A post-operatic portrait of Erasmus of Rotterdam – the father of European humanism.

Is there still room for humanistic ideas in discussions about the future of Europe? And what happens when we place humanistic thought at the centre of reflections on the notion of a European utopia? Are we still able to believe in the spiritual pact that Erasmus established with full – and probably naive – responsibility for high ideals? Are we still capable of being moved to political and social action, of building communities where the only criteria for inclusion is being a part of the human race?

The play introduces Erasmus to a group of scholars involved in an exchange programme conceived in honour of this great Renaissance thinker – seemingly the last hope in our efforts to save Europe. 

Can Erasmus Project students play the role of missionaries serving the cause of European hope, refuting at every step theories of the disintegration of this beautiful utopia?
Or maybe they are a community with totally different goals?
Are we still able to hear what Erasmus has to tell us?

The Europe Ensemble

Together with Nowy Teatr and Zagreb Youth Theatre, Schauspiel Stuttgart has set up a European ensemble

At the beginning of the 2018/2019 season, Schauspiel Stuttgart established a European ensemble together with Nowy Teatre of Warsaw, Zagreb Youth Theater and associate partner the National The­atre of Greece. Within the firm structures of state theatre, the Europe Ensemble will receive ample time and space to be able to establish itself as an independent ensemble. Actors and directors from Croatia, Bosnia, Poland, Greece and Germany will work together as an ensemble and make theatre together over a two-year period. Thematically, the productions will focus on questioning how Europe can be newly imagined, and which socio-political ideals the European project could strengthen. Can numerous western societies’ democratic fatigue be tackled artistically? As the European Project cur­rently sinks into crisis, how can it be reinvigorated?

Famous for his critical perspective on the state of affairs within society and his provocative visual language, director and author Oliver Frljić will act as The Europe Ensemble’s artistic director. In his controversial and much discussed theatre pieces, Frljić alludes to European society’s blind spots and open wounds, and in doing so regularly puts the new countries of the former Yugoslavia in focus.

Each participating theatre will produce two pieces and will show both other directorial works as guest performances. During the first year, the ensemble will create productions with Oliver Frljić and Anna Smolar, and Anestis Azas. The Europe Ensemble’s performances in Stuttgart will be accompanied by a large-scale symposium.

“The vital funding from the German Federal Cultural Foundation means a great deal,” explains the designated creative director for acting, Burkhard C. Kosminski, happily. “The Europe Ensemble is an exceptional project that enables a heterogeneous group of European artists to gather shared expe­rience, exchange ideas, to mutually inspire each other via the various productions and perspectives and to work on a shared theatre language over the course of two years in alternating theatres. With its theatre aesthetic characterised by diversity and multilingualism, The Europe Ensemble challenges the traditional municipal and state theatre ensemble structures, while at the same time harbours enormous potential for innovation for future work models.”

THE EUROPE ENSEMBLE I Visions of the theatre of the future

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Oliver Frljić (HR)

DIRECTION Oliver Frljić (HR), Anna Smolar (PL), Anestis Azas (GR)