European Theatre Convention

11/04/2022

💙💛 “When the war began I didn’t think I would be here. Amsterdam opened their door for us and I feel more safe... It’s very important that we have a chance to share our story and fight in this way. As theatre makers.” 💛💙

Three artists that fled Ukraine - Bogdana Orleanova and Iana Gudzenko, two former ETC artist scholars, and Alesia Andrushevska - have been given space to stay and make a show in Amsterdam by our member theatre de Toneelmakerij. Watch them discuss the importance of the show in the clip.

Witnessing U: Testimonials from the Front Line was created alongside colleagues in Amsterdam and will be performed on Wednesday 12 April at 20:00. Proceeds will go to #Ukrainian theatre makers.

You can learn more about the act of creative solidarity here: https://toneelmakerij.nl/en/voorstellingen/witnessing-u/

11/04/2022

Missed Deutsches Theater Berlin special event on World Theater Day dedicated to Mariupol Theatre? You can now watch a recording here > www.deutschestheater.de/en/

On March 16, Mairupol Drama Theater - which was providing shelter for Ukrainian civilians and children - was bombed by Russian forces. Deutches Theater (Berlin) wanted to counter this unimaginable, inhuman act with an evening that gives the city of Mariupol and its people a face and a voice.

They presented four theatre projects created last year as international cooperations in Mariupol, including a live connection to Ukraine. The evening was framed by live music by Ukrainian and international musicians and live drawings by the Ukrainian animation artist Sofiia Melnyk.

08/04/2022

Want to find out what ETC and our European network are doing to support our friends, colleagues, theatres and artists in Ukraine?

Just visit the Ukraine 2022 page of our website > www.europeantheatre.eu/page/key-themes/ukraine-2022

Here you can;

💛 Sign the petition urging world leaders to provide resources for organisations like us to keep collaborating with artists in Ukraine.

💙 Check out ETC's 'Voices for Ukraine' campaign.

💛 Watch the 'Renaissance' videos from Kyiv's Molodyy Theatre and Dakh Theatre.

💙 Learn about 'Alaska', a play written in Mariupol included in the ETC Drama Committee’s annual European selection.

💛 Watch Činohra Národního divadla (National Theatre, Prague) charity broadcast 'Awake for Ukraine' and Deutsches Theater Berlin 'Messages from Mariupol' event.

💙 Donate to Mariupol.Life to support young people, artists and theatre makers in Mariupol.

We will continue to update this page with events, news and opportunities for you to show your support.

07/04/2022

"There is a need for the role of the performance designer to become more political."

Our good friend Marina Maleni, from #ETCMember ΘΟΚ / THOC, is one of the curators of Performance Design Futures: an international three day hybrid Symposium to take place in Nicosia, Cyprus.

📅 When: 8th, 9th, 10th April 2022
🎭 Where: Theatro Polis OPAP Nicosia, Cyprus and online

The Symposium will feature guest speakers and workshops, and focus on four themes:

🌳 Performance Design in the Urban Realm
🌳 Performance Design as Dramaturgy
🌳 Performance Design and Sustainability
🌳 Performance Design in Higher Education

👉 See more and register! https://www.performancedesignfutures.com/about

07/04/2022

Amsterdam's de Toneelmakerij is hosting refugee Ukrainian theatre makers and collaborating to present 'Witnessing U; testimonials from the frontline' on 12 April 💛 💙

Vice President of ETC Paulien Geerlings tells us about the people behind this project and how the connections made through ETC's work with Ukrainian theatre makers since 2015 have helped make this possible;

“In 2015 ETC started the multi-year project 'Theatre is Dialogue- Dialogue of Cultures: European networking with theatres from Ukraine and Belarus'.

As part of this program, I visited Kyiv together with a European delegation, to see a showcase of Ukrainian performances from state theatres as well as independent theatre groups. I got to know several, very committed theatre-makers. Both Bogdana Orleanova and Iana Gudzenko have been artists in residence in ETC member theatres.

When Putin started this war, ETC reached out to our theatre colleagues in Ukraine. Youth theatre company De Toneelmakerij, where I am head dramaturg, offered a place to stay for Bogdana and Iana in Amsterdam. Then I also met Alesia Andrushevska who arrived together with Iana in the Netherlands.

