YOUNG EUROPE IV FESTIVAL

08:50 - 10:25 [Students Only]

Young Europe IV Performance: 'Room Rumours' by Matin Soofipour Omam (a production by Badisches Staatstheater Karlsuhe)

 

Followed by After-Show Talks

High School Nova Gorica

08:50 - 10:25 [Students Only]

Young Europe IV Performance: '(Surviving) The Substitute Lesson' by Emel Aydoğdu (a production by Staatstheater Braunschweig)

 

Followed by After-Show Talks

High School Nova Gorica

10:30 - 12:00 

Young Europe IV Welcome Desk

 

Slovene National Theatre Nova Gorica, Foyer

12:00 - 13:00

Young Europe IV Festival Opening

- Marko Bratuš, Artistic Director of Slovene National Theatre Nova Gorica
- Samo Turel, Mayor of Nova Gorica
- Heidi Wiley, ETC Executive Director
- Paulien Geerlings, Artistic Lead of Young Europe IV, Head Dramaturge at De Toneelmakerij, ETC Board Member

Keynote [will be delivered via video recording]:
- Dr. Aminata Cairo, Speaker and Lector (research professor) of Social Justice and Diversity in the Arts at the Amsterdam University of the Arts 

- Rui Tavares, Historian, Politician and former MEP in conversation with Cláudia Belchior, ETC Board President and Executive General Coordinator at Centro Cultural de Belém in Lisbon/Portugal

 

Slovene National Theatre Nova Gorica, Big Stage

13:00 - 13:30

Opening Reception

 

Slovene National Theatre Nova Gorica

14:00 - 15:30

Young Europe IV Performance: 'Room Rumours' by Matin Soofipour Omam (a production by Badisches Staatstheater Karlsuhe)

Followed by After-Show Talks

France Bevk Public Library

16:30 - 18:00

Young Europe IV Performance: '(Surviving) The Substitute Lesson' by Emel Aydoğdu (a production by Staatstheater Braunschweig)

 

Followed by After-Show Talks

France Bevk Public Library

19:30 - 20:45

Performance: ‘When We Dead Awaken’
Written by Henrik Ibsen
A production by Slovene National Theatre Nova Gorica

Slovene National Theatre Nova Gorica, Small Stage

YOUNG EUROPE IV FESTIVAL & ETC INTERNATIONAL THEATRE CONFERENCE

08:50 - 10:25 [Students Only]

Young Europe IV Performance: 'Gutz' by Kurt Gabriel Meli & Alex Weenink (a production by Teatru Malta)

 

Followed by After-Show Talks

High School Nova Gorica

08:50 - 10:25 [Students Only]

Young Europe IV Performance: 'What's Up!' by Tereza Trusinová (a production by Slovak National Drama Theatre)

 

Followed by After-Show Talks

High School Nova Gorica

11:05 -12:55 [Students Only]

Young Europe IV Performance: 'No Exit (Lucky)' by Olya Voronkova (a production by Belarus Free Theatre/Young Vic)

 

Followed by After-Show Talks

High School Nova Gorica

11:05 -12:55 [Students Only]

Young Europe IV Performance: 'Little Stars' by Jaka Smerkolj Simoneti (a production by Slovene National Theatre Nova Gorica)

 

Followed by After-Show Talks

High School Nova Gorica

12:00 - 13:00

Young Europe IV Welcome Desk

 

Slovene National Theatre Nova Gorica, Foyer

13:00 - 14:30

Young Europe IV Performance: 'Gutz' by Kurt Gabriel Meli & Alex Weenink (a production by Teatru Malta)

 

Followed by After-Show Talks

France Bevk Public Library

15:30 - 17:00 

Young Europe IV Performance: 'Little Stars' by Jaka Smerkolj Simoneti (a production by Slovene National Theatre Nova Gorica)

 

Followed by After-Show Talks

France Bevk Public Library

15:30 - 17:00

Young Europe IV Performance: 'No Exit (Lucky)' by Olya Voronkova (a production by Belarus Free Theatre/Young Vic)

 

Followed by After-Show Talks

Xcenter

16:30 - 17:30

ETC International Theatre Conference Welcome Desk

Register to pick up your badge and performance tickets. 

 

Slovene National Theatre Nova Gorica, Foyer

17:30 - 17:45

ETC International Theatre Conference Welcome

 

With:
- Kim Komljanec, Adviser to the Slovenian Minister of Culture
- Mirjam Drnovšček, General Manager of Slovene National Theatre Nova Gorica
- Cláudia Belchior, ETC Board President and Executive General Coordinator at Centro Cultural de Belém in Lisbon/Portugal

 

 

Slovene National Theatre Nova Gorica, Big Stage

17:45 - 19:15

ARTISTIC PANEL 1: PLAYWRIGHTING with Young Europe IV playwrights and mentors
"Young Europe IV: Authors' Night - Writing for a diverse young audience"

Young Europe IV is an artistic collaboration project devoted to expanding the canon of European theatre literature, by writing new plays for young audiences. This panel with the playwrights and mentors involved in the project delves into the importance of new writing on non-dominant themes for younger audiences, and the callenges that can be faced along the way.

