Out the shadow Commedia dell’arte in Black Light Theatre

The "Out the Shadow" project addresses urgent societal challenges of social exclusion, particularly among youth facing limited opportunities.

Rooted in an extensive evaluation of theatrical initiatives with marginalized young people, the project seeks to overcome a recurring barrier: the fear of judgment from peers, residents, and local communities. While these individuals often demonstrated immense passion in crafting performances to depict their experiences of exclusion, many presentations lacked depth, failing to address the systemic roots of their struggles or evoke meaningful reflection in their audiences.

A key innovation of "Out the Shadow" is its pioneering use of black light theater as the central tool to empower these youth and overcome these challenges.

This artistic form, characterized by its striking interplay of fluorescent light and a darkened stage, offers a transformative medium for self-expression. By concealing the performers while emphasizing their movements and stories through luminous effects, black light theater creates a safe and imaginative environment where participants can freely share their narratives without fear of ostracism or judgment.

This unique approach enables the performers to highlight their experiences with authenticity while captivating and deeply engaging their audience.

Objectives:

• Learn the core elements of BLT, an engaging form of visual performance art where performers manipulate light and darkness, often using fluorescent costumes and props under UV light to create a magical experience and to combine them with the method of commedia dell’arte.
• Gain insight into how BLT techniques can be intergated with method of commedia dell’arte and adapted for educational purposes, particularly in youth work settings.
• Develop the ability to apply BLT in commedia dell’arte techniques in their practice to promote creativity and engagement among young people.
• The training empowers youth workers to use BLT in commedia dell’arte as a practical tool to address challenges faced by marginalized or at-risk youth.
• Participants will explore inclusive approaches in BLT that can make educational and social spaces more accessible and engaging for diverse groups.
• Through BLT and commedia dell’arte, youth workers can facilitate non-verbal communication, collaboration, and self-expression—powerful tools in fostering inclusion among young people who may face language or cultural barriers.
• Acquisition of Basic incorporation of BLT and commedia dell’arte Methodology: Participants will learn the fundamental principles and techniques behind Commedia dell’arte and will be adjusting them into principles of BLT. This includes the use of light, darkness, props, and choreography to create immersive educational experiences.
• Competencies in Social Inclusion through BLT and commedia dell’arte: Participants will be trained to use BLT and commedia dell’arte as an inclusive tool, promoting social cohesion among young people from diverse backgrounds.
• Creation of Prototypes for Educational Activities: Participants will design and prototype their own educational activities using BLT and commedia dell’arte.

Participants profile:

• active youth workers, educators and leaders
• communicative level of English
• 18+ years old
• with some experience in theatre/non-formal education or/and with the international educational activities within the Erasmus+ programme
• willing to take dissemination and follow up activities both locally and internationally

Selected participants are in charge of organising a local event (seminar, workshop etc) for own community within the month and a half after the training course comes to an end. Selected participants are in charge of dissemination and visibility activities of the project.

Structure of the project

The training is the second mobility in the long term project, including 5 international mobilities. As the project progresses, the foundational BLT methods co-created by participants will be refined and expanded by incorporating key elements from other powerful theatrical methodologies:

-1st mobility: Introduction to BLT (Poland, 2-10.12.2025)

-2nd mobility: Commedia dell'Arte in BLT (Poland) 10-18.04.2025

-3rd mobility: Improvisation in BLT (Italy) 10.2025

-4th mobility: Theatre of the Oppressed in BLT (Portugal) 02.2026

-5h mobility: Evaluation Seminar (Lithuania) date to be announced