We wanted to reflect with the learners on the notions of openness to the other and better self-knowledge through a scenic realization, which would be an opportunity for mutual enrichment through the habits and customs of a foreign country, by discovering a different language and culture. The objective was also to achieve a common show that would dialogue two texts, in two languages, Spanish and French, on the same set. The challenge was to achieve, during the mobility, to create the essential interactions between the two groups for the coherence of the show. We also wanted to discover new places of culture, develop among learners the feeling of belonging to the same continent, Europe, with its diversity and cultural, ethnic or social diversity thanks to the performing arts, communication through the body, the look, the voice. This Erasmus + project also aimed to develop international relations in our school, to show how learners could develop the skills already stated through European devices that allow often disadvantaged students to live such an experience.
We had a concern for openness: the optional theatre option of the Lycée Jean Mermoz in Montpellier welcomes a mixed audience, students of three class levels. We had already realised meetings, specific representations with groups of students from Montpellier and the Hérault department on different occasions. We were looking for a longer and more intense collaboration, by sharing a European experience around a show project. Collaborating with a Spanish high school with such experience in both Erasmus projects and performing arts delighted us, because it foreshadowed an unforgettable experience for both students and teachers. Our first need was to change students' behaviour in terms of inclusion, tolerance and acceptance of each other. Bringing the notion of inclusion to life seemed essential to us in its concrete realisation on a theatre set, in all its variants of genre, language and culture. We also wanted to work on a work of the Spanish golden century, to advance students on their language skills, to renew our practises for both teachers and students.