Theater without borders : let’s share our classics ! Erasmus Project

Project Title

Theater without borders : let’s share our classics !

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; Transport and mobility; Early School Leaving / combating failure in education

Project Summary

To allow two groups of secondary school pupils from rural areas to discover another country whose fascinatingly strange language they knew nothing about, to encounter different cultures, traditions, and practices (artistic or not), to create long-lasting bonds of friendship with other pupils, families and teachers, and finally to experience differences in repertoire, directing and performing in shared workshop sessions, these were the aims of our project, called “Théâtre sans frontières : échangeons nos classiques !” (Theatre without borders; let’s swap our classics!), a partnership between the Lycée Rabelais in Chinon (France) and the Ziburio Gymansija in Sakiai (Lithuania).
The two schools were chosen because of their size, their location (far from large urban cultural centres), and similar profiles. The pupils shared a common practice of the theatre arts in their schools, as well as a love of acting. So, the exchange between the two groups was conceived in relation to these arts, with the final ambition, for each of the partners, of presenting a play that was iconic of the culture of their country.
Thus, the French pupils worked on “La Princesse d’Élide”, a little-known comédie-ballet by Molière. They were supervised by their drama teacher Catherine Jacoux, aided by Christine Raoux, as well as by a group of professional artists, the French-Lithuanian actress Migle Bereikaite and “Consonance”, a baroque music ensemble directed by François Bazola. On their part, the Lithuanians staged a play by Keturakis called “America in the sauna”, which was directed by their teacher Vilija Meskaitiene, along with choreographer Laura Saunoriené.
There were two steps to the exchange: in December fourteen French pupils travelled to Sakiai, with Ms Jacoux, Ms Bereikaite and five professional musicians. Besides the surprise of discovering Lithuania covered in snow, they had the opportunity to share varied artistic and cultural activities such as visits, workshops and lessons with their Lithuanian counterparts … At the end of the week this first meeting led to a joint performance at the new Sakiai Cultural Centre, around “La Princesse d’Élide” and Lully’s vocal compositions. The performance, with both French and Lithuanian pupils, was a great success.
At the end of April, 16 Lithuanian students had the opportunity to discover France, (with a short visit to Paris), the town of Chinon, as well as the Lycée and their host families. Several visits were organised, to the Château de Chambord and the Royal Fortress in Chinon, as well as theatre workshops in Tours, and the Centre Dramatique National (National Drama Centre), directed by Jacques Vincey.
The highlight of the week, and the apex of the project, occurred when each of the groups presented their work at the Espace Rabelais (Chinon’s performance hall), on Tuesday April 30th, 2019. A large audience (inhabitants of Chinon, teachers, school staff members, pupils, families, elected officials) greatly enjoyed the performance, which was followed by a Loire valley style buffet in the renowned Caves Painctes in Chinon, and an open mic. Mrs Isabelle Raimond-Pavero, senator for Indre et Loire, who awarded the project generous financial support, was also there.
Finally, the exchange had very positive results, both for the pupils and the whole educational community: progress in language proficiency (English is shared by French and Lithuanian pupils alike), history (for instance, the history of Soviet-bloc countries and the ex-USSR thanks to the visit to the KGB museum, the history of France and its monarchy, the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, the Templars, etc.), geography, economy, literature (discovering new authors), and of course the arts. Practical exercises in the different workshops in France and Lithuania were reused for lessons for other pupils. But the greatest benefit goes way beyond the framework of school or the arts. This exchange enabled each person involved to mature by coping with foreignness, while developing values of tolerance and respect. The links that were forged between pupils, but also between teachers, are extremely valuable and likely to become long-lasting relationships. Several French families are already planning a discovery visit to Lithuania! And the partnership between the two schools was such a success that it will be extended next year for a new exchange project, and a new European theatrical adventure.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 15576 Eur

Project Coordinator

LYCEE RABELAIS & Country: FR

Project Partners

• Sakiu “Varpo” mokykla