CIVIC STAGE – Participatory Theatre for Democratic Engagement
CIVIC STAGE is a three-year international research and development project launching in autumn 2026. It explores how participatory theatre can strengthen young people’s democratic awareness and encourage their active engagement in society. The project combines theatre and drama education methods with citizenship education and game-based digital tools.
Project title: Citizenship-, Identity-, European Values-, Inclusion-, and Community development through Societal Participatory Theatre Activities in a Global Europe
Project acronym: CIVIC STAGE
Grant agreement no: 101288029
Duration: 2026.10.01. – 2029.09.30.
Coordinator: Western Norway University of Applied Sciences (HVL)
Call: HORIZON-CL2-2025-01-DEMOCRACY-12: Community of democracy practitioners and researchers
Topic: The role of civic and citizenship education for strengthening civic and democratic participation and support for common European values
| CIVIC STAGE is based on the understanding that young people need more than information about democracy. They also need opportunities to ask questions, debate, make decisions, explore different perspectives and experience that their voices and actions matter. The international partnership will develop eight educational modules and test them in formal and non-formal learning environments. The programmes will involve approximately 160 groups and 3,200 young people across 11 countries, with particular attention to communities that are often excluded from social and democratic participation. InSite Drama contributes its practical expertise in participatory theatre, Theatre in Education and drama education. It will take part in developing the methodology and educational modules, training teachers and facilitators, and piloting and evaluating the programmes in Hungary. At the heart of our work is the question of how theatre can become a space in which democracy is not only discussed, but also practised together. |
Project partners
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Western Norway University of Applied Sciences (Norway) |
Hellenic Theatre/Drama & Education Network (Greece) |
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Trinity College Dublin (Ireland) |
Citoyenneté Jeunesse (France) |
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University of Auckland (New Zealand) |
Regional Directorate of Education in Peloponnese (Greece) |
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Royal Holloway, University of London (United Kingdom) |
Centre for Education Development (Poland) |
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International Drama/Theatre and Education Association (Portugal) |
InSite Drama (Hungary) |
