509207 - SOCIAL THEATER

courses

ID:

509207

Duration (hours):

36

CFU:

SSD:

DISCIPLINE DELLO SPETTACOLO

Year:

2025

Date/time interval

Primo Semestre (22/09/2025 - 19/12/2025)

Course Objectives

The main objective of the course is to promote knowledge of the functions, objectives, processes, implementation methods, design dynamics, organizational aspects and results of the experiences of Social Theatre. Learning outcomes for male and female students at the end of the course are: 1. be able to recognize and describe the characterizing elements of the social theater experiences in terms of: its functions, its objectives, work processes, intervention methods, organizational characteristics and its results from an theatrical and social; 2. be able to insert the phenomenon of social theater in the broader context of contemporary performing arts, with particular attention to the Italian context; 3. be able to give a theoretical and methodological foundation to some specific social, anthropological, care and educational resources typical of social theater interventions; 4. be able to consciously apply the notions learned to the analysis of a case study; 5. be able to autonomously use for the analysis: non-bibliographic sources, specific data collection tools, participatory forms of research; 6. be able to analyze a social theater experience according to the categories explored during the course; 7. be able to adequately present the analysis of a social theater case study.

Course Prerequisites

Know the Italian language. Know the history of theatre, especially the contemporary one, and the theories on performance. For this reason it is believed that the courses: "Forms and languages of performance", "Direction and stage writing in contemporary theatre" and "Cultural anthropology" (all located in the first year) are preparatory to teaching. During the course, some authors and international projects will be treated for which the knowledge of the English language is considered to facilitate.

Teaching Methods

With reference to the educational objectives and contents of the course, the teaching integrates active and cooperative learning methods (work groups, exercises on cases, comparisons, presentations and debates) with those of the frontal lesson and of synthesis and conceptualization. In particular, the following methods will be used, alternating with reference to the specific educational objective of the lesson: - Lectures in the classroom with the support of video materials, witnesses and power point summaries. - Guided group work to explore and study field experiences and conduct case analyses. - Experimentation of participatory research and study practices. - Classroom presentations of the case studies and comparisons. - Individual and group projects. The methodologies will be adapted in the event of any health emergency conditions.

Assessment Methods

Learning will be verified both during the course and at the end of the course. Ongoing through group work and the case analysis exercise which will end with the descriptive presentation of a social theater experience created by the working groups. At the end of the course, students will take an oral examination on some of the volumes (or collections of articles and essays) chosen from the recommended reading list, and any additional texts that will be indicated during the lessons. During the oral exam, students must demonstrate their knowledge of the course content and their ability to navigate the topics and issues discussed in class. In addition, they must present a case study analysis, making conscious and appropriate use of the theoretical, historical and methodological categories addressed in class and developed through the study of the texts.

Texts

- Mandatory volume: G. Innocenti Malini, Breve storia del teatro sociale in Italia, Imola, Cue Press, 2021. - A volume freely chosen among: Barone P., Berni V., Palmieri C., Vaccaro S.,Fare teatro in carcere minorile. L’impatto delle attività della compagnia Puntozero all’interno dell’Istituto Penale Minorile Cesare Beccaria di Milano, Franco Angeli, Milano, 2022. Bernardi C., Innocenti Malini G. (eds), Performing the social. Education, care and social inclusion through theatre, Milano, Franco Angeli, 2021. Boal A., Metodo e pratica per un teatro politico, Roma, Dino Audino Editore, 2021. Cohen-Cruz J., Engaging performance. Theatre as call and response, London and New York, Routledge, 2012. Dalla Palma S., La scena dei mutamenti, Milano, Vita e Pensiero, 2001. Fancourt D., Finn S., What is the evidence on the role of the arts in improving health and well-being? A scoping review, World Health Organization, 2019. Fiaschini F. (a cura di), Controcampi. Estetiche e pratiche della performance negli spazi del sociale, Roma, Bulzoni Editore, 2022. Innocenti Malini G., Quarta età. Esperienze di teatro sociale con anziani fragili a Milano, Milano, EDUCatt, 2020. Pasetto R., Innocenti Malini G., Pizzi E., Possenti V., Reichlin M. Promozione della salute e del benessere tramite laboratori di teatro sociale: un’esperienza di ricerca partecipata, <>, vi, 24/7, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma, 2024. Pizzetti B., Carcere e rieducazione. Il contributo della pratica teatrale, FrancoAngeli, Milano 2023. The bibliography is indicative. It will be specified, completed during the course and uploaded on the Kiro platform. Please contact the professor if you have any doubts..

The course programme is divided into the following teaching content: - social theatre within the broader spectrum of contemporary performance; - social theatre as the intentional use of performinga arts and practices to achieve social objectives; - elements of the history of social theatre and contemporary trends; - theories, practices and methodologies of social theatre in light of field experience and case studies; - the social theatre practitioner: role, tasks and training; - the anthropological, psychosocial, care and political resources of performing arts and practices; - meetings and discussions with social theatre practitioners.

Course Language

Italian

More information

The professor receives students at her office, located in Palazzo San Tommaso, ground floor of Tower B, Piazza del Lino, 2 Pavia, by appointment only, which can be made by emailing giuliaemma.innocenti@unipv.it. If necessary, online meetings can also be arranged, again by appointment via email at giuliaemma.innocenti@unipv.it. Students who are unable to attend classes are requested to contact the lecturer (giuliaemma.innocenti@unipv.it) as soon as possible for supplementary materials and the examination programme. The course includes supplementary materials for students who are unable to attend, which will be made available in the KIRO folder. In addition to face-to-face meetings, the course also provides for weekly online meetings with the lecturer at times agreed upon with students who are unable to attend. In order to schedule meetings, outline the examination programme and analyse supplementary materials, non-attending students are requested to contact the lecturer by e-mail at giuliaemma.innocenti@unipv.it.