Stage for Truth. Which Truth?

05–09 November 2025 | Dailes Theatre, Riga, Latvia

Can theatres decide their own narrative?

From 05–09 November 2025, Dailes Theatre in Riga/Latvia will be the host for the ETC International Theatre Conference, titled "Stage for Truth. Which Truth".

This Conference comes as global politics slides towards hostility and conflict, and cuts to culture budgets are proposed to increase spending on defense. Terms like ‘nationalism’ and ‘duty’ have re-entered public debate, while demagogue leaders dismiss plans for inclusion and equality as ‘divisive’ and ‘political’.

In this context, attendees will reflect on the role for European theatres in understanding and addressing the conflicting ‘truths’ across society, such as:

• Nationalism is a reasonable agenda VS nationalism is dangerous and divisiveArtistic freedom is an inalienable right VS artists must serve the national interest
• Theatres are a centre for resilience and social cohesion VS theatre is an altar of elite talent
• There is good propaganda VS There is only bad propaganda

Similarly, as crisis becomes the defining logic in society, how can theatres remain open, inclusive and sustainable? And how can theatres respond to ‘hybrid warfare’, in which bad faith actors seek to aggravate public opinion on key social issues?

'Stages for Truth: Which Truth' takes place in a region where geopolitical tension is lived experience: Dailes Theatre is located just 250 kilometres from the border with Russia, whose war with Ukraine now continues into the fourth year. It also follows the release of the RESISTANCE NOW TOGETHER manifesto, endorsed by ETC Members at the Spring 2025 ETC Conference, which stressed that art “unites us” and “crosses borders to fill us with empathy, understanding, possibility and belief.”

The full conference programme will include keynotes, panels, and practical sessions, and will monitor and reflect on the ETC Sustainable Action Code's target for reaching climate neutrality by 2030. Attendees will also be invited to explore ETC’s flagship project co-funded by the European Union, BREAK THE MOULD (2024–2028), and join the final STAGES Forum, and the Latvian Theatre Showcase.