24 Sept-23 Oct 2005. A feast for theatre lovers in what promises to be a first for Rome with a rich programme of cutting edge European theatre. There is the participation of 11 European countries in 16 theatres with 18 plays and with the involvement of 300 artists. The festivals first edition was held in Dusseldorf in 1992 and this Roman edition is the richest so far. Special attention has been given to new names such as Alvis Hermanis, Alex Rigola, Alexandru Darie, Andrzej Stasiuk and Mikolaj Grabovski. Performances include the Stary Teatr from Krakow in Kalkwerk at Teatro Valle (6-7 Oct); Studio 24 Compagnie from Villeurbanne directed by Roger Planchon in La Genie de la Foret at Teatro Argentina (8-9 Oct); the Teatre Lliure from Barcelona in Shakespeares Richard III directed by Alex Rigola at Teatro Argentina (12-13 Oct); the Schauspielfrankfurt directed by Alvis Hermanis in Das Eis at Teatro India (14-15 Oct) and on the same dates the Odon Thatre de lEurope from Paris in La rose et la hache based on Shakespeare and Carmelo Bene at Teatro Valle; CIE from Lyon in a drama written and directed by Silviu Purcarete entitled La cousine de Pantagruel Hommage a Rabelais at Teatro Valle (18-19 Oct).