 

Introduction:
- Heidi Wiley, ETC Executive Director

 

Moderator:
- Evein Obulor, Founder of Migration Hub Heidelberg and Director of European Coalition of Cities Against Racism

 

With Young Europe IV Playwrights:
- Tomer Pawlicki (De Toneelmakerij) [video]
- Jaka Smerkolj Simoneti (Slovene National Theatre Nova Gorica)
- Tereza Trusinová (Slovak National Drama Theatre)
- Matin Soofipoor Omam (Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe)
- Alex Weenink & Kurt Gabriel Meli (Teatru Malta)
- Olya Voronkova (Belarus Free Theatre and Young Vic)
- Zoe Apostolidou (Cyprus Theatre Organisation)
- Emel Aydoğdu (Staatstheater Braunschweig)

 

With Young Europe IV Mentors:
- Patty Kim Hamilton
- Dounia Mahammed
- Dino Pešut

 

Slovene National Theatre Nova Gorica, Big Stage

19:15 - 20:00

ETC International Theatre Conference
Opening Reception 

 

Slovene National Theatre Nova Gorica, Foyer

20:00 - 22:45

Performance: ‘The Best European Show’
Written by Marko Bratuš & Haris Pašović
A co-production between five ETC Members: Teatru Malta, JK Opole Theatre, Slovene National Theatre Nova Gorica, Fondazione Teatro Due, National Theatre of Kosovo

Slovene National Theatre Nova Gorica, Big Stage

YOUNG EUROPE IV FESTIVAL & ETC INTERNATIONAL THEATRE CONFERENCE

08:50 - 10:25 [Students Only]

Young Europe IV Performance: 'FAT' by Zoe Apostolidou (a production by THOC)

 

Followed by After-Show Talks
High School Nova Gorica

08:50 - 10:25 [Students Only]

Young Europe IV Performance: 'Hassan & Moses' by Tomer Pawlicki (a production by De Toneelmakerij)

 

Followed by an Artistic Educational Workshop with the audience

High School Nova Gorica

10:00 - 11:15

ARTISTIC PANEL 2: EXPANDING THE SHARED DRAMA
"Non-dominant voices in theatre - Invisibilised Plays"

Plays by writers from historically marginalised backgrounds have always been written but most of these plays didn’t get a place in the European theatre canon. We give these 'Invisibilised Plays' a stage, also as a support for emerging playwrights, and as a proof that there are already many plays worth seeing that have been made invisible due to one-sided history writing.

 

Moderator:
- Teunkie Van Der Sluijs, Head of Artistic Development at Young Vic

 

With:
- Nina van Tongeren (The Netherlands), Excerpt reading of ‘Lucette’
- Marina Maleni (Cyprus), Excerpt reading of ‘Weed’
- Ana Kržišnik (Slovenia), Excerpt reading of 'A B*tch, a C*nt and a F***ot' 
- Josef Bäcker (Germany), Excerpt reading of ‘The Words Are Our Own’
- Mário Drgoňa (Slovakia), Excerpt reading of ‘The Burning Gypsy Camp’
- Teunkie van der Sluijs (UK), Excerpt reading of ‘Pocomania’

 

Followed by a Q&A 

 

[Content advisory: Some play texts contain strong or offensive language that is reflective of the particular era.]

 

Slovene National Theatre Nova Gorica, Big Stage

11:15 - 11:45

Coffee Break

11:45 - 13:15

ARTISTIC PANEL 3: AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT & ARTISTIC EDUCATION
"Young Europe IV: Artistic Talks"
Looking back and looking forward at the legacy of Young Europe

Moderator:

- Evein Obulor, Founder of Migration Hub Heidelberg and Director of European Coalition of Cities Against Racism

 

Part 1: Reflecting on classroom plays as theatrical form for the youth

 

With:
- Paulien Geerlings, Artistic Lead of Young Europe IV, Head Dramaturge at De Toneelmakerij, ETC Board Member
- Young Ambassadors from Nova Gorica: Karin Winkler, Alja Kosič and Kristjan Gabrijelčič

Part 2: An international exchange on the needs of artistic education with theatre

 

With:
- Paulien Geerlings, Artistic Lead of Young Europe IV, Head Dramaturge at De Toneelmakerij, ETC Board Member
- Diana Kržanić Tepavac, President of ASSITEJ Serbia
- Niklas Nienaß, Member of European Parliament (by video)
- Gilles Doré, Executive Director of CINARS

  

Slovene National Theatre Nova Gorica, Big Stage

13:30 - 14:30 

Networking Lunch upon the invitation of the European Capital of Culture 2025 Nova Gorica

With Stojan Pelko, Director of GO! 2025 Nova Gorica 

Xcenter

15:00 - 17:00

Young Europe IV Performance: 'FAT' by Zoe Apostolidou (a production by THOC)

 

Followed by After-Show Talks

 

France Bevk Public Library

15:00 - 17:00

Coaching session for ETC's Women Directors Networking Group 

Moderators:
- Iris Laufenberg, Artistic Director of Deutsches Theater Berlin and ETC Board Vice-President

