Preventing harassment through physical theatre

A practical-theoretical research project to develop awareness and empathy on the topic of sexual harassment in schools.

The project “Preventing Harassment through Physical Theatre” promoted by the research sector of the Accademia Dimitri, responds to the growing need to address sexual and sexist harassment in schools and universities through activities of information, awareness-raising, and training. It originated in Italian-speaking Switzerland and is primarily aimed at students, school and university staff, as well as a broader audience interested in the topics and outreach activities proposed.

The project unfolds through an educational and workshop-based pathway characterized by an experiential, participatory, and non-moralizing approach. It is based on practices of physical theatre and body awareness, which foster a deeper perception of one’s body and sensations, while opening perspectives on the themes of sharing and boundaries in relationships. The objective is to develop greater awareness and the ability to reflect on personal and interpersonal dynamics, and to provide tools to recognize and address critical situations in the context of harassment prevention.

The proposed working method is interdisciplinary and, by emphasizing the complementarity between practice and theory, is grounded in a clear premise: physical theatre can be a powerful tool to stimulate awareness and empathy, and can foster changes in attitudes and sensitivity regarding harassment.

The project “Preventing Harassment through Physical Theatre” was launched as a pilot project in 2023. In 2024, its first experimental phase began, with 11 workshops carried out in collaboration with CPT – Centro professionale tecnico di Lugano Trevano, DFA – SUPSI, and the Gender & Diversity Service – SUPSI. In 2025, following a monitoring and data collection phase, a follow-up plan was developed, leading to a new phase of experimentation. The research program includes a new cycle of workshops in collaboration with the same institutions but involving new classes and target groups, for a total of 24 sessions, running from November 2025 to April 2026.

For information about the workshops: accademiadimitri@supsi.ch