The 3rd Applied and Environmental Theatre Symposium of the Jean Monnet Action THEATRE2SEA – Community Theatre and Environmental Pressures in the Coastal Communities of the Mediterranean took place on 25-26 May 2026, in a hybrid format, bringing together academic researchers, theatre scholars, practitioners, and students.
As the final symposium of the project, held as the European action is approaching its completion, this meeting marked a significant moment of reflection and synthesis. It offered the opportunity to look back on the journey of THEATRE2SEA and to highlight the fruitful dialogue developed throughout the project between environmental studies, European policies, Mediterranean coastal communities, and applied theatre.
This year’s presentations addressed key issues such as the climatization of the blue economy in the EU, community resilience in coastal environments, the role of community theatre in responding to environmental crises, the staging of ecological destruction in Greek theatre, ecologies of coexistence in contemporary Greek drama, and the legal representation of natural elements.
A central part of the symposium was once again dedicated to students’ applied theatre projects, which explored urgent contemporary concerns such as fast fashion and recycling, the relationship between scientific progress and natural equilibrium, and the need to balance human interests with the protection of the natural environment. Through these projects, students demonstrated how theatre can become a space for reflection, participation, awareness-raising, and collective imagination.
Warm thanks to all speakers, participants, students, and convenors who contributed to the success of this two-day meeting. The 3rd Symposium confirmed the core aim of THEATRE2SEA: to use applied and community theatre as an innovative way of communicating environmental challenges and encouraging dialogue, engagement, and change across Mediterranean communities.