From Stage to Dialogue: “Theatre: Connecting People” in Rome

The theatre performance developed within the framework of the Erasmus+ KA210 Adult Education project “Theatre: Connecting People,” of which Beşiktaş Municipality is a partner, met audiences in Rome, Italy, between 2–8 February 2026, hosted by the Italian partner Le Tre Ghinee Aps.

As part of this mobility, the project’s artistic output, the theatre play titled “The Jaguar and the Fish,” was adapted to the local target audience in Rome and staged on 6 February 2026. Drawing on themes of migration, displacement and forced mobility, the performance brought together visual storytelling, music and spoken narrative elements within a dramaturgical structure that moved beyond conventional theatre forms.

Immediately following the performance, a panel discussion brought together all project participants, creating an interdisciplinary platform for exchange. Contributions by Italian lawyer Arturo Salerni, who works in the field of migration law, and anthropologist Maria Virginia Moratti enabled the narrative presented on stage to be explored from legal and social perspectives. . Reflections by participants from Türkiye, including legal professionals affiliated with the Istanbul Bar Association Theatre Club, further expanded the discussion into an international professional exchange.

Beyond invited speakers, the project coordinators also took the floor on behalf of Beşiktaş Municipality, sharing insights into the background of the initiative, the collaborative process and its institutional dimension. The panel thus evolved into more than a concluding discussion, becoming a space that revealed the multi-layered nature of the project’s production process.

All participants contributed from their respective experiences: some reflected on their roles within the performance, others offered legal viewpoints, while others shared personal and professional insights. This polyphonic structure demonstrated how theatre and law, personal narratives and institutional responsibility, can meaningfully converge on common ground.

The event stood as a concrete example of international cooperation, reaffirming that art can function not only as an aesthetic expression but also as a space for encounter, solidarity and shared responsibility.