What is EPIPA?
Empowerment Through Performance studies the impact of Forum Theatre on the development of advocacy skills and sense of self in young people living with disabilities.
Over two years, 30 young people across three European organisations are engaging in three international training sessions and 26 local group sessions, culminating in forum theatre performances based on their lived experiences. The project includes a parallel research process documenting changes in the youth and audience members. Results will be shared with the hope of enhancing social inclusion and challenge ableist attitudes amongst youth work organisations.
Who is Involved?
The project is a collaboration between three European organisations, Association Co-Efficient (Hungary), Crooked House Theatre Company (Ireland), and Uniamoci (Italy).
Where are the Activities?
Workshops for the Irish group are held in Newbridge in the Town Hall and in Ryston Centre. There are three International Training Courses are associated with the project– one in each partner country.
When the Project Will Take Place?
The project began in March 2025 and will conclude in November 2026.
Training Course Dates
| 24-30 March 2025 | Ethnography, Budapest |
| 4-10 August 2025 | Forum Theatre, Maynooth |
| Autumn 2026 | Community Outreach, Italy |
Workshop Overview
Empowerment Through Performance workshops take place over fortnightly sessions lasting three hours with a mixed ability group of ten young people aged 18-30. The workshop programme will lead to performances of a Forum Theatre piece for youth workers, educators, support personnel, and social workers in June 2026. Workshops commenced in March 2025 and will conclude in June 2026. The primary goal is to gradually reduce control by the group leader and have the young participants take over the direction of the group activities and to also conduct research at performances.
Journals and Interviews
Individual journaling is done by participants at the end of each session and are collected by the researcher. Journals are in any medium preferred by the participants with some prompts provided by the researcher and others self-guided. Each participant is interviewed by the researcher for thirty minutes once every three months. Participants will conduct audience surveys before and after each forum theatre performances.
Monthly Stipend
Participation in Empowerment Through Performance require sincere commitment to the project and the desire to make a difference for young people living with disabilities. In acknowledgment of participants’ sustained efforts, they are provided a stipend of €130 per month of workshops attended and journal entries submitted.
If you would like more information or to be interviewed for participation in this project please contact
yassine.crookedhouse@gmail.com
People involved
EPIPA is looked after by a small team of people. The Project Manager is Yassine Barkaoui. The Researcher is Alison Hollinshead. The Workshop Facilitator is Calvin Magee. The Workshop
Assistant is Makis Nanos. They are supported by Peter Hussey.
