ETC - European Theatre Convention

 A General Presentation_

Created in 1988, the European Theatre Convention is an association representing 36 theatre companies in 21 European countries. The ETC aims to foster the writing of new plays in Europe, the creation of new performances associating several languages from several theatres, but it also helps the exchanges of ideas, individuals and the professional integration of young European artists while contributing to improve inter-cultural knowledge. This results in an important network of cooperation in the field of performing arts operating within the borders of the new Europe.

The programs of the European theatre convention

1. PET : Public of European Theatres
   Launched in 1998 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the ETC, this programme allows any subscriber to the 31 member theatres of the network automatically and freely to access the performances of all the other theatres. A European card is distributed every year at the beginning of each season. The programme of the theatres participating in the project and the conditions are available on the web pages of the ETC.
2. CTE-EX : Exchanges programs
   ETC offers all technical, administrative and artistic personnel of its member theatres the opportunity to exchange know-how and enrich their different techniques during a period of up to one month. After approval between the two theatres, ETC allocates a grant to support travel, accommodation and per diem costs.  ETC also offers the opportunity to present different styles and approaches to the theatre by allocating a financial contribution to any production from the network traveling to another member theatre.
3. CTE-IN : The projects
   1. TRAMES 
      This residency project for translators currently promotes the circulation of new French plays in three different countries for each residency. The next stages of this project will take place in Château de Goutelas, near Saint-Etienne, in October 2006 and June 2007. The starting point of the project is France but its development in the future will allow authors and translators from other linguistic communities to initiate the project, thus promoting their plays.
   2. TYPE (theatre for young professionals in Europe)
      The objective of this project is to allow young actors to be on stage in professional performances in order to present their work to a European public, to meet other young actors engaged in the same process and to complete their training in workshops organized by the hosting theatre. This project helps the circulation of performances and encounters of young groups with masters of the European stage.
4. NEW-NET : New European Writing
   1. The ETC publishes a biennial publication of a collection of synopses and contact details of the best plays from throughout Europe in more than 40 countries. The publication is distributed free of charge and is intended to promote the better circulation of texts by lesser-known authors. The selection is operated by independent reading committees set up in all the countries and composed of critics, stage directors, managers and dramaturges.
   2. NEW-NET: Commissioning of new texts  
      In Europe today, the creation of new texts is essential. This project is intended to promote young European authors by setting up a policy promoting the commissioning of short plays in which all our theatres can participate. These short plays are meant to be performed in spaces, not necessarily theatres, in order to promote the art of theatre in educational or social venues, for example: hospitals, educational establishments etc.  In parallel with the commissioning of young authors, the ETC will launch a programme of play commissions to established playwrights.  These plays will be staged on our main stages, allowing different countries’ actors to be on stage. These plays will be written in at least three languages and presented by at least three different theatres.
5. The festivals
   Every two years one member is appointed to organise an international festival, gathering the best productions of the network and revealing the theatrical trends in Europe.  Seven European festivals have been organised to date. The last festival took place in Nova Gorica, a city on the border between Italy and Slovenia. It opened on the day of the accession of 10 new countries to the EU on the 1st May 2004.
6. Thematic General Assemblies
   Each general assembly takes place in a different country and has a specific theme. Complementing the General Assembly will be a small festival of theatre based on a specific theme.
   • In June 2006 in Wiesbaden, Germany: New writings
   • In December 2006 in Saint-Etienne, France: New theatrical forms
   • 1st GA 2007 : Educating the public
   • 2nd GA 2007 : Scenography matters

ETC Members :

Board:

President: Jean-Claude Berutti
Vice-President : Giles Croft
Treasurer : Primoz Bebler
General Secretary : Mircea Cornisteanu

General Delegation: Patricia Canellis
c/o Centre National du Théâtre · 134 rue Legendre · 75017 Paris · France
t +33(0)6 75 22 32 14 · f +33(0)1 44 61 84 86 · info@etc-cte.org

With the support of the European Community budget line “support to organisations who promote European Culture”