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Joint call for applications concerning the commissioning of a text and the creation of a play that is freely inspired by Michel Rodange’s work
As part of the double jubilee of Michel Rodange, marking the anniversary of his birth (1827) and his death (1876), the Ministry of Culture, the Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg and the National Literature Centre are joining forces to launch a call for applications concerning the commissioning of a text and the creation of a play that is freely inspired by Michel Rodange’s work.
For this commission, we are inviting artists, potentially working in collectives, to immerse themselves in the multifaceted world of the Luxembourgish writer and poet and to explore the echoes his world may still hold for us today. How can his work and his way of understanding the world resonate with our era and the societal challenges we face and how can they be transposed into a contemporary context?
Entries may of course be inspired from his emblematic Reenert, but may also draw on his other works, poems, articles and pieces of writing. A multidisciplinary approach is welcome.
Selection criteria / Eligibility
- The project must be an original piece or a free adaptation based on the work of Michel Rodange.
- The approach used must be contemporary and reflect a current reading of Michel Rodange's work.
- The entry must include multidisciplinary elements (theatre, dance, music, visual arts, etc).
- The show must be accessible to those aged 14 and over and offer an inclusive (subtitles, linguistic accessibility, etc) and intergenerational approach.
- The show may be multilingual but one of those languages must be Luxembourgish. Applications must be submitted by a project leader who must bring together a team of performing arts professionals. It is strongly recommended that one or more participants are based in the regional area (Luxembourg and the Greater Region).
- The scale of the production (team, set design, technical features, etc) must allow for the show to be staged at the Théâtre des Capucins and adapted for performance at different venues in Luxembourg.
Applications
Applications must be written in Luxembourgish, French, German or English and must include:
- A letter of intention as well as the biography of the project leader and the participants. The application should be sent in 2 versions (PDF and Word) and must contain links to excerpts from previous research or work. It must not exceed four A4 pages. Any applications that exceed this length will be disqualified.
- A video presentation explaining the motivation and vision behind the project, lasting a maximum of 3 minutes.
- The application form which can be found on the right side of the page.
Applications must be submitted electronically before 31 January 2026 to the following email address: lestheatres@vdl.lu/ with “Rodange jubilee application + title of the project” in the subject line of the email.
Selection process
The panel consists of the following people:
- Vesna Andonović - Ministry of Culture
- Tom Leick - Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg, Anne Legill - Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg
- Nathalie Jacoby - National Literature Centre, Jeanne Glesener - University of Luxembourg
- Claude Mangen - Luxembourg Network of Regional Cultural Centres
Where necessary, a discussion phase between the project leaders and the panel may take place to clarify certain characteristics of the project and validate their feasibility.
The team whose application is selected will be informed by the end of February 2026 at the latest.
Project Implementation / Financial Terms
- The award includes a writing commission, allocated to the author, to which the National Literature Centre contributes. It may be accompanied by a writing residency of up to three months at the National Literature Centre.
- The selected project will be provided with artistic and logistics support including time for research, residencies for desk work and rehearsals as well as a ten-days residence on stage at the theatre at the end of the creative process.
- A cultural mediation programme will be designed together with expert researchers based on the chosen project.
- The Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg will handle the production and distribution of the show.
Calendar
- December 2025: Official launch of the call for applications
- 31 January 2026: Deadline for the submission of applications
- End of February 2026: Winner of project is announced
- Autumn 2027: First performances of the show at the Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg (Théâtre des Capucins) and subsequent distribution within the Luxembourg Network of Regional Cultural Centres.
General information and contact details
For any questions or queries, please contact:
Michel Charles-Beitz, Head of Production
Les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg
Telefon : (+352) 4796-3912
Mobile phone : (+352) 691 97 68 40
Email : mcharlesbeitz@vdl.lu