eNewsletter 
A vision is often thought of as the description or prediction of events yet to come. It lays out a plan for the future based as much on wishful thinking as on careful planning. Such a plan is often needed to convince insecure shareholders and creditors of the company that they need not fear for their investment but have indeed made the right decision...so much so that they should attract their friends to „join“ the business.
From the onset ADGE has taken a very different approach in terms of development and expansion. It has regarded theatre as passion, a mission, a must for audiences to see often at the expense of „self-sponsorship.“ Having made this statement, we do have a vision which is directly reflected in the continued efforts of the organization. We have often described ourselves as a no-limits establishment, one which attempts to perform plays everywhere it is possible to perform plays.
This work in progress is a moving reality. Since 2005, the organization has expanded by nearly 40% reaching out to such diverse places as Central America, South America, China, Slovenia, The Baltic States and Poland. In the calender year 2008 we will continue to move forward on all fronts whenever and where ever possible. We know that there is a place for you in this vision. Simply open our door and step inside.
TNT theatre Britain – an introduction and manifesto
In 1980 three unemployed actors borrowed a small car and set off on a tour of Britain. They called the company TNT – The New Theatre - and by 2008 that’s same company is known as “the most popular theatre company in the world.” (China National TV) performing in over thirty countries on three continents in 2008 alone.
The same principles that made The London Guardian call the “the most interesting development on the current theatrical scene” back in TNT’s first year are present almost thirty years later as indeed are two of the original members: director (then actor) Paul Stebbings and dramaturg Phil Smith. TNT present a dynamic actor based style of theatre that rejects Television based realism in favour of fantasy, imagination, physicality and a muscular approach to serious text. We also like a good laugh. Since 1984 TNT have been exploring music theatre and every production includes a new score. TNT’s first composer was John Kenny and he is still with us. Paul Flush and Thomas Johnson compose for the company too.
We are a physical theatre company, and all the original actors trained in the Grotowski method in Britain and Poland. We aim to combine all the performing arts, TNT’s choreographer since 1992 is Eric Tessier Lavigne. TNT started with a manifesto production, HARLEQUIN, based on the life and work of the great Soviet theatre director Meyerhold who was murdered by Stalin. He is simply the best. His motto is our motto:
“Tragedy with a smile on its lips.”
TNT invented a word “audiencentric” – theatre is for you, our public. The relationship essential in our theatre is not between actor and text, or actor and actor, or actor and director or even designer and director but actor and audience. Simple. And the greatest weapon in TNT’s armoury is your imagination, not ours.
Theatre is a language, we happen to be English so we use a lot of English but it doesn’t matter – (we work in other languages too). We perform anywhere to anyone – an opera house or a prison, a castle courtyard or a university, a National theatre or a community centre– a village bookshop or Off Broadway, Iran or the USA. We perform everything from HAMLET and MOBY DICK to modern works by Paul Auster and Ray Bradbury or our own new plays. But the style is always uniquely TNT. Our technical requirement is an audience.
Since 1993 TNT have been in collaboration with ADG Europe and Munich based producer Grantly Marshall. Paul Stebbings is artistic Director of both companies. We share a vision of theatre as a global force for positive change: live art for all.
