Theatre as a bridge for facilitating communication between national and multicultural Erasmus Project

Project Title

Theatre as a bridge for facilitating communication between national and multicultural

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : School Exchange Partnerships

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2018

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Creativity and culture; Cultural heritage/European Year of Cultural Heritage; Intercultural/intergenerational education and (lifelong)learning

Project Summary

The project studies the bridge between the cultural heritage (myth, legend, customs, traditions) and the European values cherished nowadays. Every country strives for keeping its cultural identity as well as being part of the common European family. The project aims at making the students participating in the project do research and choose cultural materials typical of their nation and through theatrical play to make these materials easily communicative, accessible and understandable for their peers; present their language and culture; get to know other participants in the project; improve their linguistic skills in their mother tongue and English. The project also aims at introducing the participating teachers to unconventional innovative methods of teaching different subjects related to literature, history, language, arts. The multicultural relations established during the project between students, teachers and parents will contribute to building a bridge in the multicultural communication and to learning tolerance in understanding different cultures. The project involves students between 15-17 years old; teachers in English, drama, music, arts; school staff and parents. The aim of the project is to make the participation of these groups a priority for the school community.
The project comprises various activities (preparation of presentations on particular materials and the cultural heritage of the participating countries aiming at introducing to cultural traditions; research related to myths, legends, ethnography of the participating countries; creating an art text for theatre for the final product; holding workshops on particular materials chosen by the participants in the project; preparation of visual and musical environment for the implementation of the theatre performance; making flyers, posters, brochures to present the project activities; shooting and promoting the project stages and the final product.
The methodology used in carrying out the project involves research – independent students’ work – related to the topic and the project objectives. It also includes developing participants’ artistic skills through working with a professional theatre director. The basic methodology is the different forms of theatre techniques used according to the participants’ age; the theatrical play as a way of interpretation and presenting cultural heritage; theatre environment requirements; special attention to the linguistic preparation and the text presented by the participants; the workshops as a form of free creativity space; stimulating participants’ creative motivation; giving teachers particular methods related to theatre techniques for teaching different subjects. Because of the force majeure circumstances due to COVID19 crises and national lockdowns in all the participating countries and the impossibility of holding the last meeting in Bulgaria (planned for 10th-12th March 2020) the final product was made in the form of a video shot by each participating country.
The well – structured planning is a prerequisite for the successful implementation of the project activities. Every project activity accomplishes a particular project stage of the preparation for the final product – the theatre performance. This includes selecting the material, its modern version, transforming it in text for theatre, holding workshops, creating suitable environment for the theatrical performance.
The expected project results are related to improving students’ linguistic skills in their mother tongue and in English, learning basic principles of the theatrical play, developing participants’ creativity, adopting innovative methods for breaking the teaching mould. The theatre performance will raise students’ interest in the historical and cultural heritage of the participating countries and will also establish the common European values that unite us.
The project will have a strong impact on the multicultural communication between the countries participating in it. At the same time it will affirm their identity and cultural heritage, will arouse avid interest among the participants in informal multicultural communication as well as preserving national identity. The participants in the project will improve their personal qualities, will raise their empathy, emotional intelligence and tolerance and will develop a sensation of a different point of view, which will be helpful in their study and personal development. The teachers participating in the project will be provided with new opportunities for improving their work by using unconventional innovative methods of teaching. The project will also have an impact on every participating school by opening up opportunities for future projects.
Young people’s interest in promoting the cultural and historical heritage will preserve their identity and at the same time will build their self-confidence of being equal members of the European Union cherishing common spiritual values.

Project Website

https://www.138sou.com/index.php/proekti/mezhdunarodni-proekti-2/theatre-as-a-bridge-between-national-and-multicultural/830-theatre-as-a-bridge-between-national-and-multicultural

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 83232 Eur

Project Coordinator

138 SUZIE “Prof. Vasil Zlatarski” & Country: BG

Project Partners

• ADEMINHO/Escola Profissional do Alto Minho Interior
• Istituto Istruzione Superiore ‘E. Majorana – A. Cascino’
• British School of Tenerife