Young Europe IV is a three-year programme devoted to expanding the canon of European theatre literature, by highlighting "forgotten" plays and by writing new ones for young audiences.
European theatre literature is dominated by the white, heterosexual, male perspective. With Young Europe IV, which ran from 2021-24, we explicitly focussed on the non-dominant voices in our societies, on stories that aren’t told or could be told more often.
Nine theatres from eight countries have participated in the project, which saw eight new texts on diverse, inclusive themes written for young audiences.
- The playwrights were guided, provoked and challenged in their writing process by mentors from across the European theatre scene. Discover the playwrights and mentors
- The classroom plays were performed at participating theatres during the final year of the project (2023/24) before being featured at the Young Europe IV Festival, 'The Young. The Bold. Break the Mould', from 17-21 April 2024.
The project is part of TRANSFORMATIONS, ETC's programme of activities from 2021-24, which is co-funded by the European Union.
Young Europe IV is the winner of a 50,000 EUR prize and the Art Explora - Académie des Beaux-Arts European Award 2022! Read more
International 2023/24 Season
Discover the Young Europe IV Classroom Plays
Check out the Young Europe IV dossier to discover the eight classroom plays that celebrate diverse voices and narratives, echoing the vibrant tapestry of today's youth, and join us in our mission to reshape European theatre and amplify the voices that have long been overlooked!
Young Europe IV - Press Dossier
Download
Participating Theatres
- De Toneelmakerij (The Netherlands)
- SNG Nova Gorica (Slovenia)
- Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe (Germany)
- Teatru Malta (Malta)
- Slovak National Drama Theatre (Slovakia)
- Belarus Free Theatre (Belarus / UK)
- Young Vic (UK)
- Cyprus Theatre Organisation (THOC) (Cyprus)
- Junges! Staatstheater Braunschweig (Germany)
Playwrights and Mentors
Playwrights
- Tomer Pawlicki. Working with De Toneelmakerij
- Jaka Smerkolj Simoneti. Working with SNG Nova Gorica
- Tereza Trusinová. Working with Slovak National Drama Theatre
- Matin Soofipoor Omam. Working with Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe
- Alex Weenink & Kurt Gabriel Meli. Working with Teatru Malta
- Olya Voronkova. Working with Belarus Free Theatre and Young Vic
- Zoe Apostolidou. Working with Cyprus Theatre Organisation (THOC)
- Emel Aydoğdu. Working with Junges! Staatstheater Braunschweig
Mentors
Young Europe IV has won the Art Explora – Académie des Beaux-Arts European award!
It is our immense pleasure to announce that, among 150 applicants, and 6 finalists in its category, Young Europe IV is elected winner for its innovation in access to culture, and rewarded with a €50,000 prize!
The Art Explora – Académie des Beaux-Arts European award will enable ETC to transform the reach of Young Europe IV and create a diverse theatre canon for young audiences across the continent, through translations and the organisation of a dedicated theatre festival in 2024. The news comes towards the end of the EU European Year of Youth 2022, which aims to build a more inclusive future. Read more
Key Project Dates
17 - 21 April 2023
20 September 2023
"Theatre & Consent“ Online Workshop for Young Europe IV Playwrights, Dramaturgs, Theatre Pedagogues and Communication Teams
19 - 21 April 2023
Young Europe IV Writers' Lab & Festival Interrim Meeting, at Staatstheater Braunschweig
06 October 2022
Online Event for the Launch of the Young Europe IV International Theatre Project
17 - 19 May 2022
Partner Meeting and Project Kick-Off in Prague
Supported by
Young Europe IV is co-funded by the European Union.
This initiative is generously supported by the Art Explora - Académie des Beaux-Arts European Award.
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