Community Theatre

Theatre as a tool for social transformation

A cross-cultural training course between Switzerland and Colombia for artists, educators and social workers committed to social transformation.

Duration

Nov 2025 - May 2026

Cost

CHF 3'500

Registration deadline

25.10.2025

Language

ITA / ES / EN

Credits

10 ECTS

*6 ECTS for Quibdó resident students taking only Module 2 in Short Advanced Studies - SAS in Community Theatre format.

Venues

Accademia Teatro Dimitri, Verscio
SUPSI Campus, Mendrisio
Quibdó, Colombia, as a likely partner: the Universidad Tecnológica del Chocó "Diego Luis Córdoba" (UTCH), specifically with the Licienciatura en Educación Artística program.

Managers

Daniel Bausch (Accademia Dimitri) and Claudia Howald (Centre for Development and Cooperation)

Contact

fc.accademiadimitri@supsi.ch

Enrolment

The Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) in Community Theater, organised by Accademia Dimitri in collaboration with SUPSI's Centre for Development and Cooperation, is a continuing education program that combines art, social engagement and intercultural dialogue. Through direct experience and group work, CAS proposes theater as a space for meeting and growth, capable of generating cohesion, listening and transformation in communities. The course includes a training phase in Switzerland and a residential phase in Quibdó, Colombia, where participants will develop and implement community theater projects in an intercultural context. A unique proposal for those who want to act through art and contribute to the construction of a more inclusive future.

Presentation

Community theater is a theatrical form in which members of a community actively participate in the creation and staging of performances. It is not limited to the development of artistic skills, but promotes social engagement and strengthens collective cohesion. It fosters creative expression and provides a platform for intercultural exchange and dialogue, opening up spaces for coexistence and imagination of possible futures, even in contexts marked by high tensions or social conflicts.
The training focuses on the practical application of community theater and intercultural education. Participants and attendees will acquire and consolidate concrete skills in the use of theater as a tool for social and cultural transformation. Through numerous exercises, they will develop a wide repertoire of methods for structuring theater workshops aimed at different groups, with a focus on communities in the region of Quibdó, a town in the Northwest of Colombia, where the second part of the CAS will take place.

Learning objectives

Upon completion of the CAS training in Community Theater, participating individuals will be able to:
Using theater as a tool for social and cultural transformation, creating spaces for peaceful coexistence within communities.
Design and conduct tailor-made theater workshops, adapting them to the needs and characteristics of different social groups.
Enhance awareness and mastery regarding one's artistic means.
Relating to the Other through self-reflection and deconstruction, putting oneself out there and deepening knowledge through theatrical and corporal practices.

To whom it is addressed

CAS is aimed at professional and non-professional artists in the field of contemporary performing and performing arts (dance, physical theater, theater, performance) who wish to deepen their artistic practice and broaden their field of action toward community and intercultural contexts. It is also aimed at people active in social and community work, with experience in the performing arts, who wish to integrate the subject of performing arts into their work.

Requirements

Admission is reserved for those with a bachelor's or master's degree, or a higher vocational training qualification accompanied by proven professional experience in fields related to the proposed courses. In exceptional cases, candidates without a tertiary degree, university degree or higher vocational training qualification may also be admitted after passing a dossier evaluation procedure. For students residing in Quibdó (Colombia), it is possible to attend only the second module, obtaining a Short Advanced Studies (SAS) certification with the recognition of 6 ECTS, with no special title requirements.
A good knowledge of Italian and understanding of Spanish is required.

Teaching method

A collaborative approach is the foundation of the program, fostering dynamic interaction between artists and audiences. Open discussion and teamwork are central methodologies for addressing artistic and social challenges, with the goal of building a network of support and collaboration capable of crossing geographic and cultural boundaries. In this context, theater is not just a final artistic product, but an ongoing process of collective exchange and growth. One of the program's pivotal elements is cultural exchange, made possible by collaboration with theatrical practitioners from different regions, particularly the city of Quibdó, Colombia. This exchange allows for the exploration of how theater can enhance cultural diversity, considered a fundamental resource for mutual enrichment and the development of new artistic approaches. The dialogue and sharing of experiences between actors from different backgrounds foster the creation of plays that reflect a plurality of voices and perspectives, stimulating cultural and human enrichment.

The training is based on direct experience, integrating theoretical knowledge, practical exercises and moments of reflection. Activities will take place in groups, supervised and accompanied by the faculty, with the aim of reaching a final artistic restitution.

Skills

Training stimulates and strengthens the development of the following skills:

Practical skills to bring people together, foster their creativity and support more inclusive community life that values differences.
Critical, social and intercultural skills to address complex realities and socially relevant issues, such as social justice, discrimination and environmental protection, encouraging intercultural dialogue and the creation of spaces for peaceful coexistence.
Ability to understand and manage conflict and discrimination, in support of inclusion and social justice.
Personal skills of understanding and adaptation, strengthening self-confidence, communication skills and team spirit.
Theatrical and artistic skills involving body, voice, and creative thinking, including expressiveness, stage management, independent and professional workshop leadership, and planning, organizing, and managing complex theatrical productions.

Calendar

November 25, December 5, 6 and 7, 2025

3 weeks in January 2026 (exact dates to be determined)

May 2026 (1 date to be mutually agreed upon)

Programme

Module 1: Us, Others and Community Theater Practice.

Who we are, where we are and where we want to go.
Positioning: what is our role? Work on centering, who I am, my role, practical trust and physical exercises.
Power relations and representations.
Creating inclusive spaces.
Participatory methodologies and intercultural education: games and theater techniques.
Analysis and mapping of the context of Quibdó, Colombia.

Module 2: Cross-cultural community theater experience*.

*SAS in Community Theater for the and participants residing in Quibdó (6 ECTS).

Creation of a common theatrical group and language.
Exchange of practices and experiences.
Definition of projects (in groups).
Implementation of a community theater project (in groups).
Coaching.
Final return of community theater projects.

Closure and evaluation

Day dedicated to restitution, presentation and discussion on the experience carried out

Certification

Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS), awarded upon passing the final assessment.
Short Advanced Studies (SAS), for students residing in Quibdó (Colombia), subject to final assessment of module 2.

CAS evaluation process

Drafting a diary of experiences.
Development, as a group, of a community theater project.
Theatrical restitution of the project (group work).
Final critical reflection (different formats accepted).

SAS evaluation process

Drafting a diary of experiences.
Theatrical restitution of the project (in groups).
Final evaluation interview.