Coronavirus Pandemic: Theatres in Europe Urge Support from EU and Member States

Joint Statement by European Theatrical Institutions

Following governmental decisions of Member States to fight the spread of COVID-19, theatres in Europe have been ordered by national governments to temporarily stop performing, avoiding large gatherings. The cancellation of live performances across European countries will have unprecedented economic consequences and affects an already precarious sector.

While the harsh measures are responsible actions to face the severe situation, the degree of financial damage for theatres and all involved actors of the creative and cultural sector is yet to be determined.

1)      We call upon the EU and Member States to provide necessary measures and allocate funds to compensate the loss of income.

• The announced Corona Response Investment Initiative by the European Commission shall also benefit the suffering theatre sector.

Measures must take into account the various economic and legal entities of the public and private sector, small and medium sized enterprises and address the needs specifically:

• Public funds must not be held back nor cut according to the annual budget
• Venues must not reimburse public earmarked funds for specific actions already spent and linked to cancelled performances
• Loss of box office income for venues must be compensated
• Individual artists and theatre companies must be compensated for the loss of income due to cancelled performances and creation processes

2)     We urge the EU and Member States to support theatres and all performing arts professionals in Europe, guaranteeing the sustainability of the sector and one of the key European cultural art forms which gathers people in social and democratic contexts.

3)     We request that coordination of the distribution of those compensating funds will be put in place at EU and Member State level, allowing the sector to access them non-bureaucratically.

Image © Christos Giakkas from Pixabay

A German version of this statement is available on the Deutsches Theater Berlin website. 

Together, the Co-Signatories represent more than 450 European artists and theatrical organisations:

