Theater without borders : heading east ! Erasmus Project

Project Title

Theater without borders : heading east !

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 2019

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Creativity and culture; Early School Leaving / combating failure in education; Gender equality / equal opportunities

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 “Cap à l’est !”, a partnership between the Lycée Rabelais in Chinon (France) andthe 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 “The Master and Magaret”, by Boulgakov. They were supervised by their drama teacher Catherine Jacoux, aided by Christine Raoux, as well as by professional artists, the French-Lithuanian actress Migle Bereikaite and the french actress Korotoumou Sidibe.
On their part, the Lithuanians staged a play by the french author Marivaux “The double inconstancy”, which was directed by their teacher Vilija Meskaitiene, along with choreographer Laura Saunoriené.
In November 2019, 21 French pupils travelled to Sakiai, with Ms Jacoux, Ms Bereikaite and Ms Raoux.
Besides the surprise of discovering Lithuania and its traditions, 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 scool performance hall. The performance, with both French and Lithuanian pupils on the same stage, was a great success.
In April, 22 Lithuanian students should have had the opportunity to discover France, the town of Chinon, as well as the Lycée Rabelais and their host families. Several visits have been organised, such as a journey in Paris, a visit to the Castle of candé, the Royal Fortress in Chinon, or the Rabelais museum, 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, should have been the presentation, by each of the groups, of their work at the Espace Rabelais (Chinon’s performance hall). The
performance should have been followed by a Loire valley style buffet in the renowned Caves Painctes in Chinon, and an open mic, in the presence of Mrs Isabelle Raimond-Pavero,
senator for Indre et Loire, school staff members, pupils, families, elected officials, etc.
Unfortunately, the health crisis prevented us from carrying out the second part of the project, and we had to withdraw on March 16, 2020.
However, 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), geography, economy, literature (discovering new authors), and of
course the arts. Practical exercises in the different workshops in 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: 16340 Eur

Project Coordinator

LYCEE RABELAIS & Country: FR

Project Partners

• Sakiu “Varpo” mokykla