The Lab was founded in 2012 by co-directors Derek Goldman, award-winning theatre artist, leader in the field of global performance and Professor of Theatre & Performance at Georgetown University in Washington DC; and Ambassador Cynthia Schneider, Professor of the Practice of Diplomacy and former US Ambassador to the Netherlands (1998- 2001), to investigate and experiment in the field of global performance, civic imagination and cultural diplomacy.
The Lab is characterised by its pioneering interdisciplinary approaches that integrate the performing arts and international relations. The Lab produces and presents high-quality, innovative work at the intersection of politics and performance from around the world.
The Lab curates CrossCurrents, a biennial performing arts festival that highlights innovative artists from around the world who are harnessing the power of performance to humanise global politics. The CrossCurrents festival presents a wide range of work in different stages of development and engages in conversations on critical topics with politicians, artists, scholars, activists and leaders. The Lab maintains a network of partnerships with actors such as: Centre for international theatre development, Edinburgh international cultural summit, EUNIC, ITI Unesco, Theatre without borders, La Guarda theatre.