The production of interactive performance "Tower of Babel“

Project promoter: The National Kaunas Drama Theatre
Project title: The production of interactive performance "Tower of Babel“
Project code: LT04-1-KM-K01-039
Project eligible expenditure: EUR 127 150,37 (EUR 96 007,81 grant from the European Economic Area Financial Mechanism and EUR 16 942,56 budget co-financing, EUR 14 200,00 own funds)
Project signature date: 10 June 2021
Project implementation period: 10 June 2021 – 10 April 2023

Project description:The interactive performance is still a novelty in the repertoires of Lithuanian theatres. The common goal of the international interactive theatre network members from Norway, Iceland, Hungary, Sweden and Lithuania is to create an interactive performance for young people, the Tower of Babel.  Here director Hilde Brinchmann will combine her and all partners knowledge of interactive theatre.
Inclusive theatre methods are used from the beginning of the creation of the performance. In its first stage, the educational programme will be organized with 14-16-year-old pupils. Here is very important to analyze:  what is relevant for today's young person? What does he expect from the newly created performance? What topics need to be explored? What form of performance would be attractive to him?
The performance itself is already an educational tool that raises the central question: Is humanity able to unite to achieve a common goal - solve global problems relevant to all of us?
The modern young human has so many concerns about his future, climate change, the disappearance of democratic principles in modern society. Using a well-known biblical motif about the Tower of Babel, the director will try to answer the question in the theatrical version of this story: can humanity once again will be able to unite for a better future?
In this theatrical journey, the story becomes an epic narrative of faith and opportunity, and the spectators become active narrators.

The aim of the project: to promote the accessibility of culture in the regions of Lithuania, where culture is more challenging to reach, to educate a young audience by presenting innovative content and an educational program.
During the project it is planned:

1. To create and implement an educational programme based on the principles of inclusive theatre for 8-10 grade pupils in Lithuania.
2. To create an international interactive and inclusive performance, "Tower of Babel", in cooperation with partners from Norway, Iceland and Lithuania, relevant to 8-10 grade pupils. To create the performance using material from the implemented educational programme.
3. To create an educational package for teachers, thus ensuring a better understanding of the performance and developing pupils' critical thinking and cultural awareness.

Expected project results:

1. The performance "Tower of Babel" is included in the repertoire of the National Kaunas Drama Theater and is shown for at least 5 years after the end of the project, showing 5 performances per calendar year at   National Kaunas Drama Theater and 5 tours in Lithuanian regions;
2. The performance is included in the program of the Lithuanian Cultural Pass, thus ensuring even wider access for students from geographically remote areas and in a more complex financial, to promote the attendance of students' professional theatre;
3. Tour with the performance to all partner and co-author countries;
4. A methodological package for teachers has been prepared - an effective tool for adapting interactive theatre methodologies in the school curriculum, integrating interdisciplinarity to increase the efficiency of traditional education.

Project target group:pupils aged 14-16; teachers, parents of teenagers.
The project is implemented together with the project partners: K:13 scenekunst  (Noorway); Bird & Bat / Barnamenningarfelagid Skyjaborg (Iceland)