Rencontres du Jeune Théâtre Européen

The European Young Theatre Encounters: an intercultural dialogue through the stage

Since 1989, the European Young Theatre Encounters have been a major artistic and cultural event in Grenoble, supported by Créarc (Centre de Création, de Recherche et des Cultures). Born from the European momentum of the late 1980s, these Encounters have established themselves as a unique place for exchanges, expression, civic conviviality, and intercultural dialogue among the continent's youth.

An adventure born in 1989

The first edition was experimentally set up with about sixty young actors from theatre workshops in Poland, Algeria, Italy, France, and Germany. The success of this initial encounter led the organizers to make the event permanent. Since then, the festival has continued to grow, now bringing together 150 to 200 young artists each year, from theatre companies across Europe and partner countries.

A rich and eclectic program

For about ten days, between late June and early July, the Encounters unfold a rich program in several venues in Grenoble:

• Indoor performances: theatrical representations in the native languages of the invited companies, presented at Théâtre 145 (TMG), Théâtre Prémol, and Espace 600
• Street and outdoor performances: free performances in the squares and streets of Grenoble city center (Place d'Agier, Place Félix Poulat)
• International workshops: led by a collective of European educators, these workshops combine theatre, dance, commedia dell'arte, visual arts, masks, juggling, fire arts, circus, video, clowning, costumes, and makeup
• Daily debate-cafés: exchange spaces open to the public where young artists and spectators discuss the year's themes

The parade-show: a unifying highlight

Each edition concludes with a grand parade-show in the streets of Grenoble, an emblematic moment of the festival. All participants of the international workshops present the work carried out during the week around the year's theme, in a multilingual theatrical and festive procession. This parade offers young people the opportunity to express themselves in public space, to make the plurality of European languages heard, and to raise public awareness of the challenges facing contemporary youth.

A commitment to European youth

Beyond its artistic dimension, the European Young Theatre Encounters embody a deeply humanist and civic project. By enabling young people of different nationalities, languages, and cultures to create together, the festival forges lasting bonds and nurtures a European network of theatre companies that continues long after the Grenoble week.