Dailes Theatre now a member of Europe’s most influential theatre network mitos21 and platform Prospero NEW
In late January, Dailes Theatre became the first and only theatre in Latvia to be admitted as a new member to the prestigious European theatre network mitos21, while at the same time becoming a partner of the platform Prospero NEW. In recent seasons, through ambitious productions such as “Rohtko”, “Drive Your Plough Over the Bones of the Dead”, “Oracle”, “Dream Story”, and many more, bringing some of Europe’s finest artists together in Riga and touring to the most respected stages in Europe, the artistic programme and achievements of Dailes Theatre have been highly regarded among regional colleagues. This opens up new partnerships and opportunities to raise the international profile of Latvian performing arts far beyond the borders of the country and the Baltic region.
Joining 18 of Europe’s most influential theatres, Dailes Theatre is now a proud member of the mitos21 network, standing alongside such tradition-rich institutions as Burgtheater in Vienna, the Royal Dramatic Theatre (Dramaten) in Stockholm, the Internationaal Theater Amsterdam (ITA), the National Theatre in London, the Odéon – Théâtre de l’Europe in Paris, Hamburg Thalia Theater and many others. For the Dailes’ team this is a great honour and a clear acknowledgement of the importance of international collaboration, as well as proof that the Latvian theatre scene is competitive and capable of capturing the attention of European audiences and professionals.
Founded in 2008, the main objective of mitos21 network is to promote cooperation among leading theatre professionals from different countries and create artistic instances where artists and theatre professionals can meet, share and collaborate, question and reconsider the role of theatre in contemporary society, as well as theatrical practices and projects. The word “mitos” in the organisation’s name refers to Ariadne’s thread in Greek mythology, which marks the way out of the labyrinth, while the number 21 stands for the current century.
This week Dailes Theatre was also confirmed as a member theatre of the Prospero NEW network that brings together prominent venues – such as the Onassis Stegi centre in Athens, where Dailes Theatre has appeared twice with Rohtko, Berlin Schaubühne and others – and major European festivals, including Avignon and Wiener Festwochen, who featured Rohtko in their programme last year, as well as several other showcases. Currently Prospero NEW has 22 members. The network aims to develop co-productions, facilitate touring and highlight emerging artists, helping build their careers beyond national borders.
The international partnerships of Dailes Theatre have resulted in a number of significant events raising the profile of Latvian performing artists, the country's theatre sector and its unique heritage. Last November, Dailes Theatre hosted two major regional gatherings – the STAGES Forum and the European Theatre Convention (ETC) International Theatre Conference. Over five days, local and international theatre professionals attended discussions, keynote lectures and workshops and saw more than 20 Latvian productions as part of the Latvian Theatre Showcase.
In 2022, Dailes Theatre became a full member of the European Theatre Convention, a network representing over 70 public theatres from 30 European countries – including renowned institutions such as Deutsches Theater in Berlin, Volkstheater Vienna, Graz National Theatre and others. Founded in 1988, ETC is the largest public theatre network in Europe. Its programmes and scholarships foster international exchanges, professional development and artistic collaboration among members. The Convention aims to position theatre as a cornerstone of European art in the 21st century, and, according to ETC leadership, Dailes Theatre is regarded as a strategically important partner both geopolitically and artistically.