Europe Theatre Prize

Europe Prize Theatrical Realities
Awarded for	Innovation in theatre
First awarded	1990 (1990)
Website	http://www.premio-europa.org/

The Europe Theatre Prize (Premio Europa per il Teatro) is an award of the European Commission for a personality who has "contributed to the realisation of cultural events that promote understanding and the exchange of knowledge between peoples". "The winner is chosen for the whole of his artistic path among notable personalities of international theatre considered in all its different forms, articulations and expressions". The prize was established in 1986 when Carlo Ripa di Meana was first Commissioner of Culture.^[1] In those years a contribution to its creation also came from Melina Mercouri, who was patroness of the Prize, and from Jack Lang, then French Minister of Culture and current President of the Prize.^[2] The European Parliament and the European Council have supported it as a "European cultural interest organisation" since 2002.^[1]

In 1987 the prize was first awarded to Ariane Mnouchkine for her work with the Théâtre du Soleil. She received a money prize and a sculpture of Pietro Consagra. The first international jury was chaired by Irene Papas. Recipients have included choreographer Pina Bausch and stage director Patrice Chéreau.^[3]

In 1990, an additional award Europe Prize Theatrical Realities (Premio Europa Realtà Teatrali) was established looking at innovation in theatre and first awarded to Anatoly Vasiliev. In Edition XII, they were Viliam Dočolomanský (Slovakia), Katie Mitchell (United Kingdom), Andrey Moguchy (Russia), Kristian Smeds (Finland), Teatro Meridional (Portugal) and Vesturport (Iceland).^[1][3] Recipients have also included Heiner Goebbels, Oskaras Koršunovas (2002) and Rimini Protokoll (2008).

The program for both awards is rich in theatrical presentations.^[4] Lasting a week, it has been termed the "'Oscars' of European theatre"^[5] and "Oscar of Drama".^[3]