Ecole des Maîtres 2026

Nathalie Béasse directs Ecole des Maîtres 2026
International Touring Theatre Master Class 
XXXIV edition: 24 August – 24 September 2026
workshop Intimate Epics – may our stories become epic landscapes
assistant Clément Goupille
call deadline: 20 April 2026

project partners and art direction: CSS Teatro stabile di innovazione del Friuli Venezia Giulia, Piccolo Teatro di Milano - Teatro d’Europa (Italia), Teatro Nacional D. Maria II - Lisbona, TAGV - Teatro Académico de Gil Vicente - Coimbra (Portogallo), Le Quai Centre Dramatique National Angers Pays de la Loire, Comédie, Centre dramatique national de Reims (Francia)

with the support of MiC Ministero della cultura - Direzione Generale Spettacolo, Regione Autonoma Friuli Venezia Giulia - Direzione centrale cultura e sport / Io Sono Friuli Venezia Giulia, Fondazione Friuli (Italia)

with the participation of ERPAC - Ente Regionale Patrimonio Culturale Friuli Venezia Giulia (Italia), Ministère de la Culture et de la Communication (Francia), Universidade de Coimbra (Portogallo)   

The Ecole des Maîtres is an advanced theatre training project conceived by Franco Quadri in 1990.
The training objective of the Ecole des Maîtres is to initiate a relationship between young actresses and actors, trained at drama academies and theatre schools in Europe and already working as professionals, and renowned directors of the international scene, in order to give life to a work experience strongly aimed at comparing and exchanging skills on staging methods and practices, starting from different texts, languages and artistic languages, during itinerant ateliers.

French director Nathalie Béasse has been invited to lead the XXXIV edition of the Ecole des Maîtres.
The title of the course is Intimate Epics – may our stories become epic landscapes.
The epic poem and the chorus will be our starting points. We will transform poetic narratives into a circular dance, a race, a trance-like movement.
We will compose tableaux, landscapes. We will bring the outside in.
Everything will become material to be interpreted: the theatre space, the bodies, the objects around us, the text, the music… Everything will become a partner in the play. We will work with all these materials as if they were clay, in close physical contact. We will explore the concept of ‘being together’, weaving our intimate stories into these narratives.

WORK PHASES OF THE XXXIV EDITION OF THE ECOLE DES MAÎTRES
The course will begin on 24 August at Villa Manin in Passariano di Codroipo (Udine) and will continue with work phases and public presentations at the project’s various European venues. It will be in Milan from 2 to 6 September, in Coimbra from 7 to 12 September, in Reims from 13 to 19 September, and in Angers from 20 to 24 September.

This year, twelve participants will be selected, four from each partner country of the Ecole des Maîtres. The group will be as diverse as possible in terms of gender, background, and culture.

HOW TO APPLY
Applications for admission of Italian candidates to the Ecole des Maîtres selection process must be submitted via the online form by 20 April 2026.

Conditions and requirements for participating in the selection process for the 34th edition of the Ecole des Maîtres
• aged between twenty-four and thirty-five;
• a diploma from a nationally recognised drama school or equivalent professional experience;
• at least two years’ professional stage experience in addition to work undertaken at the school;
• not having participated in previous editions of the Ecole des Maîtres.
Four actors/actresses will be selected. Knowledge of English may facilitate communication within the group. The work will be primarily physical, and applicants are asked to specify any skills in dance, circus arts, performance and music.

ONLINE APPLICATION FORM
Each applicant must submit their application using the online form available at the link:  https://forms.gle/NWxXis9585kXhLL79

Following the relevant guidelines and instructions, each applicant must submit a dossier comprising:
• a completed application form, including a declaration of commitment, in the event of admission, to attend the course for its entire duration without interruption;
• a detailed professional CV;
• a written letter of motivation;
• a close-up photo and a full-length photo in high definition and in jpeg format;
• personal details and a copy of an identity document.

GENERAL RULES
Applications, accompanied by the required attachments, must be submitted via the designated online form by 20 April 2026.
An automated confirmation email from the system will confirm official receipt of the application.
The application will therefore only be considered submitted once this confirmation has been received.

The shortlisting of candidates will be based on the documentation submitted; the Italian selection committee will invite a number of candidates to an audition to be held on 4 May in Milan. For the audition, actor candidates are required to prepare a monologue lasting no longer than 10 minutes. Any travel and accommodation expenses incurred in connection with the pre-selection process shall be borne by the candidate.
The four selected Italian candidates will be provided with free attendance at the course, accommodation (board and lodging in a twin room) at the course venues, and travel costs between the various work locations.

Course Calendar
24/08 – 01/09 Villa Manin, Passariano di Codroipo, Udine, Italy
02/09 – 06/09 Milan, Italy
07/09 – 12/09 Coimbra, Portugal
13/09 – 19/09 Reims, France
20/09 – 24/09 Angers, France

Public Presentations
01/09 Italy, Villa Manin, Passariano di Codroipo, Udine
06/09 Italy, Milan, Teatro Grassi 
12/09 Portugal, Coimbra, Teatro Académico de Gil Vicente
09/09 France, Reims, l’Atelier
24/09 France, Angers, Scène de répétition – Le Quai

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Ecole des Maîtres secretariat
CSS Teatro stabile di innovazione del Friuli Venezia Giulia
Sonia Brigandì soniabrigandi@cssudine.it
Elena Paravano elenaparavano@cssudine.it
+39 0432 504765
Monday-Friday h 10-13 / 15-18