To witness the Russian invasion in Ukraine day by day through the news channels, makes me feel extremely powerless. In a humble way I am happy that I can help on a personal as well as professional level. To create a performance together with Dutch and Ukrainian theatre-makers gives me hope in these inky black times.

I am impressed what the Ukrainian colleagues have managed to do under these circumstances. Within a week they have created a 30 page script of war testimonies, with strong dramaturgy and translated it into English. They collaborated with playwright Nina Zakhozhenko, who fled first to Moldavia and is now in Lviv with her two children. We hope she will manage to come to Amsterdam too.”

Find out more > https://toneelmakerij.nl/en

06/04/2022

Nina Jacques, dramaturg at Činohra Národního divadla (Prague / Czech Republic) has arrived at Folkteatern Göteborg (Goteburg / Sweden)! She's taking part in ETC's staff exchange programme - here’s what she had to say about her amazing first week;

"Folkteatern is an extremely friendly and cosy theater, where everyone seems to be proud to work here. Everyone has been so welcoming and warm and I am slowly discovering all the hidden corners of the theater everyday. I even got my own desk in the middle of the office so I can really feel part of the team.

Being part of ETC’s staff exchange programme means I am discovering how another theater works in Europe which involves meetings, introductions, talks and exchanges on all staff levels. I’m here to discover new ideas, new perspectives and motivation for my work (in fact this has already happened on Day 3!).

It is a very enriching experience that makes me rethink some of our everyday habits in Národní divadlo and also how much we have in common. A great rapprochement between theater makers of different corners of Europe.

My biggest highlight so far is Fika! The legendary Swedish coffee break that brings everyone closer - a great opportunity to chat and share.
"

So glad you’re having a good time Nina!

Find out more about our Staff Exchange Programme here > https://www.europeantheatre.eu/page/activities/professional-development/staff-exchange-programme

06/04/2022

📢 Spring news from ETC member Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe (Karlsruhe/Germany)!

"It's a play by Shakespeare! I don't understand why you haven't brought it to the stage"

KLEINES HAUS presents new play 'Gabriel' by George Sand & directed by Sláva Daubnerová about a teenager in Renaissance Italy who learns he's biologically a woman. A sensitive figure, they try to free themselves from constricting gender roles and strict family traditions - with devastating results.

Read more https://www.europeantheatre.eu/news/gabriel

You can check out what else is happening on stages across Europe via our member news https://www.europeantheatre.eu/page/theatres/member-news

05/04/2022

📣 In case you missed it! Registration is OPEN for our International Theatre Conference Činohra Národního divadla (Prague / Czech Republic), 19 - 22 May 2022.

Head to the 'International Theatre Conferences' page of website to;

🗓️ Register for the conference (deadline 19 April)
🏠 Book your hotel at preferential rate before 15 April
😊 Plan your programme of performances and social activities
Click here > https://www.europeantheatre.eu/.../register-for-prague-2022

Together with our colleagues in Prague we look very much forward to welcoming you at our next conference, and seeing you in-person again!

Please note - ETC International Theatre Conferences are open to ETC Member Theatres and invited guests only.

04/04/2022

✨ Monday reminder! This Thursday 7th April we are hosting our next ETC Women Directors’ Networking Group.

Launched in the spring of 2021 this regular online meet-up offering women directors at ETC Member Theatres an open space for exchange, sharing and discussion.

To find out more and register visit www.europeantheatre.eu/page/activities/artistic-collaborations/women-directors-networking-group

01/04/2022

Course Information

Our next session for our Fundamental Course - Sustainable Cultural Management for European Theatres takes place on 28 April. The focus is Green Theatre Productions and Fair Collaboration & Touring, and we will be joined by speakers Paddy Dillon (coordinator, Theatre Green Book)and Annett Baumast (Founder and Director, baumast. kultur & nachhaltigkeit).

The Fundamental Course is part of ETC's pledge to become a climate neutral network by 2030, and is a joint initiative of the European Theatre Convention and Mitos21. Find out more here:

https://www.europeantheatre.eu/page/key-themes/sustainability/fundamental-course-sustainable-cultural-management-for-european-theatres

This course is open to all member theatres, creative teams and individual staff members across all departments of both theatre networks. It aims at offering the fundamentals of sustainable cultural management and artistic creation processes. European theatre professionals will be empowered to obtain...