Mandatory reservation HERE

You can download the Greek version at the moment. Soon the English version of this publication will be available for download here.

OPEN CALL FOR FREE PARTICIPATION

Restart Theater Athens invites the public to an open event introducing participatory theatre, featuring the presentation and dissemination of the new Handbook developed as part of the European project "WOMEN interACT" and a free workshop on methods and practices on inclusion through theatre.

The event will take place on Wednesday, 1 July 2026, from 18:30 to 20:30, at Ankyra Cultural Space (124 Solonos Street, Athens, a 5-minute walk from Panepistimio Metro Station), as part of the project's closing ceremony.

The workshop and the Handbook presentation are the result of two years of international collaboration between Restart Theater Athens (Greece), the theatre organisation ZIZ (Slovenia), Kobietostan (Poland), and the SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Poland)

Disclaimer – Creative Europe

The WOMEN interACT project is co-funded by the European Union through the Creative Europe Programme. The views and opinions expressed are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the EACEA can be held responsible for them.

The Handbook is a practical resource for artists, facilitators, educators, and organisations wishing to use participatory theatre as a tool for social empowerment. A digital edition of the Handbook will be provided free of charge to all participants.

The WOMEN interACT project is co-funded by the European Union through the Creative Europe Programme 2024–2026. Its aim is to empower women experiencing multiple forms of social exclusion by employing participatory and socially engaged theatre methodologie

During the event:

• The WOMEN interACT Handbook will be presented, showcasing the methodology, practices, and tools developed throughout the project.

• Participants will take part in a participatory theatre workshop, featuring practical exercises from the Handbook. The workshop will focus on issues of women's social exclusion and explore the potential of the arts as a tool for empowerment.
  

The event is particularly addressed to organisations working in the field of gender equality, as well as facilitators, artists, educators, mental health professionals, young people, and students interested in socially engaged and participatory arts practices.

Participants who complete the workshop will receive a Certificate of Participation.

Advance registration is required. Please reserve your place by completing the registration form at the following link:

https://forms.gle/JaN7YGCWjVpwoCaf8

WOMEN interACT

Ten women step onto the stage to share, through theatrical performance, stories of strength, courage, anger, emotion, and liberation.

Stories of violence and exclusion that continue to be silenced in contemporary society, leaving deep marks on women’s lives.

Above all, these are stories in which women empower one another and explore theatrical transformations of trauma, from the individual to the collective. What happens to the female trauma of a society when it is mediated through a theatrical encounter?

A unique performance that invites us to feel moved, to become angry, but also to laugh, as we follow a group of ten women in on-stage confessions. What does it mean to be a woman? And how does life change when women break the silence and become a collective?

WHAT I WANT TO SAY

WOMEN interACT

More about the performance here

Credits of the performance here

What the women of our community say about their experience in the WOMEN interACT project here

WHAT IS WOMEN interACT, here

WOMEN interACT

WHAT I WANT TO SAY

CREDITS

Direction / Stage Composition / Lighting: Angeliki Kasola
Group Preparation & Acting Coaching: Eirini Mela
Assistant Directors: Semeli Balta Messari, Denisa Polachova, Eleni Foteinou
Texts: participating women
Facilitation / Dramaturgy: Angeliki Kasola, Eirini Mela

Psychological support and empowerment during workshops: Semeli Balta Messari (psychologist / dance therapist)
Trauma-informed scientific supervision: Anastasia Triantafyllidi (psychologist / drama therapist / InArtMind – Healing Communities Through Art & Drama)

Exchange and artistic empowerment workshops: Iwonna Konecka (Kobietostan), Anja Bezlova Završnik (ZIZ)

Music curation: Collective
Costume design: Collective
Technical direction: Stavros Chasiotis
Organisational direction / Public relations: Eirini Polydorou
Photography / Performance videography: Vasilis Dragoumanos
Promotional video / photography: Romanos Gkotzos

Performed by:

Aimiliani Avraam, Anthi, Stella Georgiou, Eleni Grigoriou, Eliza Xenaki, Maro, Eleni Polydorou, Popival, Feé, Eleni Foteinou

for only three performances: April 25, 26 & 27, 2026 at 20:30

A unique performance that invites us to feel moved, to become angry, and also to laugh, as we follow a group of ten women in on-stage confessions. What does it mean to be a woman? And how does life change when women break the silence and become a collective?

