Biennale College Teatro 2026

The new programme, proposed by Willem Dafoe (the Artistic Director of La Biennale di Venezia's Theatre Department), is conceived as an experiment based on a single concrete idea: the physical presence of mentors and participants in the same room. Everything else will be explored as it happens.
There are no set methods or desired outcomes, just things to do and actions to be performed.

A maximum of 12 young actors and actresses from around the world will be selected for the programme. Willem Dafoe will coordinate the first edition of the Biennale College Teatro Actors/Actresses project, which will consist of a four-week residency, accompanied by four mentors chosen by him from among internationally renowned artists.

As the Director states, this is a unique opportunity in which the only promise is the desire to rise above: above methods, expectations, rigid structures and prejudice.

Project duration
The project will run from 25 May to 21 June 2026.

The call for applications is open to actors and actresses aged 18 to under 30, from anywhere in the world. Participants must not have reached the age of 30 by the application deadline (January 22^nd, 2026).

Participants should be interested and accepting of a physical approach to performing, since part of the work of this project may have a degree of physical rigor.
A good knowledge of English and an acting qualification are also required.

Selection will be made at the sole discretion of Willem Dafoe, Artistic Director of the Theatre Sector of La Biennale di Venezia. The results will be communicated by email by mid-March 2026.

The project will run for four weeks. Each week, one of the mentors will lead a workshop.
The mentors involved in the project are Willem Dafoe, Evangelia and Mary Rantou, Simon McBurney and Silvia Costa.

The daily programme includes two distinct parts: activities led by mentors and free, individual and/or group study. In addition, from 7 to 21 June, participants will attend the events and performances of the 54th International Theatre Festival.

Openings to the public may also be organised, in the form of “open rehearsals”, during the period in which the project will take place.

The project will be held in English.

Participation in the entire programme is mandatory in order to take part in the project.

La Biennale di Venezia will organize and pay the following for the selected participants:
· travel to/from Venice
· accommodation in shared flats with single/double rooms
· lunch on activity days

Selected actors and actresses will have the opportunity to attend international performances by companies invited to the 2026 Theatre Biennale.

Selected actors and actresses will be required to pay a registration fee of € 80 (including non-refundable VAT), payable by credit card only after they have been notified of their acceptance and in any case no later than the indicated date.

Required documents – which must be sent in English by January 22^nd 2026 using the registration form – consists of:

· Curriculum vitae in English, specifying your completed studies in acting
· Photo
· A 2-minute video in English, in which the candidate talks about themselves and what they do, specifying why they want to participate in the experiment and what they expect from this journey. What is the real reason why I want to be an actor/actress?
· Certificate/diploma in acting

Registration form

Incomplete applications will be automatically excluded.

college-teatro@labiennale.org

La Biennale di Venezia reserves the right in any case to modify, cancel or interrupt the initiative described above, in that the announcement or the selection do not constitute a binding contract for the same, nor do they entail the right to the reimbursement of any expense other than those specified above.

The integral acceptance of the conditions of the Biennale College Teatro Call makes the application eligible.