A reflection which is enriched
Rencontres’ success and perpetuity brought unity, among their organizers and everybody involved in the Young European Theatre, to undertake an evaluation on their content and to provide future prospects. This was done during the European Seminar about the Young people’s Theatrical Exchanges which took place in Grenoble from the 5th to the 9th of May 2004.
The Seminar participants adopted a Young European Theatre Charter’s project. After 15 years of Rencontres, giving shape to the values collected and formulating the objectives shared was really necessary. The document was again discussed on Tuesday 6th of July 2004 during the 16th Young European Theatre Rencontres. An evolving text, this Charter constitutes a document suggested by the signatories to their peers by which they visualize them working together in the next years.
Young European Theatre Charter
Since 1989, an artistic and cultural movement as well as a Network of Exchanges and Young People’s Theatrical Rencontres, have been set up around Europe by the Young People’s Theatrical Rencontres’ of Grenoble.
A generation of actors and stage directors, artistic and cultural people in charge, is taking shape.
May there be among them the ones who will renew tomorrow’s European Theatre?
This is why the artistic and cultural people in charge, met in Grenoble the 9th of May 2004 during the Seminar organized by Créarc, decided to write this charter.
Young European Theatre is a meetings and a network of exchanges for young people and at the same time, it is plural artistic movement.
It is composed of professionals who have chosen working with young people, both being undergoing training or being young professionals.
European Young People’s Theatrical Exchanges’ Network: it is a place where the artists, groups, companies and young people share their practices, experiences and their own vision of the theatre itself. It is an international theatrical laboratory.
A plural artistic movement: it is a continuous flow of ideas and different poetries by which the common values and objectives are recognized.
The Young European Theatre focuses on the human being. Its members consider theatre as the support for the development which turns a man into “the Man”. The research of beauty is an integral part of this process.
They also consider theatre as a meeting place in the city (“polis” in Greek). In other words, it is a place where citizens express and discuss their personal experiences and their own vision of manhood and society.
The Young European Theatre cooperates to construct a peaceful, democratic, tolerant and caring European place opened to everybody and working for peace.
The Young European Theatre Network’s Centre is in Grenoble, at Créarc, the Young European Theatre Rencontres’ founder.
Article published in la Revue des 17èmes Rencontres du Jeune Théâtre Européen – 2005 ; p.22