Europe Theatre Prize
The Europe Theatre Prize 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. The European Parliament and the European Council have supported it as a "European cultural interest organisation" since 2002.
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. Recipients have included choreographer Pina Bausch and stage director Patrice Chéreau.
In 1990, an additional award Europe Prize New Theatrical Realities was established looking at innovation in theatre and first awarded to Anatoly Vasiliev. In Edition XII, they were Viliam Dočolomanský, Katie Mitchell, Andrey Moguchy, Kristian Smeds, Teatro Meridional and Vesturport. Recipients have also included Heiner Goebbels, Oskaras Koršunovas and Rimini Protokoll.
The program for both awards is rich in theatrical presentations. Lasting a week, it has been termed the "'Oscars' of European theatre" and "Oscar of Drama". The first nine "editions" of the prize were awarded in Taormina. To achieve a more international aspect, the ceremonies were held in Turin for Edition X, as part of the cultural program for the 2006 Winter Olympics in collaboration with the Teatro Stabile. Editions XI and XII were held in Thessaloniki, Edition XIII in Wrocław as part of the UNESCO's Grotowski Year. In 2011 the awards were given at the Alexandrinsky Theatre of St. Petersburg, then Culture Capital of Russia. A critic described the performances of innovative theatre: "Their shows demonstrate that the dialogue between the arts and cutting edge technology opens up new ways towards creation and knowledge. Computer generated images, pantomime, dancing, circus and music expand the frontiers of the theatre and make it more dramatic. Shows such as Faustus based on Goethe's play, Metamorphosis by Kafka, Mr Vertigo by Paul Auster, Cabo Verde by Natalia Luiza and Miguel Seabra, and Happiness by Maurice Maeternlick are overwhelming both in their use of technique and the emotions they exude."
List of recipients
| Edition | Year | Artist |
| I | 1987 | Ariane Mnouchkine |
| II | 1989 | Peter Brook |
| III | 1990 | Giorgio Strehler |
| IV | 1994 | Heiner Müller |
| V | 1997 | Robert Wilson |
| VI | 1998 | Luca Ronconi |
| VII | 1999 | Pina Bausch |
| VIII | 2001 | Lev Dodin |
| IX | 2001 | Michel Piccoli |
| X | 2006 | Harold Pinter |
| XI | 2007 | Robert Lepage, Peter Zadek |
| XII | 2008 | Patrice Chéreau |
| XIII | 2009 | Krystian Lupa |
| XIV | 2011 | Peter Stein |
| XV | 2016 | Mats Ek |
| XVI | 2017 | Isabelle Huppert, Jeremy Irons |
| XVII | 2018 | Valery Fokin |