Press kit Young European Laboratory of Theatre
Presentation of young european laboraty of theatre The Young European Laboratory of Theatre (JTLE) is a non-profit organisation whose aim is to create a european space for theatrical creation and study. Our project in 2008 is to bring together a group of young actors from different european acting schools and to create a performance which will be shown in all corners of Europe. In July 2008, the group will take up residence in Saint-Malo. After a month of preparation, the performance will be shown locally for a week. The group will then travel and perform in Italy, Slovenia, Romania, the Czech Republic and finally Germany, throughout the month of August. The tour will end in Paris in early September with another week of performances. A travelling production, the show will be completely mobile and adaptable to all venues. Indoors or outdoors, in gardens or in theatres, we wish to reach out to all audiences, be they familiar with dramatic arts or not. The performances will be aimed at all audiences and free of charge. Through this project we wish to create ties between europeans who share a common interest in theatre, adventure and cultural exchange. In the spirit of friendship and sharing, we would like to contribute to Europe s common culture through the medium of artistic creation. The JTLE fully follows the European Commission s wish to make 2008 the year of European intercultural exchange. Indeed, our plan is to use cultural diversity as a strength, to unite and create around it, in order to share an original performance with audiences from all cultural and social horizons. This cultural exchange will be born through the creation of a living production, but it will also be enriched by the free theatre workshops that will be set up in conjuction with the performances. Cultural exchange will further continue through our ties with the network of partners in the various cities we will visit. Starting with a single event, we plan to create long term relations, with the goal of creating a sturdy European friendship. Above all, if it is possible, we wish to bring people closer, through the universality of theatre-by showing what brings europeans together and what makes up our common identity.
The performance The performance will a collective creation, in which all of the young actors will have collaborated actively. All the actors will have their say in every phase of the production, so as to create a performance which reflects the personality and culture of each participant. The only prerequisite to this artisitic exchange lies in the european theatre heritage of stage directors such as Artaud, Brook, Grotowsky and Mnouchkine. It is this heritage which encouraged us to focus our approach towards a poetic, physical and total theatre where all artistic possibilities (dance, theatre, painting, singing, music) can be used to create a «theatre that speaks to the senses» (Artaud) More concretely, we will be inspired by the Epic of Gilgamesh, the oldest piece of literature known to man, pre-existent even to the Mahâbhârata and the Illiad. The Epic tells the story of a man on a quest for immortality, who, after many voyages and trials, returns to his homeland with the gift of humility. This myth touches upon mankind s essential preoccupations, timeless and universal questions, that are still valid 6000 years later. Our aim is to make this story accessible to all cultures. To this end, the text will be written in an invented language, so as to reimpart to the physical body its theatrical power, to give back to words their primitive musicality and to break the barriers of language. The key narrative elements of the performance will be conveyedby visual elements of staging, body language, and by a simple narration delivered by an antique choir ; this will guarantee that everyone will understand the performance, regardless of their mother tongue. Be it through the performance itself or through the theatre workshops, this production aims to serve as a setting for exchanges around the theme of our mutual european identity, and for the sharing of a common passion : theatre, which goes beyond all cultural obstacles, including language.
Calendar 2008 July 2d (Tuesday) to August 2d (Saturday) Residence at the Lycée Jacques Cartier Saint-Malo August 2d (Saturday) to August 7th (Thursday) Performances at the Saint-Malo Intra-Muro Theatre August 8th (Friday) to August 31th (Sunday) European Tour : Italy, Slovenia, Romania, Czech Republic, Germany. August 9th (Sat) to 11th (Mon) Performances in Genoa (Italy) August 12th (Tue) to 13th (Wed) Performances in Ljubjana (Slovenia) August 14th (Thu) to 16th (Sat) Performances in Maribor (Slovenia) August 17th (Sun) to 20th (Wed) Performances in Hunedoara (Romania) August 21th (Thu) to 23th (Sat) Performances in Auid (Romania) August 25th (Mon) to 27th (Wed) Performances in Prague (Czech Republic) August 29th (Fri) to 31st (Sun) Performances in Berlin (Germany) September 2d (Tue) to 9th (Tue) Performances in Paris
The tour itinerary Thanks to the European Festival for Francophone Theatre in Secondary Education (FETLYF), our main sponsor, we have created a network of contacts at every stop of our itinerary. Because of this, we have been able to visit all the towns that caught our attention, to meet local interlocutors and determine the venues for each performance. The troupe The troupe will be made up of eight young men and women, aged between 19 and 28, hailing from different countries around Europe (France, Poland, Slovenia, ). Administered by 15 French students (Conservatoire du 5ème arrondissement de Paris, Conservatoire Supérieur National d Art Dramatique, Sciences Po Paris, Ecole internationale Lecoq, Université Paris VII, Université Paris III), this project saw the light in 2007. We began a collaboration with other young european actors, specifically, students of the Ljubljana Theatre Academy (AGRFT) in Slovenia. The variety of backgrounds, the cultural diversity and multilingualism of the group will all be put to advantage within the theatrical creation itself, thus bestowing much depth to the performance.
