The Constanța State Theatre has become a member of the European Theatre Convention

The Constanța State Theatre has become a member of the European Theatre Convention
06-11-2024

The Constanța State Theatre has recently become a member of the European Theatre Convention (ETC), the most extensive network of theaters in Europe.

The decision was made following a vote by the members of the ETC General Assembly, which took place recently in Liège, Belgium. Director Erwin Șimșensohn, the general manager of the Constanța State Theatre, attended the ETC Conference and General Assembly at the invitation of the ETC Board.

This milestone is particularly significant for the Constanța theater, as Romania has been represented in the ETC until now by only three national theaters, from Craiova, Timișoara, and Cluj-Napoca. Thus, the Constanța State Theatre becomes the first Romanian theater without formal “national theater” status to be invited into this elite theatrical community.

New Opportunities for Development and International Collaboration

With this strategic move, the Constanța State Theatre will broaden its horizons and gain access to numerous opportunities for growth:

  • Artistic collaborations: The theater will establish and strengthen relationships with partners across Europe, gaining access to cutting-edge technologies and innovative storytelling techniques.
  • Networking and cultural dialogue: Actors and staff will join a community of leading cultural figures and artists across Europe, maintaining active communication with the continent’s cultural sector.
  • Mobility and professional development: ETC offers a platform for TSC artists to enhance their intercultural, linguistic, and artistic skills through international co-productions and advanced digital tools.
  • International representation and support: TSC will gain a strong and active voice at both the European and international levels.

"We aim to achieve a European dimension and identity. This is an important step if we want to become a truly relevant national theater," said the TSC general manager. "European identity is built by adopting shared visions and ethical principles, participating in European projects, implementing common action strategies, collaborating on co-productions with major European theaters, exchanging experiences, attracting European artists to our projects, and participating in events organized by significant European institutions."

A European Recognition for Constanța Theater

Joining the ETC is especially meaningful as the organization values theater as a platform for dialogue and democracy, champions freedom of expression, opposes political interference in culture, and promotes cultural diversity and access to Europe’s social, linguistic, and cultural heritage for all audiences.

Through such initiatives, the Constanța State Theatre continues to solidify its position both in Romania’s cultural scene and internationally, opening new horizons for its audience and providing essential growth opportunities for its artists.

The European Theatre Convention, supported by the European Union, is the largest theater network in Europe. It unites theaters across the continent to create innovative international productions, share cutting-edge practices, and ensure a unique and diverse voice for European theater. ETC member theaters produce approximately 60,000 performances annually, reaching an audience of 16 million.

Among the member theaters of ETC are: Deutsches Theater Berlin (Germany), Staatsschauspiel Dresden (Dresden, Germany), Théâtre National de Bretagne (France), Théâtre de Liège (Belgium), Sao Luiz Teatro Municipal (Lisbon, Portugal), Teatro Arriaga Antzokia (Bilbao, Spain), Malmö Stadsteater (Sweden), Tiroler Landestheater (Austria), Theater Dortmund (Germany), Teatro Stabile di Torino (Italy), the Theater and Orchestra of Heidelberg (Germany), the National Theatre of Greece in Athens, the Royal Lyceum Theatre (Edinburgh, Scotland), Det Norske Teatret (Oslo, Norway), Schauspielhaus Zürich (Switzerland), De Toneelmakerij (Amsterdam, Netherlands), the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb (Croatia), the National Theatre in Prague (Czech Republic), the National Theatre in Belgrade (Serbia), Schauspielhaus Salzburg (Austria), the National Theatre of Montenegro in Podgorica, the National Theatre of Albania in Tirana, the Dakh Center for Contemporary Arts (Kyiv, Ukraine), the Tbilisi International Theatre Festival (Georgia), and others.

In the accompanying photo: the ETC Board and representatives of the theaters that joined during this stage.