2006-02-17 | Press Release

Theatre-companies throughout Europe have found each other in Magic-Net, a European challenging co-operation project. They have large experience both in working for and with young people, as well as in international exchange. Half of them already participated in ‘Magic-Net – connecting classic drama to a young audience’ (2001-2004). Four theatres – all from the new EU-/access countries and the applicant are new partners in that group of theatres. The applicant organisation is the Mecklenburgisches Staatstheater Schwerin, Germany, one of the most well-known and accepted theatres in Germany. Others initiators and co-organisers are: het MUZtheater, Zaandam, the Netherlands, Pilot Theatre Company, York, United Kingdom, Teatro O Bando, Palmela, Portugal, Teatro Guirigai, Madrid, Spain, Divadlo Astorka, Bratislava, Slovakia, Teatr Jelenagorski, Jelena Góra, Poland, VAT Teater, Tallinn, Estonia, Teatret Vårt, Molde, Norway, Theater der Jungen Welt, Leipzig, Germany, Teatr Samara, Samara, Russia, Tiyatro Oyunevi, Istanbul, Turkey, Theater an der Sihl, Zurich, Switzerland. Besides that Magic-Net is cooperating with many other theatres, for example companies from Ireland, Greece, Russia as well as theatre networks (Theatre Union, ITI, Assitej, EUnetART etc.) as partners.

Magic-Net intends to merge into a network, which strives to develop a transboundary artistic exchange of co-productions with 13 theatres from 12 countries. The productions tour throughout Europe, and are primarily targeted at a young audience aged 16-25. These co-productions are based on myths, legends, sagas and classic dramas of national and regional origin which are produced for the stage and supported by theatre educational activities, reaching out to young audiences.
Furthermore, the work focuses on workshops for the professional development of the project’s various target groups (actors, stage directors, stage and costume designers, musicians, dramaturges, theatre educators, and teachers). Under leadership of experts, the members of the participating countries interact and exchange their experiences about working procedures, broadening their knowledge about recent developments in the arts while expanding their understanding of new methods.

The project makes use of the already high-tested structure and logistics of a European theatre network, connecting its partners in a multifaceted way. The planned activities extend over a period of three years.
During this entire period, individual artists as well as theatre educators and teachers are given the opportunity to work as trainees at the theatres over a longer period of time, receiving some insight into the working areas that are relevant to them in order to expand their skills.

Magic-Net has a budget of approx. € 2,3 million. The European Commission is supporting Magic-Net with € 900.000, divided over three years. This European support funds the exchanges and meetings between the artists. The production costs for the participating performances in Magic-Net will be materialized respectively by that particular theatre’s budget.

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