Thank you to our patrons PARTNERS INSTITUTIONNELS European Year of Intercultural Dialogue 2008 The European Year for Intercultural Dialogue 2008 believes that Europes great cultural diversity represents an unique advantage. It strives to encourage all European citizens to explore the benefits of our rich cultural heritage and open themselves to our different cultural traditions. European Programme Youth in Action European Programme Youth in Action is the Programme the European Union has set up for young people. It aims to inspire a sense of active European citizenship, solidarity and tolerance among young Europeans and to involve them in shaping the Union's future. It promotes mobility within and beyond the EU's borders, non-formal learning and intercultural dialogue, and encourages the inclusion of all young people, regardless of their educational, social and cultural background: Youth in Action is a Programme for all! The city of Paris Paris, a European capital. The City's cooperation agreements with many cities in the European Union are a way of sharing social, cultural and administrative best practices. The twinning with Rome, which has celebrated its fiftieth anniversary, has been given new impetus. Paris also takes part in EU city networks. Label Paris Europe The Paris Europe Label concerns all Parisian associ ations, schools and universities which wish to carry out a European project. Projects must concern Paris or its inhabitants and be related to one or several major European cities. The jury selects the most innovative and concrete projects. The city of Saint-Malo The famous French touristic city has seen the birth of Chateaubriand and seen many explorers such as Jacques Cartier or Robert Surcouf off to sea. The medieval town hosts many important cultural events, such as the popular «Etonnants Voya geurs» festival and the European Festival forfrancophonetheatre in High schools.
FRENCH CULTURAL PARTNERS European Festival for Francophone Theatre in High Schools This festival was awarded the «Prix du Rayonnement de la Langue et de la Literature francaise» award, by the Academie francaise La Maison Internationale des poètes et des écrivains Inaugurated in 1990 by UNESCO, the Maison has welcomed more than 2000 guests to this day and offers a programme of exhibits and conferences. It also supports a publishing activity. EUROPEANS PARTNERS Cafebabel.com : the first European media cafebabel.com is the first multilingual European cu rrent affairs magazine, designed for readers across borders. Cafebabel.com revolutionises European media through participatory journalism, providing a unique platfo rm of expression for the 'eurogeneration', the first generation living Europ e on a day-by-day basis thanks to the ErasmusŠ study exchange programme, the internet and an increasing mobility. Rue du theatre : The Daily European theatre and in Europe since 2003 Find all the criticisms of the European scene with the first European network of theatre critics. 0 employees in European countries. About: www.ruedutheatre.info WAVE magazine WAVE magazine is a monthly international youth web magazine, started by youth organization from Serbia but gathering together about 0 YJy young journalists from all over Europe and wider. We are always open for newvvw y young colleagues: reporters, journalists, photographers. The MOMENT cultural association (Slovenia) This association promotes the practice of scenic arts (music, theatre, dance) TRFENST Festival (Slovenia) The most important summer festival in Slovenia The Budil Theatre School (Czech Republic) Of the Jacques Lecoq method (Francie) The school is for professional and advanced artists Actors, dancers, musicians, dramatists etc. Main fields: movement, improvisation, collective work, and dramatic acrobatics Liceo scientifico e classico M.L.King (Italie) Colegiul Tehnic Matei Corvin (Roumanie) S.o.S Castelul festivalul de teatru (Roumanie)
Press Contact Prune Bécheau / 06 17 82 14 10 www.jtle.org / jtle@orange.fr A Full presentation kit is available on our website.