Albania National Theatre of Albania (Tirana) • Australia Rachel Riggs • Austria Landestheater Linz; Schauspielhaus Graz; Burgtheater (Vienna), Universität Mozarteum (Salzburg); Volkstheater Wien; Universität Mozarteum Salzburg, Thomas-Bernhard-Institut; ASSITEJ Austria - Junges Theater Österreich; Junges Volkstheater; SCHÄXPIR Theaterfestival für junges Publikum; Tiroler Landestheater; Follow the Rabbit; VRUM Performing Arts Collective; ANSICHT; BiondekBühne Baden; die theaterachse; Luaga & Losna Theaterfestival für ein junges Publikum; Mödlinger Puppentheater; Next Liberty Jugendtheater; Sophie Reyer; Theater der Figur/Minimus Maximus; theater.nuu; walktanztheater.com; Vereinigte Bühnen Bozen; Verena Koch; IG Freie Theaterarbeit /Austrian Association of Independent Performing Arts (Vienna); Toihaus Theater; Myrto Dimitriadou; Anton Bruckner Privatuniversität Oberösterreich; Bernhard Studlar; Pelzverkehr. Festival für Tanz und Performance; Theater Asou; TaO! Theater am Ortweinplatz; Westbahntheater • Belgium Théâtre de Liège, ASSITEJ Belgium; Nat Gras Dance Company; Klankennest; H2Oz Collective; Théâtre de La Guimbarde; Theater De Spiegel • Brazil Coletivo Antônia • Bulgaria Theatre and Music Centre Kardjali; Theatre Laboratory Sfumato (Sofia); ACT – Association of Independent Performing Arts (Sofia) • Cameroon Theatre Du Chocolat • Chile Compañia Aranwa • Croatia Croatian National Theatre (Zagreb); Umjetnicka organizacija Teatar Oz; Gradsko Kazalište Lutaka Rijeka; Teatar Puna Kuća; Mala Scena Theatre • Cyprus Cyprus Theatre Organisation THOC • Czech Republic Národní Divadlo - National Theatre Prague; Městská divadla pražská - Prague City Theatres; Janàcek Academy of Music and Performing Arts (Brno); Asociace nezávislých divadel ČR (Prague); Studio DAMÚZA • Denmark Det Kongelige Teater (Copenhagen); Østerbro Teater (Copenhagen); ASSITEJ Denmark; Teaterværkstedet Madam Bach; Teatergruppen Batida • Estonia Piip ja Tuut Teater; ASSITEJ Estonia; Miksteater; Must Kast; NUKU Theatre; VAT Theatre; Folie Circus; Piip and Tuut Theatre; Omatsirkus; Kuressaare City Theatre; ZUGA Dance Company; Teater Sõber; Banaanikala Projektiteater; Lendav Lehm; Tuuleveski; Teater Ilmarine; Teatribuss; Heino Seljamaa Teater Kohvris; Pere teater Flying Cow • Finland ASSITEJ Finland; City of Helsinki Cultural Office - Annantalo Arts Centre; Arthouse Little Aurora; Dance Theatre Auraco; Hämeenlinna / Hippalot Arts Festival For Children; Loiske Ensemble; Puppet Theatre Sampo • France CDN Nancy Lorraine – La Manufacture; Odéon-Théâtre de L’Europe (Paris); The Conservatoire National Supérieur d’Art Dramatique (Paris); Scenes D'enfance - ASSITEJ France; City of Limoges - Centres Culturels Municipaux; Théâtre O' Navio; Yutaka Takei; Compagnie Du Porte-Voix • Georgia Kote Marjanishvili State Drama Theatre (Tbilisi); Lado Meskhishvili State Professional Drama Theatre (Kutaisi) • Germany Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe; Deutsches Theater Berlin; Staatsschaupiel Dresden; Staatstheater Braunschweig; Theater & Orchester Heidelberg; Theater Dortmund; Theater Magdeburg; Akademie für Darstellende Kunst Baden-Württemberg (Ludwigsburg); Berliner Ensemble (Berlin); Düsseldorfer Schauspielhaus; Thalia Theater (Hamburg); Christa Müller (Berlin); Schauspiel Köln; Jan Hein; Theaterakademie August Everding (Munich); Academy for Performing Arts Baden-Wuerttemberg (Ludwigsburg); University of Music, Theatre and Media (Hannover); ASSITEJ Germany; KJTZ / Children's and Young People's Theatre Centre in the Federal Republic of Germany; Junges Ensemble Stuttgart; Comedia Theater Koeln; ASSITEJ Germany; Theatr der Jungen Welt; Mecklenburgisches Staatstheater; Theater Bremen; Theater Strahl; Junges Schauspiel Düsseldorf; Junges Nationaltheater Mannheim; Theater Mummpitz; Theater Schloss Maßbach - Unterfränkische Landesbühne; AK Bayern der Kinder- und Jugendtheater; Theater Hirsch&Co, Collaborative Magnetfeld; KiTZ Theaterkumpanei / AK Südwest der Kinder- und Jugendtheater; Junges Staatstheater Oldenburg / AK Nord der Kinder- und Jugendtheater; AK Ost der Kinder- und Jugendtheater / Grips Theater Berlin; Junges Ensemble Stuttgart / AK Baden-Württemberg der Kinder- und Jugendtheater; Comedia Theater Koeln / AK NRW der Kinder- und Jugendtheater; echtzeit-theater, Muenster; Junges LTT Landestheater Württemberg-Hohenzollern Tübingen Reutlingen; Grips Theater Berlin; Junges