25th Anniversary Edition: International Physical Theatre Laboratory
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IPTL 2025 | December 13–22, 2025 | Schloss Laubegg, Austria
A transformative nine-day intensive bringing together theatre artists, dancers, choreographers, circus performers, and movement practitioners from around the world.
The International Physical Theatre Laboratory has been a cornerstone of European physical theatre training since 2000, bringing together artists from around the world for intensive periods of artistic exchange, training, and creation. Organized by NIPAI (New International Performing Arts Institute), IPTL embodies the organization's mission to foster international collaboration and support the development of contemporary performance practices that transcend cultural and disciplinary boundaries.
For 25 years, IPTL has been more than a training program - it has been a meeting place for artists seeking genuine connection, creative risk-taking, and collaborative discovery. Set against the breathtaking landscape of the Austrian Alps, within the inspiring walls of Schloss Laubegg, the laboratory offers a rare gift in today's fast-paced artistic landscape: time and space to explore, to fail, to discover, and to create without the pressure of immediate production.
This year's laboratory will welcome up to 15 carefully selected participants - theatre artists, directors, dancers, choreographers, circus artists, movement and drama teachers, researchers, and producers - for an immersive experience that combines intensive practical work with critical discourse. The selection process prioritizes artistic experience, professional commitment, and genuine motivation to engage deeply with the craft and community of physical theatre.
The 2025 edition features an expanded format: seven days of laboratory work followed by a three-day International Conference titled "Performing Arts Between Tradition & Contemporaneity." During the conference, leading practitioners and pedagogues from around the globe will gather to share their expertise through workshops, presentations, performances, and works-in-progress showings. This unique structure creates a rare opportunity for participants to both develop their own practice and engage with cutting-edge perspectives from the international performing arts community.
What distinguishes IPTL from other international training programs is its commitment to authentic exchange over prescribed methodology. Participants don't simply attend classes - they become part of a temporary creative community where diverse practices, traditions, and contemporary approaches intersect and inform one another. The intimate group size ensures that every voice is heard, every question explored, and every artistic impulse given space to breathe.
Over its quarter-century history, IPTL has become a crucial node in the global network of physical theatre practitioners. Alumni have gone on to create groundbreaking work, establish their own companies and training programs, and form lasting collaborations that began on the castle grounds. Many return - not as the same artists they were, but as evolved practitioners seeking new challenges and connections.
About Schloss Laubegg
Located in the Austrian Alps, Schloss Laubegg (Laubegg Castle) provides an inspiring setting for artistic work, combining historic architecture with modern facilities. The castle has hosted numerous international cultural events and offers the perfect balance of practical amenities and atmospheric beauty for intensive creative work.
Who Should Apply to the International Physical Theatre Laboratory
IPTL 2025 seeks artists who are:
Actively engaged in professional practice in theatre, dance, circus, or related performance disciplines
Interested in expanding their physical and creative vocabulary
Open to collaboration across disciplines and cultural perspectives
Ready to commit fully to the intensive nature of the program
Seeking meaningful artistic community and long-term creative partnerships
Movement and drama teachers will find particular value in the pedagogical insights shared during the conference, while researchers and producers gain rare access to the creative processes of international artists. The mix of disciplines and roles creates a rich ecosystem where different perspectives constantly challenge and inspire one another.
Application Information
Due to the intimate nature of the program and the desire to create a balanced, dynamic group, participation is limited to 15 artists. Selection is based on professional experience, artistic motivation, and the potential contribution each applicant can make to the collective laboratory experience.
Application deadline: Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until all places are filled. Early application is strongly encouraged.
To learn more about the program, faculty, schedule, and practical details, visit:
To submit your application, complete the online form at:
If you've been searching for a space where your artistic questions are taken seriously, where the journey matters as much as the destination, where you can be both student and teacher, both individual artist and ensemble member - this is your invitation.
Join us at the Laubegg Castle this December. Bring your experience, your curiosity, your willingness to be surprised. Leave with new skills, new perspectives, new collaborators, and renewed passion for the work we all love.
The 25th International Physical Theatre Laboratory is more than a training program - it's a homecoming for artists you haven't met yet. Apply today.
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