We spent a great creative week in Berlin for our Erasmus+ ON STAGE Project last October! We were hosted by our German coordinator Alrahallah Theater Berlin from the 13th to the 17st October to shoot the second theatre performance of the project. Combining social theatre and discussions about inclusion and minorities discrimination in our societies, we came up with an original play to talk about the importance of showing empathy and kindness in our everyday life to change biases and make life better for everyone in our community.
The project
‘Social Theatre for the Active Generation in the EU’ (ON S.T.A.G.E) is a KA210 youth project designed to empower young people (aged 18-30) in Germany, Ireland, Greece and Portugal to engage with political issues through theatre. It aims to promote civic engagement among disadvantaged youth, especially for those from ethnic minority backgrounds. They will develop critical citizenship skills and be encouraged to advocate for change by voting in the European elections, increasing their social participation. The projects included local activities and 2 youth mobilities in Greece and Germany. Partners created useful resources, including a project website, a Guidebook on participation in the EU elections for youth and Youth worker Toolkit on youths’ socio-political inclusion. The project has a Facebook page and Instagram page updated with all activities and links to resources.
DAY 1 – 13th October
On the first day, we got to know each other through theatre-based team building activities. We then focussed on theatre techniques, especially body language, to set the scene for the rest of the week.
DAY 2 – 14th October
On the second day, participants worked on the theme of the mobility and the play, which was introduced during the pre-departure online workshops. They shared experiences and view points on nowadays society’s oppressors and oppressed. They also discussed today’s social problems across Europe, including minorities discrimination. From this, they drew the theme of the stage performance.
DAY 3 – 15th October
On the third day, participants worked on the story and got an introduction to social theatre. They decided their roles and worked on building the initial connection to their characters.
DAY 4 – 16th October
On the fourth day, the group rehearsed the main performance. They also got the chance to explore Berlin, passing by the main landmarks of the city.
DAY 5 – 17th October
On the fifth and last day, teh group shot the video of the final performance! You can find it on Youtube (link here). We finished off the day with a collective reflection on the experience, where participants shared their feedback and emotions felt throughout the week.
What’s next?
The next phase of the project includes online and in-person events in all partner countries to present the project resources. They will also be available for free to use and download.
For more information on these and other opportunities for young people coming soon, check our Facebook and Instagram pages!