Erasmus+ training course „Playback Theatre: Nurturing Care and Belonging in Youth Work“ (KA153-YOU-3D3BE7F4) was an international Playback Theatre project bringing together 30 participants from seven European countries – people living in Bulgaria, France, Turkey, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and Portugal, with roots reaching much further: Lebanon, Ukraine, India, Brazil, Venezuela, Nepal, the United States and beyond. They all gathered in Gudevitsa, in the Rhodope Mountains of Bulgaria from 22 – 30 August 2026.
Through Playback Theatre, other artistic practices and non-formal education methods, the aim of the project was to strengthen the capacity of youth workers to use creative and participatory methods in their practice, to foster inclusion, empathy and active participation among young people. The project also managed to strengthen skills in facilitation, reflection, and participatory learning processes. It was even more exciting that it was designed as Level 3 Training (based on CPT Curriculum) to add more content for the participants.
The team consisted of Amélie Franco, Jennifer Nasrallah and Stefka Dimitrova as trainers, Valentine Rinner as project manager and logistics coordinator, supported by Amélie Franco on coordination activities, Joy El Khoury for all the communication work and Stefka Dimitrova for logistics in Bulgaria.
As part of the project, the group created and performed 3 Playback Theatre performances for the local communities in different locations in the region: at Cultural center Future Now in Gudevitsa, in the Cultural center in Arda village, and on the open-air stage in a Cultural center in Smolyan. Each performance connected the participants with the people and stories of the local community, creating unique encounters between the international group and the region.
The project was initiated and developed by Place au Jeu and brought to life together with the Bulgarian partner: Tvori (Varna Playback Theatre ) and supported by Balkan Playback Theatre School. This partnership started a long-term cooperation and exchange of practices, creating a space for international exchange, connection, and the growth of Playback Theatre communities across Europe.
