeulen (b. 2001, Ghent) is a Belgian composer and conductor based in New York, working across concert, film, theatre, and dance music. He has collaborated with ensembles such as the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra, Flemish Radio Choir, and the London Musical Theatre Orchestra. After studies in Ghent and London, he graduated in 2024 and is currently pursuing a master’s in Writing & Production for Musical Theatre at Berklee NYC. His music has been performed on international stages and national TV, including the symphonic work Enigma, the Story of Alan Turing and the theatre project From the EARTH to the MOON.
Dirk Crommelinck, who curated the texts for this performance, holds a degree in Germanic philology and was audience engagement coordinator at NTGent. With a strong background in education and theatre, he has acted and directed for groups such as Theater de WAANzin and Rederijkerskamer Mariën Theeren, with whom he toured internationally and was named Cultural Ambassador of Flanders in 1998. He has also contributed to textbooks, led workshops, and served on several amateur theatre committees.
