The International Contest of Contemporary Drama (ICCD ) was set up by Belarus Free Theatre to encourage new writing and topromote Belarusian cultural identity on an international stage with the participation of artists around Europe. Belarusian playwrights, banned within their own country but recognised for their workoutside, have the opportunity to show their work in Belarus. It also includes the work of foreign playwrights in an international cultural context, and in which Belarus would have its place for the first time.