Staatstheater Karlsruhe; Julia Dina Hesse; Dr. Birte Werner; Bundesverband Freie Darstellende Künste e.V. (Berlin); HELIOS Theater; Theaterhaus Ensemble; Kinderkinder E.V. • Greece National Theatre of Greece (Athens); National Theatre of Northern Greece (Thessaloniki); The Little Foxes, Baby Theater Company; Artika Theatre Company • Hungary Pesti Magyar Színház (Budapest); Weöres Sándor Színház (Szombathely); Katona József Színház (Budapest); Hungarian Theatre of Cluj (Cluj-Napoca); Vígszínház (Budapest); Csaba Antal; University of Theatre and Film Arts (Budapest); FESZ - Association of Independent Performing Arts Professionals (Budapest); Kolibri Theatre for Children and Youth; Kabóca Bábszínház és GYKI • Iceland Assitej Iceland; The Gabler´s Theatre; Association of Independent Theatres in Iceland (AITI) (Reykjavik) • India Samta Shikhtar • Ireland Baboró International Arts Festival for Children; Graffiti Theatre Company; Magali Morris • Italy Teatro Stabile di Torino – National Theatre; Fondazione Teatro Due (Parma); Teatro Koreja (Lecce); Piccolo Teatro di Milano; Teatro di Roma; Accademia Nazionale d’Arte Drammatica „Silvio d’Amico” (Rome); Centro Servizi Culturali S. Chiara – Trento; Bottega degli Apocrifi; Associazione 4gatti; RossoTeatro; Associazione Etre (Milan); Coordinamento della Realtà della Scena Contemporanea (Rome); La Baracca ONLUS; La Piccionaia Società Cooperativa Sociale; Compagnia Il Melarancio; Drammatico Vegetale/Ravenna Teatro; Teatro all'Improvviso; Compagnia TPO - Associazione Teatro di Piazza o d'Occasione • Latvia ASSITEJ Latvia • Lithuania Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre (Vilnius); ASSITEJ Lithuania; The State Youth theatre; Vilnius theatre LELE; The Third Ring; The ODD MAN theatre; Mazuru home puppet theatre; Table theatre; Open circle; Dance theatre Dansema; Vilnius Chamber theatre; Kaunas State puppet theatre; National Kaunas drama theatre; Rainbow theatre; Cezaris group; The Baltic Circus; Klaipeda puppet theatre; Klaipeda Youth theatre; Siauliai State drama theatre; Alytus City theatre; Alytus puppet theatre Aitvaras; Panevezys theatre Means; Panevezys Puppet Vagon theatre; Juozas Miltinis drama theatre; Kelmes Small theatre; Theatre of Naisiai Summer; Book theatre; Kaunas Chamber theatre; Theatre Beginning; Seiko Dance theatre; Teatriukas • Luxembourg Les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg; Escher Theater (Esch-sur-Alzette); Théâtre National de Luxembourg • Malta Teatru Malta (Iż-Żejtun) • Netherlands De Toneelmakerij (Amsterdam); Internationaal Theater Amsterdam; Toneelhuis (Antwerp); ASSITEJ Netherlands; Theater De Krakeling; Muziekvoorstelling; Dancecompany de Stilte; Brabants Internationaal Kinderfestival • Norway Det Norske Teatret (Oslo); Ola E. Bø (Oslo); Assitej Norway; Abrakadabra-teatret; Animalske Produksjoner v/Anne Mali Sæther; Bygdetruppen Teater; Cirka teater; Company B. Valiente; Deoran; Dieserud/Lindgren; Dybwikdans; Erler teaterkompani; Fabelarium produksjoner; Flaatenbjørk kompani; Grenland friteater; Gul Katt Produksjoner; Holmen/Hjertaas; Imploding fictions; Inclusive Dance Company; Jo Strømgren Kompani; Kattas figurteaterensemble; Konstellasjonen; Kulturproduksjoner; Levende dukker/Knut Alfsen; LoopLoopLoop; New International Encounter; Ompaniet; Open Window Theatre; Ostwald/Uvaas; Pan Produksjoner (tidl. KULTA); Panta Rei Danseteater; Rimfrost Teaterensemble; Robsrud&DeaN; Rodhe Aass Produksjoner AS; Sagliocco Ensemble; SceSam; Siljeholm/Christophersen; Stella Polaris; Studium Actoris; Teater fot/Lise Hovik; Teater Fusentast; Teater Joker; Teater Nova; Tekstlab; Øyteateret; Akershus teater; Beaivvas Sami Teahter; Brageteatret; Dans i Nord-Trøndelag; Dansens hus; Den Nastionale Scene; DnOB; Dramatikkens hus; Hordaland teater; Hålogaland amatørteaterselskap; Kilden/Agder teater; Lokstallen; Nordland Teater; Norske Dramatikeres Forbund; Norsk Skuespillerforbund; Oslo Teatersenter; Papirhuset Teater; Riksteatret; Rogaland teater; Scenekunst Østfold; Scenekunstbruket; Seanse – senter for kunstproduksjon; Teatret vårt; Unima; Universitetet i Agder; Vestlandske teatersenter; Dieserud Lindgren • Poland JK Opole Theatre; The Aleksander Zelwerowicz National Academy of Dramatic Art (Warsaw); Centrum Sztuki Dziecka w Poznaniu; Teatr Malego Widza; Alicja Morawska-Rubczak; Art Fraction Foundation • Portugal Teatro Nacional D. Maria II (Lisbon); Teatro Nacional São João (Porto); Francisca Carneiro Fernandes • Romania “Alexandru Davila” Theatre (Pitesti); “Marin Sorescu” National Theatre of Craiova; Timisoara National Theatre; Teatrul Bulandra (Bucharest); Silviu Purcarete; ASSITEJ Romania; Tandarica Animation Theatre; Prichindel Puppet Theatre - Alba-Iulia; Tamasi Aron Theatre -Sfantu Gheorghe; Municipal Theatre-Baia Mare; Arlechino Theatre -Brasov; Anton Pann Theatre -Ramnicu Valcea; Theatre for Children and Young People "Calutul de Mare"- Constanta; Theatre for Children and Young People "Aschiuta"; European Cultural Center for Education through Art and Culture "Educ-Art"; Puck Puppet Theatre-Cluj Napoca; Merlin Puppet Theatre (Timisoara); Gong Theatre – Sibiu; Asociaţia Teatrelor Independente (Bucharest); Teatrul Ion Creanga • Russia Theatre of Nations (Moscow); Maly Theatre (Moscow); Stanislavky Electrotheatre (Moscow); St Petersburg State Theatre Arts Academy; Russian Institute of Theatre Arts (GITIS) (Moscow) • Serbia JDP - Yugoslav Drama Theatre (Belgrade); ASSITEJ Serbia Association of Theatre for Children and Young People • Slovakia Slovak National Drama Theatre (Bratislava); Académia divadelných tvorcov (Bratislava) • Slovenia Slovensko Narodno Gledališče Nova Gorica; Društvo Asociacija (Ljubljana); LGL - Lutkovno Gledalisce Ljubljana • Spain Teatre Lliure (Barcelona); Real Escuela de Arte Dramatico RESAD (Madrid); ASSITEJ Spain; Red de Teatros Alternativos (Madrid); Acción Educativa; Teatro Paraiso; Asociacion de Teatro Escolar; Da.Te Danza; Rialles Espectacles; Escena Miriñaque; Arena en los Bolsillos  • Sweden Dramaten (Stockholm); Malmö Theatre Academy; Stockholm Academy of Dramatic Arts; ASSITEJ Sweden; Teater Tre; Verksamhetsledare Danscentrum Riks (Stockholm); Teatercentrum (Stockholm); Teater Tre; Dockteatern Tittut; Annasara Yderstedt • Switzerland Accademia Teatro Dimitri (Verscio); t. Theaterschaffende Schweiz, Professionnels du spectacle Suisse, Professionisti dello spettacolo Svizzera (Bern); Teatro Pan • Ukraine Dakh Theatre (Kyiv); Kyiv National Academic Molodyy Theatre; TEO Theatrical Space (Odessa); Association Independent Theatre (Kyiv) • United Kingdom Belarus Free Theatre (London); National Theatre (London); Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (Glasgow); ASSITEJ UK; New International Encounter (NIE); 20 Stories High; A Thousand Cranes; Action Transport Theatre; Andrew Breakwell; Anthony Haddon; Birmingham Repertory Theatre; Cahoots NI; Cast Doncaster; Circle of Two; Corinne Micallef; Creative Youth; Daniel Tyler-McTighe; Danny Braverman; Daryl Beeeton; David Wood; Domonic Berry; Eastside Educational Trust; Fevered Sleep; Fran Wen; Full House Theatre; Fully Booked Theatre; Geoffery Readman; Gill Briggs; Guy Holland; Half Moon Young People’s Theatre; Imaginate; Iolo; Jellyfish Theatre; Jon Dafydd-Kidd; Josie Dale-Jones; Little Angel; Mary-Frances Doherty; Paper Balloons; Paul Harman - Honorary president; Polka; Prime Theatre; Rachel Barnett; Replay Theatre; Rina Vergano; Roma Patel; Sarah Argent; Sarah Richards; Sarah Westway; Second Hand Dance; Spark Arts; Starcatchers; Stevie Thompson; Story Pocket; Tall Stories Theatre Company; Tangled Feet; The Armagh Rhymers; The Civic, Barnsley; the egg, Theatre Royal Bath; Theatr na nÓg / Cynhyrchiadau TNN Productions; Theatre Alibi; Theatre Centre; Theatre Hullabaloo; Theatre Sans Frontieres; Theatre-Rites; This Egg; Travelling Light; Tutti Frutti; Unicorn Theatre; Vicky Ireland; Winter Walker Theatre; Young at Art; Z Arts; Polka Theatre; Sticky Fingers Early Years Arts; Theatre Hullabaloo; Starcatchers; Take Art Ltd • Transnational ITYARN,  International Theatre for Young Audiences Research Network; Small size Network; Young Dance Network

As a member of Pearle* Live Performance Europe and Culture Action Europe, ETC also supports the call for "governments to take emergency measures in support of the live performance sector”.

Read more…

ETC also supports the open letter to the European Commission and Member States initiated by Niklas Nienaß, Salima Yenbou and the newly formed "Cultural Creators Friendship Group" (CCFG) in the European Parliament. 

Sign the petition here

#RescueTheArts: ETC endorses the plea to national governments elaborated by IETM and co-signed by Circostrada, IN SITU, European Dancehouse Network (EDN) and European Festivals Association (EFA).

Read the plea here