- Susannah Tresilian, Theatre Director, Radio Producer and Coach at The Leadership Collective

 

Slovene National Theatre Nova Gorica, Reading Rehearsal Room, Rotunda 

17:30 - 19:00

Young Europe IV Performance: 'Hassan & Moses' by Tomer Pawlicki (a production by De Toneelmakerij)

 

Followed by an Artistic Educational Workshop with the audience

France Bevk Public Library

17:30 - 19:00

Young Europe IV Performance: 'What's Up' by Tereza Trusinová (a production by Slovak National Theatre - Drama Ensemble)

 

Followed by After-Show Talks

Xcenter

20:00 - 21:45

Performance: ‘Much Ado About Nothing’
Written by William Shakespeare
A production by Slovene National Theatre Nova Gorica
Slovene National Theatre, Big Stage

ETC INTERNATIONAL THEATRE CONFERENCE

10:00 - 10:30

General Assembly

 

Opening input by:

Gabrielle Bernoville, Representative of the Education, Youth, Sport and Culture department at the European Commission (DEGEAC) - by video

Slovene National Theatre Nova Gorica, Big Stage

10:30 - 11:00

TRANSFORMATIONS Milestones Meeting
An in-depth look at the next six months of activity at ETC.

 

Slovene National Theatre Nova Gorica, Big Stage

11:00 - 11:20

Project Pitching
ETC Member Theatres present concrete project ideas, look for partners and call for artistic collaborations.

 

Slovene National Theatre Nova Gorica, Big Stage

11:20 - 11:50

After-Show Talks and Professional Exchange about Slovenian Performances

 

Moderator:
- Paulien Geerlings, Artistic Lead of Young Europe IV, Head Dramaturge at De Toneelmakerij and ETC Board Member
- Irene Moundraki, Head Dramaturg, Head of Archive, Library and International Collaborations Department atNational Theatre of Greece and ETC Board Member

 

Slovene National Theatre Nova Gorica, Big Stage

11:50 - 12:10

Coffee Break

12:10 - 13:00

Peer-to-Peer Learning Sessions
ETC Members and Conference participants discuss issues faced in the everyday working life – ranging from community engagement and leadership to the diversification of audiences – with theatre peers from across Europe. Up to four sessions will take place in two rounds, each focused on specific topics. The conversation will be led by ETC Members.

 

- Directing a Theatre Today with Serge Rangoni, General Manager & Artistic Director of Théâtre de Liège and ETC Treasurer

 

- Which Lessons Can We Learn From Youth Theatre to Reach a Broader Audience? with Paulien Geerlings, Artistic Lead of Young Europe IV, Head Dramaturge at De Toneelmakerij  and Nina von Tongeren, Dramaturge at De Toneelmakerij

 

- Community Engagement With Underrepresented and Underserved Communities with Tom Leick-Burns, Artistic Director and General Manager of Les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg

 

Slovene National Theatre Nova Gorica, Big Stage

13:00 - 14:00

Networking Lunch

14:00 - 16:00

ETC Theatre Green Book Launch

Exclusive network launch of the newly created ETC Theatre Green Book (TGB) and the ETC Self-Certification Label, aimed at devising processes and measuring progress for sustainable transformation and change in theatres across Europe.
The launch and presentation is followed by an interactive workshop with all ETC Members to use the ETC TGB, kicking off the multi-annual programme of sharing, learning and improving for ETC theatres to become net-zero.

With:
- Paddy Dillon, Renew Culture/Theatre Green Book
- Lisa Burger, Renew Culture/Theatre Green Book
- ETC Theatre Green Book Focus Group members

 

Slovene National Theatre Nova Gorica, Big Stage

16:00 - 16:30

Coffee Break

16:30 - 17:30

Talent Market with Table Talks 

With:
- Artists in Residence 2024
- Women Directors Networking Group
- Laura Kutkaitė, Winner of the main prize of Fast Forward – European Festival for Young Stage Directors 2022

 

Slovene National Theatre Nova Gorica, Foyer/Big Stage

17:30 - 17:45

Closing Conference

19:00 - 20:20

Performance: ‘Five Kinds of Silence’
Written by Shelagh Stephenson
A production by Slovene National Theatre Nova Gorica
Slovene National Theatre Nova Gorica, Small Stage

20:30 

Joint Dinner at Gostilna pri hrastu
Registration required

10:00 - 12:00

Guided Walking Tour

Discover the charm of Nova Gorica on a guided walking tour. From standing with a foot in each country at Europe Square to a quick stroll in Italy, this excursion promises a blend of history and architecture, as well as stories of coexistence.

 

Programme:

• 10:00 am meeting point at Europe Square, where will we stand each foot in a different country (Slovenia/Italy
• A short walk in Gorizia (Italy), with a visit to the main square where the Church of St. Ignatius is located
• We continue the tour through the city centre of Nova Gorica where we will see, among other things, the municipal palace
• The tour will end in front of the Slovene National Theatre Nova Gorica theatre.

Registration required