Hendrick’s Chambers of the Curious promises a distinctly unconventional homage to the inherent inquisitiveness of the human mind, offering those who pass through its portals a series of eye-opening experiences designed to stimulate new and curious ways of looking at the world.
Keen to explore the treasures of this palace of curiosity, we recently embarked on an intriguing voyage of cerebral discovery in downtown Brussels. Hurtling our way through the streets of the European capital we arrived at the doors of La Pharmacie Anglaise, an impressive, nineteenth century building where a strikingly handsome man in a white lab coat was standing in the shadow of the eaves. Greeting us with the warmth of an old friend, he swiftly ushered us across the ancient threshold into a world of oddness beyond.
We immediately found ourselves ensconced in the rarified environs of La Pharmacie Anglaise, its warm and bustling air of Victoriana bearing witness to the building’s former incarnation as a nineteenth century apothecary. Taking a moment to review our new surroundings we observed a captivating series of ornate wooden cabinets along the wall, each containing a rich repository of pharmaceutical vials and glass receptacles. Closer inspection revealed their bizarre contents, a less captivating, somewhat macabre collection of gothic peculiarities. All were freakishly preserved in formaldehyde, each proving more hair-raising than the last.
In time honoured fashion we sought refuge at the bar where the steely-eyed barman was busy dispensing a medley of curious and colourful concoctions. Suddenly a hush descended as a convivial, vaudevillian Master of Ceremonies appeared on the balcony above. Addressing the inquisitive crowd he indicated a narrow passageway behind the confines of the bar, and with a grandiose flourish, invited those of us brave enough to enter the Chamber of Curiosities beyond.
Accepting his cordial invitation, we passed through the dimly lit corridor until we found ourselves in the midst of a labyrinthine warren of chambers. Further examination revealed the interiors within, each containing a unique and mind-boggling array of surgical instruments and futuristic contraptions. A strange army of phrenologists was overseeing proceedings, all possessed of strong Scottish accents.
Over the course of the next two hours these eminent brains propelled us through a series of individualistic experiences exploring the various chambers of the mind. Thereafter, they obligingly dispatched us to the salubrious confines of the bar, where the barman steadily filled our ‘prescription’ for a brace of Soporific Sours at the polished counter.
Dusk had turned to night by the time we emerged from La Pharmacie Anglaise and headed homewards through the picturesque streets of the Belgian capital. We agreed that the Chambers of the Curious offered plenty in the way of cerebral diversion. A hugely enjoyable and thought-provoking experience, its idiosyncratic brilliance succeeded in illuminating the darkness of our minds long after they called closing time at La Pharmacie Anglaise.
Chambers of the Curious comes to Dublin this November, and takes place in Henrietta Street from Wednesday 25th to Saturday 28th November. There will be two sessions per night lasting two hours each (5.30pm – 7.30pm & 8.00pm – 10.00pm). Tickets priced €15 go on sale at 9am on Friday 6th November.
For further details see http://chambersofthecurious.ie and follow the hashtag #CuriousHendricks on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
Words: Martina Murray
