Organising a theater play: text, music, dance, scenography, rehearsals… Erasmus Project

Project Title

Organising a theater play: text, music, dance, scenography, rehearsals…

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: Cultural heritage/European Year of Cultural Heritage; Quality Improvement Institutions and/or methods (incl. school development); Creativity and culture

Project Summary

“Preparing a theatrical performance: text, music, dance, scenography, rehearsals …” is a project for the exchange of good practices and collaboration carried out by the IES Princesa Galiana de Toledo (Spain) and ISIS Orioli from Viterbo (Italy), two humbleschools located in two small historical cities close to the capitals of their respective countries.
The project has focused on the work around the representation of a play, an activity that for both schools has been for years an ideal space for interdisciplinary work in which a large part of the departments and students of each school participate and that extends throughout an academic year. The students of the performing arts groups from both schools are in charge of working on all the aspects necessary for the premiere of a theatrical production, from the technical elements to the final performance before an audience. The joint effort culminates in one or more performances before students from the school itself, from nearby schools or from the general public. We understand that it is a practical and effective way to know the complexity of a real montage, to know the professions related to the cultural industry and also encourages in the participants the values ​​of effort, improvement, responsibility and teamwork. It is also a fundamental tool to promote knowledge of great works of culture.
ISIS Orioli had several years of experiences in Erasmus + projects of very different types. IES Princesa Galiana wanted to enhance her newly established high school studies in performing arts, music and dance and although it has won several national awards for its “Galiana Presenta” project, the European experience was limited to eTwinning projects.
The project has been extended over three courses, after requesting a 12-month extension due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During the first year, brief exchanges were held with small groups of students and teachers who learned about various aspects of work at the other center (workshops, rehearsals, etc.) and of the cultural life of the neighboring country. In the second year the representation of “Spring Awakening” was performed by the theater group of the IES Princesa Galiana in Viterbo. The planned representation in Toledo of the work “Museum”, premiered in Viterbo in February 2020, had to be canceled due to the pandemic. Finally, after several postponements, a group of Italian students offered a theatrical performance in Toledo in July 2021, with excerpts from several plays premiered by the Liceo Orioli.
In total, 68 student and 17 teachers mobilities have been carried out, although through the planned dissemination activities (eTwinning, websites, social networks, YouTube channel, media, talks and exhibitions) the impact has reached the entire educational community (teachers, students, families). It has also generated a significant impact in each of the cities. In both cases we have count on the collaboration of various entities to guarantee the participation of external agents (theater professionals), to carry out activities such as theater workshops or visits to theater-related cultural centers and to facilitate the representation in representative stages of each city.
With the exchange of experiences between our two schools we have greatly enriched our work around theater, applying new methodologies and effective forms of organization (spaces, times, groups). Through exchanges we have expanded our knowledge of the cultural and especially theatrical heritage of both cities and both countries. We have also helped our students to know the educational but also professional reality around the arts in both countries, which can undoubtedly help them define their own academic future. Our students have lived unique experiences of immersion in a sister culture, appreciating and valuing our similarities and our differences. They have also become aware of the importance of the study of languages ​​and of belonging to a common European project. One objective set by the project was the creation of a wider network of schools that collaborate in theatrical activities, something that has been achieved with the approval of a new collaboration project that incorporates, in addition to the Liceo Orioli and the Princesa Galiana, two new schools in Hungary and Turkey.

Project Website

http://www.sites.google.com/iesprincesagaliana.com/erasmusorioligaliana/otp-2018-2021

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 65506 Eur

Project Coordinator

IES Princesa Galiana & Country: ES

Project Partners

• IIS Francesco Orioli