ENSATT

ENSATT
Name	École Nationale Supérieure des Arts et Techniques du Théâtre
Established	1948
Type	Public
City	Lyon
Country	France
Campus	Urban

ENSATT

ENSATT is a French national higher education institution for the performing arts, specializing in dramatic arts, scenography, and technical theatre training. It is based in Lyon and plays a central role in French and international theatre networks, collaborating with major companies and festivals. The school prepares students for careers with theatres, opera houses, film productions, and cultural institutions.

History

ENSATT was created in 1948 in the aftermath of World War II and was influenced by postwar cultural reconstruction movements associated with figures like Jean Vilar, Gérard Philipe, Armand Salacrou, and institutions such as the Comédie-Française and the Théâtre National Populaire. In the 1960s and 1970s the school intersected with movements led by directors including Vittorio Gassman, Peter Brook, Jerzy Grotowski, and Tadeusz Kantor, reflecting broader European debates at venues like the Avignon Festival and the Festival d'Automne à Paris. During reforms in the 1980s and 1990s ENSATT engaged with national cultural policy actors such as the Ministry of Culture (France) and regional authorities in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, aligning programs with conservatoires like the Conservatoire de Paris and training institutions such as the École nationale supérieure des arts décoratifs and the École nationale supérieure d'art. Relocations and campus developments linked the school to urban projects in Lyon alongside institutions like Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 and the Opéra National de Lyon.

Campus and Facilities

ENSATT's facilities are situated in Lyon within proximity to performance venues such as the Théâtre des Célestins, Maison de la Danse, and the Centre Dramatique National Lyonnais. The campus includes rehearsal studios, technical workshops, wood and metal shops similar to those used by the Comédie de Saint-Étienne and scenic design teams associated with Opéra de Lyon. It houses costume ateliers reflecting practices from companies like Les Arts Florissants and storage and archive spaces comparable to collections at the Bibliothèque nationale de France. Performance spaces are adaptable to touring configurations used by ensembles such as Théâtre du Soleil and contemporary companies linked to the Biennale de Lyon.

Admissions and Programs

Admissions to ENSATT are competitive, drawing applicants from conservatoires such as the Conservatoire national supérieur de musique et de danse de Paris and theatre schools like the École Jacques Lecoq and the L'École du TNS. Selection typically involves auditions, portfolio reviews, and interviews resembling entry procedures at institutions including the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, and the Juilliard School. Degree offerings coordinate with qualifications overseen by the Ministry of Higher Education (France) and European frameworks such as the Bologna Process. Programs include professional diplomas in acting, directing, scenography, technical theatre, and production management, with internship arrangements at venues like the Théâtre National de Chaillot and the Opéra Comique.

Departments and Curriculum

ENSATT is structured into departments that mirror practice areas in major theatrical institutions: acting departments akin to methods taught by Konstantin Stanislavski, Bertolt Brecht, Michael Chekhov, and practitioners from the Grotowski Institute; scenography departments reflecting approaches from designers like Sergio Tramonti and Sacha Pitoëff; technical departments covering lighting, sound, and stage machinery with methodologies similar to production teams at Royal Shakespeare Company and Metropolitan Opera. The curriculum blends workshop-based pedagogy, seminars on theatre history referencing figures such as Henrik Ibsen, Anton Chekhov, Samuel Beckett, and Eugène Ionesco, and project-based collaborations with contemporary creators linked to festivals like the Festival d'Avignon.

Notable Alumni and Faculty

Faculty and visiting artists have included directors and designers with international reputations who have worked at the Comédie-Française, La Scala, Théâtre de la Ville, and the Royal Court Theatre. Alumni have gone on to careers at institutions such as the Théâtre du Châtelet, Opéra National de Paris, National Theatre (UK), Teatro alla Scala, and in film industries centred in Cannes Film Festival circuits and international festivals like Sundance Film Festival. Graduates have collaborated with creators and companies including Peter Sellars, Ariane Mnouchkine, Olivier Py, Robert Wilson, and ensembles connected to the Festival d'Automne à Paris.

Partnerships and Collaborations

ENSATT maintains partnerships with cultural institutions, conservatoires, and universities such as the Conservatoire national supérieur de musique et de danse de Paris, Université Lumière Lyon 2, and international schools including the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and the Institut del teatre. Collaborative projects link the school to festivals and venues like the Avignon Festival, Biennale de Lyon, Festival d'Automne à Paris, Opéra National de Lyon, and networks coordinated by organizations similar to the European Theatre Convention. Research and innovation initiatives have been pursued in conjunction with laboratories and cultural policy bodies such as the Centre national de la recherche scientifique and the Ministry of Culture (France).

Category:Drama schools in France Category:Theatre in Lyon