Restart Theater Athens continues its commitment to Theatre of and for Society and presents the performance “WHAT I WANT TO SAY”, after eight months of methodical work with the women who responded to its open call.

Ten women step onto the stage to share, through theatrical performance, stories of strength, courage, anger, emotion, and liberation. Stories of violence and exclusion that continue to be silenced in contemporary society, leaving deep marks on women’s lives. Above all, these are stories in which women empower one another and explore theatrical transformations of trauma, from the individual to the collective. What happens to the female trauma of a society when it is mediated through a theatrical encounter?

The direction by Angeliki Kasola is based on the principles of participatory and socially engaged theatre, where the creative process draws material and inspiration from real-life experiences. The performance employs a methodology developed through her long-standing practice in theatre of and for society in Greece and abroad, promoting participation and democratic expression on stage: “The Chorus Method: From Ancient Greek Theatre to Embodied Democracy.”

The performance is presented within the framework of the project/exchange platform Women interACT – Participatory Theatre Against the Double Exclusion of Women, an international collaboration of women-led theatre organisations: Restart Theater Athens (Greece), Kobietostan (Poland), and ΖΙΖ Collective (Slovenia). The project aims to empower women experiencing multiple forms of social exclusion through the methodology of participatory and socially engaged theatre, and is co-funded by the European Union through the Creative Europe Programme (2024–2026).

Disclaimer – Creative Europe:
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

WHAT I WANT TO SAY

Φωτογραφίες: Ρωμανός Γκότζος

WHAT THE WOMEN OF OUR COMMUNITY SAY ABOUT THEIR PARTICIPATION

Participation in the group was, for me, a unique experience—a haven in the chaotic world we live in, a true refuge. Together with all the women involved, we shared the experience of meeting, of collective work, and of creating our performance on the one hand, and on the other, our “secret garden” with its flowers, which we will share with the audience who will watch our performance. Beneath it all lies a web of roots intertwined underground, which will forever connect us in a network of love and authentic bonds.

—Aimiliani Avraam

Women InterACT was a very powerful experience for me. I came closer to other women and shared experiences and emotions. I felt that I am not alone, that I am part of a community where understanding and solidarity prevail. I saw a great change both in myself and in the other women compared to how we were when we first started.

— Anthi

The organizers embraced us and supported us on every level. I feel very fortunate to have been part of this group, as I experienced a great sense of safety—from both the organisers and the women in the group—which allowed me to open up and express myself on stage.

I have been part of several theatre groups, but this is the first time I have seen a person in charge who loves women so deeply. My greatest disappointment was when I realised that in the group, most of us had experienced at least one sexual assault in our lives.

I hope that through our work we can further activate society towards gender equality and the safety of women within the family, relationships, the workplace, and also in the streets we walk every day.

— Stella Georgiou

It was an unprecedented experience that has left only a positive imprint on me. Thoughts and emotions were unlocked within a framework of safety, understanding, and acceptance.

I feel fortunate to have been part of this group of three women leaders who worked together in perfect collaboration.

I thank them from the bottom of my heart.

— Eleni Grigoriou

My experience in Women InterACT is unprecedented, as this is the first time I have joined a theatre group focused on this subject: “women’s exclusion.”

The artistic team behind this initiative prioritises the exploration of this issue through realism, comedy, and personal stories of women from different ages and backgrounds. I am very happy to be part of this group.

— Maro

In this theatre group, we share lived experiences, break silences, and transform exclusion into creation. I am grateful for this collective journey.

— Eliza Xenaki

I was asked to say a few words about the project. For me, it is not a project. It is a group of women who managed to bring out from within themselves bitterness, anger, frustration, sadness, and many other emotions. I believe this gave us the strength to continue with even more resilience, to move forward—at least it did for me. It also gave me an image of myself that I had never before seen, felt, or experienced.

