European Shakespeare Festival Network (ESFN)

The Shakespeare Festival in Barcelona is a member of the European Shakespeare Festivals Network (ESFN), fully aligning with its objectives. The ESFN was founded in March 2010 to facilitate the exchange between festivals held across the continent and to promote the work of William Shakespeare. The Network also produces performances that reinterpret and innovate based on Shakespeare's work, organizes educational programs, supports new translations and academic research, among many other joint initiatives. This creates a genuine network of artistic and educational exchange that spans Germany, Armenia, Denmark, Hungary, Italy, Macedonia, Ukraine, Poland, the United Kingdom, the Czech Republic, Romania, and Serbia.

The Network has welcomed the revival of the Shakespeare Festival of Catalonia, which once became a reference point for Southern Europe, and has unanimously approved its inclusion. We see this as both interesting and enriching, since it opens doors throughout Europe for mutual exchange. As the only Shakespeare Festival in Spain, this project represents a valuable opportunity for the consolidation of local artistic talent and the establishment of a European meeting point in the country. It is also worth noting that the ESFN, in addition to creating various types of artistic projects, works on developing new audiences. This helps introduce William Shakespeare to social communities still distant from the world of scenic arts and cultural programmes, and increases visibility for theatrical productions and cultural projects based on the playwright’s works.

After attending the annual meeting of the Network, hold in Craiova on May 2024, we have received a warm welcome from the members of the European Shakespeare Festivals Network (ESFN), which spans 12 countries across the continent. We have also decided to participate in one of the shared projects, the Shakespheare, which coordinates international tours of new productions by emerging artists.

Meet the Network