ACQUIS is a pilot project established with the intention of exploring the non-performance elements of theatre (e.g. Set design, Costume, P.R, Sound, Lighting, etc), with the support of professional staff of the 4 partnership theatres, the National Theatre of Ireland, Royal National Theatre London, the Theater Werkstatt/Theater+Schule, Munich and Laboratorio Nove, Florence. Ten youth theatres, schools and colleges from each country were invited to participate, and much of the project is directed through the Acquis Website. Here everybody has access to a discussion board to share ideas, and a portfolio of plays on which to base ideas, each student is also assigned a mentor from the relevant theatre with whom they can communicate ideas and meet with on a number of occasions to discuss progress and technicalities. In Easter 2001 the 6 month Acquis Project will produce an event where all participants will meet their mentors at their host theatre when the tasks are complete. The students from the UK, Italy, Germany and Ireland will take part in a video conference when they will be able to view one another's work. They will have a further opportunity to see the work of all four countries when it forms a touring exhibition.