A big thank you to my two teachers, Angeliki and Irini, as well as to our psychologist Semeli, who were there to support us whenever we needed it.

— Eleni Polydorou

My participation in this programme has been one of the most beautiful experiences of my life.

I met wonderful women with whom we shared our stories, with the support of Angeliki and Eirini, and the encouragement of Semeli.

Along the way, through expression, sharing, and acceptance, our souls became lighter. Our inner selves found a path toward relief, which in my case, at least, came through the performance.

— Popival

Being part of Women InterACT is a unique and meaningful experience for me. Being among so many inspiring, strong, and remarkable women has created a deeply supportive and welcoming environment. It is a space where I feel safe, respected, and free to express myself.

The energy and openness of the group make every rehearsal and every meeting a distinctive and empowering experience. My participation in this performance has been a particularly beautiful and enriching journey. I feel deeply grateful to share this creative process with such talented and passionate women, and I truly value the sense of solidarity and encouragement that has formed within the group.

— Feé

For me, Women InterACT is a beautiful journey of love and solidarity that began with the “I” and arrived at the “we.”

— Eleni Foteinou

WOMEN interACT

participatory theatre against the double exclusion of women

We are very proud to announce that our joint application to Creative Europe, together with the social theatre collective Kolektyw Kobietostan (Poland, project leader) and the collective Društvo ZIZ (Slovenia), has been successfully funded.

Our shared vision of collaborating with women creators on the social dimensions of participatory theatre is now becoming a reality, following our kick-off meeting in Wrocław in January 2025.

The next major milestone of the project will take place in Greece from 20–29 May 2025, where we will come together for a 10-day intensive theatre camp. During this time, we will exchange tools, practices, and methodologies in participatory theatre for social change.

Stay tuned for an upcoming open call for socially engaged theatre creators who wish to join us at the Theatre Camp, as well as for further updates, opportunities, and ways to get involved in the project.

Grant Agreement: 101174087 — WOMEN interACT

Funded by the European Union through the Creative Europe program.

Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the EACEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority EACEA can be held responsible for them.

don't miss the opportunity of participation

🔴 WOMEN interACT

participatory theatre against the double exclusion of women

🔺 Using theatre as a medium for social change, we aim to cultivate a creative dialogue and work with socially marginalized women, not only due to their gender but also other factors such as health, age, social status, sexual orientation, experience, and profession. Open calls for participation will be made from June 2025 onward for women who wish to participate.

➤ The outcome of this project will include three artistic premieres in the three participating countries, created with the women who will be taking part in the specialized workshops we will be organizing. These workshops will capture their experiences, which will then be shared with the theatre audiences.

➤Additionally, a handbook/guide of best practices in participatory theatre and our unique work with women from marginalized backgrounds will be produced. This guide will then be available for use by other organizations or theatre companies working in or wishing to start working in this field.

➤Each stage of our work in the three countries will be observed, analyzed, and documented by researchers from the SWPS University of Social and Humanities Sciences from Poland, examining the topic of participation and contributing the outcome of their research in the final handbook.

Our project has been designed as a platform for exchange between three European theatre organizations which use art as a tool for social inclusion and gender equality. All three organizations are run by women and place gender issues in the centre of their interests and activities: STOWARZYSZENIE KOLEKTYW KOBIETOSTAN (Poland), Drustvo ZIZ Slovenia and Restart Theater Athens (Greece).

All three of our organizations are run by women and place gender issues in the centre of our interests and activities. The theatrical tools we use in our work with local communities, in order to raise awareness and fight gender exclusion are very different but all of us strive to build safe spaces for the participants, strengthen communities, and create art with and for the people.

In the frame of this project we will grow by learning from one another, while tackling the subject we all feel strongly about: the double exclusion of women.

Moments from our kick off meeting in Wroclaw in Poland, January 2025

23 Koilis street, Athens, 11852, GREECE

Registration Number: 168287301000

VAT Reg. Number: EL 996599389

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