The Viable Unknowns project has been one of the key initiatives at the root of the TANC conference. The project is designed to explore and manifest the concept of sustainable coexistence in European urban settings through the lens of theatre and performance. At its core, this project embraces Paulo Freire’s concept of “viable unknowns” – a philosophical idea that champions the pursuit of untried but achievable futures. In Freirean philosophy, the viable unknown is the point of arrival after engaging in a cycle of participatory-action research. It is about exploring possibilities that have not yet been realized but hold the potential for transformation and positive change.
This project aims to bridge the worlds of theatre, research, activism, and advocacy to project, on stage, feasible and desirable futures. It assembles a diverse group of individuals – theatre professionals, researchers, activists, and advocates – to co-create and envision sustainable urban living alternatives, and the complex social interactions that derive from them. The project utilizes a variety of theatrical methods from different organizations, blending traditional and contemporary forms to foster community and audience engagement throughout the creative process. By bridging scientific, social, and cultural perspectives on sustainable urban coexistence, the project ensures that the theatrical productions are not only artistically compelling but also scientifically sound and socially relevant. It aims to transcend the often catastrophic narrative associated with climate change, proposing instead a narrative of hope, possibility, and proactive engagement.
Through this collaborative effort, “Viable Unknowns” seeks to leverage the power of theatre as a tool for social transformation, while disseminating scientific knowledge, providing transdisciplinary experiences for knowledge creation, enhancing scientific literacy among theatre professionals, and creating transnational cross-synergies to produce socially relevant artistic products.
During the TANC conference, Cantieri Meticci (Italy), Voice Lab (Poland), La Xixa Teatre (Spain) and Gruppe Tag, the four theatre companies that are part of the project, and who have engaged in transdisciplinary co-creation with diverse researcher’s, will present the results of the process through four theatrical performances.
For more information visit Viable Unknowns.