From ruins to resilience: memory, culture, and democracy
We Are the Theatre was born from a shared act of resistance. For more than two years, artists and citizens gathered daily to protect Albania’s National Theatre from demolition. What began as a collective defense of cultural heritage became a living movement — uniting people through creativity, memory, and civic courage.
We believe that culture is a shared public good. Our work is guided by solidarity, integrity, creativity, and democratic participation. These values shape everything we do — from preserving memory to inspiring new forms of collective action.
Out of the ruins of the theatre grew a vibrant cultural movement. Through art, film, and storytelling, we keep alive the spirit of resistance and imagination. We collaborate with communities, artists, and organizations to ensure that cultural heritage remains a living force for future generations.

We stand to preserve memory, protect culture, and inspire civic courage.
Born from the resistance to save Albania’s National Theatre, our mission is to keep alive the spirit of creativity, solidarity, and democracy.
Through film, art, and collective storytelling, we ensure that culture remains a shared legacy and a living force for future generations.
We are currently developing a documentary that brings to life
the collective memory and
courage of the National Theatre movement.
The film will weave testimonies,
archival material, and
storytelling to share this history
with new generations.
A photographic exhibition is in preparation for 17 May 2026 in Tirana, marking the anniversary of the theatre's demolition.
The exhibition will offer a space for memory, reflection, and
shared cultural dialogue.
Our digital platform is under construction - a growing public
archive where documents,
images, and stories of the
movement will be preserved and shared.
It will become a living space for collective memory and civic imagination.

This journey is led by a diverse group of architects, artists, actors, students, and citizens - young and old - who came together to defend the National Theatre.
United by shared responsibility and hope, we work to bring these projects to life and build bridges between
memory, culture, and future generations.
Your words, like your presence, keep our movement strong in celebrating the cultural heritage of the Albania National Theatre.
“Together, we write the next act of our story – add your voice to our community engagement.”
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.