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Community Theatre

Theatre as a tool for social transformation​

A training program focused on the practical application of community theatre and intercultural education

Duration

June 2026 - July 2026

Cost

CHF 2'500

Registration deadline

12.04.2026

Credits

6 ECTS

Language

ITA / ES / EN

Venue

​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)

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Contact

fc.accademiadimitri@supsi.ch

The Short Advanced Studies (SAS) in Community Theatre, offered by the Accademia Dimitri in collaboration with the SUPSI Competence Center for Cooperation and Development, is a continuing education program that combines art, social engagement, and intercultural dialogue. Through hands-on experience and group work, the SAS presents theatre as a space for encounter and growth, capable of fostering cohesion, listening, and transformation within communities.

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The program is delivered as a residential module in Quibdó, Colombia, where participants will develop and implement community theatre projects in an intercultural context. A unique opportunity for those who want to act through art and contribute to building a more inclusive future.

Presentation

Community theatre is a form of theatre in which members of a community actively participate in the creation and staging of performances. It goes beyond the development of artistic skills, promoting social engagement and strengthening collective cohesion. It fosters creative expression and provides a platform for intercultural exchange and dialogue, opening spaces for coexistence and the imagination of possible futures, even in contexts marked by social tensions or conflicts.
 

The SAS training program focuses on the practical application of community theatre and intercultural education. Participants will acquire and consolidate concrete skills in using theatrical language as a tool for social and cultural transformation. Through numerous exercises and shared practices, they will develop a broad repertoire of methods to design and lead theatre workshops for diverse groups, with particular attention to the communities in the Quibdó region, located in the northwest of Colombia, which will host the entire residential experience.

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Learning objectives

At the end of the SAS in Community Theatre, participants will be able to:

  • Use theatre as a tool for social and cultural transformation, contributing to the creation of peaceful spaces within communities.

  • Design and conduct tailor-made theatre workshops, adapting them to the needs and characteristics of different social groups.

  • Enhance awareness and mastery of their own artistic means.

  • Engage with Others through self-reflection and deconstruction, challenging themselves and deepening mutual understanding through theatrical and bodily practices.

Target Audience

The SAS in Community Theatre is aimed at professional and non-professional artists active in the performing arts and contemporary scene (dance, physical theatre, theatre, performance) who wish to deepen their artistic practice and expand their scope to community and intercultural contexts.

The program is also suitable for people working in social and community fields, with experience in the performing arts, who wish to integrate theatre and performance practices into their professional work.

Admission Requirements

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Admission is open to candidates holding a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree, or a higher vocational qualification accompanied by proven professional experience in fields related to the course content.

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In exceptional cases, candidates without tertiary education may be admitted after evaluation of their application by the course management.

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A good knowledge of Italian and a basic understanding of Spanish are required.

Teaching method

A collaborative approach underpins the program, fostering dynamic interaction between participants and communities. Open dialogue and group work are central methodologies to address artistic and social challenges, aiming to build a supportive network capable of transcending geographical and cultural boundaries. In this context, theatre is not merely a final product but an ongoing process of exchange and collective growth.
 

A key element of the program is cultural exchange, made possible through collaboration with theatre practitioners from different regions, particularly Quibdó, Colombia. This dialogue allows participants to explore how theatre can value cultural diversity, considered a fundamental resource for mutual enrichment and the development of new artistic approaches. Sharing experiences across different contexts promotes the creation of works that reflect a plurality of voices and perspectives, fostering significant cultural and personal enrichment.
 

Training is based on hands-on experience, integrating theoretical knowledge, practical exercises, and reflection moments. Activities are conducted in groups, guided by the teaching staff, aiming toward a shared artistic outcome.

Skills

The training fosters the development of the following skills:

  • Practical skills to bring people together, promote creativity, and support more inclusive community life that values diversity.

  • Critical, social, and intercultural skills to engage with complex realities and socially relevant topics, such as social justice, discrimination, and environmental protection, encouraging intercultural dialogue and peaceful coexistence.

  • Conflict management and inclusion skills, supporting social justice and equity.

  • Personal skills for understanding and adaptability, strengthening self-confidence, communication abilities, and teamwork.

  • Theatrical and artistic skills, engaging body, voice, and creative thinking, including expressiveness, stage management, autonomous and professional workshop facilitation, as well as planning, organizing, and managing complex theatre productions.

Calendar

The course is scheduled to begin in mid-June 2026 or January 2027.
The exact date will be determined in agreement with the local partner, Universidad de Quibdó.

Programme

Us, the Others, and Community Theatre Practice

The SAS offers an intensive program in community and intercultural theatre, focused on practical experience and group work. Key activities include:

  • Identity and personal role: who we are, where we are, and where we want to go; practical exercises in centering, trust, and bodily awareness.

  • Power relations and representations: analysis and reflection on social and cultural dynamics.

  • Creating inclusive spaces: developing welcoming and participatory environments.

  • Participatory methodologies and intercultural education: games, theatrical techniques, and tools to facilitate cultural exchange.

  • Local context analysis: mapping Quibdó communities and understanding social dynamics.

  • Creation and implementation of community theatre projects: group formation, project definition and development, continuous coaching, and final project presentation.

  • Exchange of practices and experiences: active dialogue among participants, valuing cultural and artistic diversity.

Certification

The program concludes with the award of the Certificate of Short Advanced Studies (SAS), upon successful completion of the final evaluation.

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Evaluation Process

  • Keeping a reflective diary of experiences.

  • Developing and implementing a community theatre project in groups.

  • Final theatrical presentation of the project (group work).

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