The programme of the Biennale College - Theatre, the Biennale's strategic line which involves all disciplines and aims at training young artists, by offering them the opportunity to work alongside masters for the development of 'creations', takes place in Venice from 30 July to 10 August. For this project the Director Àlex Rigola has invited playwrights, directors, actors, stage designers – all well-known personalities, mostly in their forties - the authors of a theatre where we can perceive the life of our time. With them, Venice and the Biennale become a workshop for creating art, a place for artistic encounter, where artists can get trained in contemporary styles.

Biennale College - Theatre will be divided into 8 workshops, conceived as an occasion for masters and young artists to give and receive feedback, and 6 residences, designated for young companies to work on their projects. The English writer Mark Ravenhill, Lithuanian director Oskaras Koršunovas, Belgian author and director Fabrice Murgia, German set designer Jan Pappelbaum, Catalan director Lluis Pasqual, Italian actor and director residing in Berlin Antonio Latella, German author and director Falk Richter and Flemish director and visual artist Jan Lauwers with some members of his company Needcompany are the masters who will hold the 8 workshops, 6 of which will stage their final results in performances open to the public. Jan Lauwers’ performance - titled Just for Venice - will debut on Saturday, August 9 (Teatro alle Tese, 8 p.m.). On Sunday, August 10 (6 and 7 p.m.), the audience will see the final results of the workshops by Antonio Latella, Oskaras Koršunovas, Fabrice Murgia, Lluís Pasqual and Falk Richter in a walk that will lead from Giardini (Asac Library) to the Arsenale (Tese dei Soppalchi, Teatro alle Tese, Sale d’Armi, Teatro Piccolo Arsenale). Furthermore, the public will also be allowed to attend the talks with the masters on 6, 7, 8, and 9 August (Teatro Piccolo Arsenale, 6.30 p.m.). Gabriela Carrizo / Peeping Tom (BE), La Zaranda (S), the Blitz Theater Group (GR), Ricci/Forte (I), the Agrupación Señor Serrano (S), the writers and directors Marco Calvani (I), Neil LaBute (USA), and Nathalie Fillion (F) are the artists and companies that will work in residence on projects for future shows. Some phases of this work will take place in Venice, and at their conclusion a demonstration open to spectators will be offered (Arsenale, 5 > 8 August). Also resident companies will participate in a meeting with the public on 5th August (Teatro Piccolo Arsenale, 6:30 pm). One special feature of this edition is the space of the Corderie dell'Arsenale, which the Theatre will share with the other sectors of la Biennale di Venezia – Dance Music Cinema Architecture. Set up by the Director of the 14th International Architecture Exhibition Rem Koolhaas as a 'multidisciplinary work in progress', the Corderie stages will be destined for resident companies. From 31st July to 7th August, the Exhibition’s visitors will have the chance to see on the job the resident companies: La Zaranda, Gabriela Carrizo / Peeping Tom and Ricci / Forte (from 4 pm to the Exhibition closing time). Workshops and residencies will be joined by the activities of the participants to Theatre Community, a workshop on theatre criticism in the age of the web 2.0. The workshop, led by the critic and essayist Andrea Porcheddu and the journalist Anna Pérez Pagès, is aimed at the realization of the blog Theatre Community, that will daily liven up the virtual community around Biennale Theatre 2014.