The European Theatre Project Escena Erasmus is conceived and directed by CRIT Companyia de Teatre (Anna Marí, Daniel Tormo and Josep Valero) for the Universitat de València. At the beginning, it was also supported by Antoni Tordera, theatre professor. The project is promoted by both the Office of the Vice-Principal for Culture and Society and the Office of the Vice-Principal for Internationalisation and Multilingualism.

Escena Erasmus is a pioneering project in Europe which promotes European citizenship. It is aimed at both local and international Erasmus students and it focuses on stage training and the production of new shows, in which a constant critical reflection on Europe and our approach to being Europeans are showed. It aims to harness the potential of the Erasmus+ programme in order to promote quality intercultural creation. 

Escena Erasmus is a cultural method of excellence that includes professionals from the Valencian, Spanish and European performing arts in its works, thus becoming a showcase for new theatrical creation.

Escena Erasmus has set up different touring programmes from within the Universitat de València: together with the Department of Culture of the Diputació de València, the Valencian Institute for Young People (IVAJ), the Agenda Valenciana Antidespoblament (AVANT) and the European Commission in Spain. 

In addition, Escena Erasmus has created its own European network of universities and drama schools, the Erasmus Europe on Scene Network, which is based in València (the city that receives the most Erasmus students in Europe). This project has also been replicated in several cities in Italy, Germany and Poland. 

Throughout the years, Escena Erasmus has produced more than 15 shows which have toured all over Spain and have been performed at the headquarters of the European Commission, at the Teatro Real in Madrid and in other cities in Italy and Germany. Their productions have been seen by more than 200,000 people. Moreover, they have published numerous articles and academic research papers. In fact, more than 300 students have participated in the project, many of whom are actors, actresses, playwrights or professional producers. 

One if its most well-established projects, Las Pequeñas Europas, helps to spread the founding values of the European Union in rural areas. Its aim is not only artistic, as it also seeks to promote a new European citizenship through culture that directly affects the rural development of the most depopulated regions. 

Escena Erasmus has been awarded the European Charlemagne Youth Prize of the European Parliament, the 9 d’Octubre Lluís Vives Award of the Valencian Government, as well as an honourable mention of the Performing Arts Employers Association League Europe (Pearle), the AVETID Award and the Young Talent Award of the Valencian Community, among many others.

The awards gala

The Honour Award was presented during the Valencian Performing Arts Awards gala, organised by the Cultural Institute of Valencia on Monday, 30 October, at the Teatre Principal de Castelló. The gala began at 22:00 and was broadcast on À Punt from 23:00.

This was an appointment with Valencian performing arts professionals that aimed to recognise their work in 18 categories: Best Stage Direction; Choreographic Direction; Actress; Actor; Female Dancer; Male Dancer; Circus Performer; Best Text; Best Version, Translation or Adaptation; Best Musical Composition; Best Lighting; Best Set Design; and Best Costumes.

In addition to these, a total of 98 shows competed for Best Show in the categories of Theatre, Dance, Children’s, Street Arts and Circus this year.