Community-based theatre and migration in Athens: A case study

Thesis Abstract

Community-based theatre in Athens operates at the intersection of cultural integration, urban space, and migrant livelihoods, yet its mechanisms for fostering social inclusion and agency remain underexplored. This study addresses the problem of limited empirical understanding of how participatory theatre initiatives in Athens affect migrant communities’ social integration, identity formation, and access to civic resources, as well as how local theatre professionals negotiate representation and difference within a rapidly evolving urban landscape. The aim is to examine how community-based theatre projects in Athens mediate migrant experiences and contribute to social cohesion, inclusion, and counter-narratives of marginalisation. Specific objectives are (1) to map the landscape of community-based theatre initiatives engaging migrants in Athens, (2) to analyze participant experiences of belonging, voice, and empowerment within these projects, (3) to assess the impact of theatre workshops on language acquisition, job-seeking efficacy, and access to social services, (4) to investigate how directors and community facilitators frame representation and authenticity in performance, and (5) to develop a conceptual model linking theatre practice to measurable indicators of social inclusion and intercultural understanding. The study adopts a mixed-methods research design, combining qualitative ethnographic engagement with a sequential-explanatory approach and a quantitative survey to triangulate emergent themes. The population comprises migrant and refugee participants aged 18–45 involved in Athens-based community theatres, local theatre practitioners, and project coordinators. A purposive sample of 12 theatre projects will be identified, with 200 migrant participants invited to complete pre- and post-workshop surveys; a sub-sample of 40 participants will be selected for in-depth semi-structured interviews, and 15 theatre practitioners will participate in focus groups. Data collection instruments include participant observation protocols, interview guides informed by the concepts of social capital and identity negotiation, survey instruments measuring social inclusion (e.g., belonging, perceived discrimination, civic participation) and employability indicators, and document analysis of project plans and performance scripts. Validity and reliability will be ensured through triangulation, member-checking, and pilot testing of instruments. Data analysis will employ thematic analysis for qualitative data, using NVivo to code and identify patterns related to empowerment, representation, and intercultural interaction; descriptive and inferential statistics for quantitative data will include t-tests to compare pre- and post-workshop measures and multiple regression to examine predictors of social inclusion outcomes. A simple structural equation model will be estimated to test the hypothesized linkages between theatre participation, intercultural empathy, and civic engagement. The theoretical framework integrates Bourdieu’s concept of social capital, Freirean pedagogy of dialogue, and minority stress theory to interpret how performative praxis mediates identity negotiation and resilience among migrants. Expected findings anticipate that sustained participation in community theatre will be associated with increased perceived social inclusion, improved language confidence, greater access to informal job networks, and enhanced civic awareness among migrant participants. It is anticipated that theatre practice will reveal nuanced negotiations of representation, with directors balancing authenticity and ethical considerations to avoid essentialism. The study also expects evidence that participatory theatre fosters intercultural trust among diverse audience groups, contributing to a sustained reduction in everyday discrimination within micro-publics surrounding rehearsal spaces and performances. The contribution to knowledge includes a nuanced, empirically grounded model linking participatory theatre to social integration outcomes for migrants in a European urban context, bridging theatre studies, migration studies, and urban sociology. Methodologically, the research demonstrates the value of integrating ethnographic immersion with rigorous mixed-methods measurement to evaluate arts-based interventions. The study concludes that community-based theatre in Athens functions as a participatory modality for empowerment, cultural exchange, and social brokerage, with implications for policy-makers, funders, and practitioners seeking scalable approaches to inclusive urban culture. Recommendations emphasize structured participant evaluation, co-creation of performance curricula with migrant communities, safeguarding practices for representation, and the establishment of collaborative networks among theatres, NGOs, and municipal cultural services to sustain long-term social integration outcomes.