Have you ever thought about theatre? Not just about the scenes that unfold on stage, but about everything that happens long before the lights turn on — the preparation, the calibration, the trust‑building behind the curtain.
This was exactly the focus of the partners from Bulgaria, Italy, Portugal and Finland during their meeting in Plovdiv between the 6th and 8th of October. Gathered in one of Bulgaria’s most beautiful cities, they had the chance to reflect on the project’s progress and dive deeper into developing resource kits and teaching materials that will support teachers and trainers in guiding students through the complex process of creating a theatre performance.
Joana from Rosto Solidario (Portugal) presented the upcoming materials that will be released at the end of October and November. The first output includes four resource kits, each dedicated to a different aspect of the process — from planning sessions and creating an inclusive environment to helping teachers support students more sustainably, effectively and gradually. One of the kits even explores cost‑effective ways to transform a simple classroom into a real stage.
The second output is a handbook for teachers, facilitators and trainers. It will help them adapt and implement the THEATLON methodology according to their students’ needs and the realities of their own classrooms.
Our discussions also sparked ideas on how to make theatre more relatable to today’s generation — including playful elements inspired by anime and current pop culture.
Another important topic was the upcoming pilot activities. We explored which groups of students and teachers we want to work with, how many people we aim to reach, and even whether university students could be included.
Who will we train? What will the training activities look like? How will each country respond to the THEATLON methodology?
Let's keep in touch - we will tell you all about it in the next article!