The six partners involved in the Prospero multi-annual cooperation project (2008-2012) – the Théâtre National de Bretagne (Rennes – France), the Théâtre de la Place (Liège – Belgium), the Emilia Romagna Teatro Fondazione (Modena– Italy), the Schaubühne am Lehniner Platz (Berlin – Germany), the Fundação Centro Cultural de Belém (Lisbon– Portugal) and the Tampereen Yliopisto / Tutkivan Teatterityön Keskus (Tampere – Finland) – wish to accomplish an artistic and cultural gesture and promote an ambitious theatrical project which is also a political gesture, and thus participate in the construction of an artistic and cultural Europe. In a context revealing that the way the European Union is constructed is struggling to convince its citizens, the six partners intend to show that art and culture are a driving force capable of boosting creativity, exchange and cohesion. Within the scope of this vital intercultural dialogue, the chosen art form which both joins them together and differentiates them is theatre. It challenges artists, professionals and audiences on the very issue of European identity: a certain culture of openness.

The objectives

• To encourage the circulation of works and artists
• To put a shared cultural space and heritage to good use
• To reinforce intercultural dialogue and promote the diversity of cultures
• To contribute to the emergence of European citizenship

This work in progress is both a political act and an artistic gesture; to be effective and sustainable, it requires the support of the European Union.

There are seven specific requirements for this

• Introducing new forms and contents
  In particular, research into languages that combine different medias and disciplines, contributing to removing barriers between the arts and nurturing creation, a source of sustainable development.
   
• Supporting young directors
  Artistic renewal comes from supporting new creative work and innovative forms. The relative flexibility of the theatrical device allows young directors motivated by a strong desire and with a research project underway to meet experts, offer their work to professionals and be discovered by different audiences.
   
• Confronting artistic traditions and research to support theoretical reflection
  Various forms of encounters involving artists, sociologists and philosophers from different countries have to make a major contribution to this. Shared reflection also helps train audiences.
   
• Helping train actors
  The different practices of various training bodies allow experiences to be exchanged and synergies instigated. The relationships forged between students should lead to new exchanges and healthy emulation. It is about producing a new generation of actors through exchanges between teaching teams and immersing classes in other countries, other theatrical cultures and other teaching methods.
   
• Participating in linguistic development
  Cultural cooperation has to encourage linguistic diversity. Featuring productions on the programme in their original version with surtitles allows the pictorial nature and musicality of the languages to be rediscovered and make it clear that a language can also be understood through the poetry carried within it.
   
• Taking the diversity of populations in each country into account
  We have to reconsider the relationship with immigrant populations, at a time when migration is on the rise. With populations intermixing, integrating difference presents an opportunity for enrichment. It allows each citizen to become aware of the extent of his or her sense of belonging and to be confronted with other cultures in his or her living space.
   
• Participating in the artistic and cultural construction of Europe
  It is about reinforcing the involvement and support of populations in the construction of Europe by creating a poetic space capable of proposing other sensitive links between the individual and the collective, between singularity and universality.
   

The actions

• Developing European creation
  This is based on three key elements:
  • the annual production and tour of a major work by a director in residence in one of the countries concerned
  • annual support for productions by associate directors and tours
  • support for six young directors appointed by the six establishments, a placement alongside an experienced director, support for their next creation and tour
   
• Organising European research
   
• Training young actors>