This project aimed to better understand the perspectives of youth on Freedom of speech, a topic often debated by adults. Our primary goal was to give young people a platform to express their views and for us as artists to gain a better understanding of their reality. Our most important activity was a two-day workshop in Budapest, Hungary, where youth from Lithuania, Norway, Hungary and Iceland - four very different countries, came together to talk about Freedom of speech, facilitated by the artists from Kava. Our goal as artists is to create engaging and impactful theater for young audiences. We aim to develop performances and art projects that not only entertain but also foster critical thinking and self-reflection. To achieve this, we needed to meet youth where they are, not by assuming we understand their experiences, but by being genuinely curious and asking them to share their perspectives. That was what we wanted to achieve by implementing this project. We think that using theatre methods, especially participatory tools, can empower young people to reflect on the world around them and feel more free and safe in expressing their opinions in the future.
We started this project out of concern for Europe’s shifting political climate and the decline of democratic values. We wanted to use our artistic skills to help young people reflect on their lives and contribute to a more democratic and tolerant continent. With public discourse becoming more polarized, we focused on freedom of speech. We were concerned that the visibility of extreme views is making people hesitant to voice their opinions, which stifles open and respectful dialogue about democracy. This issue is compounded by declining voter turnout, as 35% of eligible European voters don’t participate in elections. This project directly addresses these challenges by creating a safe space for youth to discuss and explore important topics and express their views. Our goal was to both listen to and challenge them. Ultimately, we aimed to empower young people to raise their voices. We used interactive and participatory tools established in the PIYL network to better understand their perspectives and give them a chance to influence the future of youth theater.