The Théâtre National de la Colline in Paris, the Royal Court in London, the Schaubühne am Lehniner Platz in Berlin and the Teatro della Limonaïa in Florence have been working together for three years now, exchanging and reading contemporary dramatic writings. At the heart of this network and with the support of the ARIANE 1998 and 1999 programmes of the European Commission (D.G.X.), and soon of the new CULTURE 2000 programme, the reading committees of these four theatres have confronted dramatic writing from all their countries within closed critical working meetings. These exchanges have enabled each theatre to develop its own activities linked to this original approach.

In this context sprang up the idea of simultaneous presentations of the premiere production of Visage de feu in French and sur-titled productions in German of Gier (Manque / Crave) and Der Name (Le Nom / The Name).
This double artistic encounter has allowed the paths of the two directors, Thomas Ostermeier and Alain Françon, to cross those of German, English and Norwegian contemporary writing. Through this network, French writers will be presented in London, Berlin and Florence on various occasions.