Summer School 2027
ERASMUS+ Blended Intensive Programme
Embodied Realities: Classical Reception in Performance and Virtual Spaces
Venue: Palacký University Olomouc
On-Site Period: 28th June-3rd July 2027
Online Sessions: 15 hours between April and May 2027
Languages: English
ECTS: 3 (84 hours)
Directors: Eliška Kubartová (Olomouc), Giovanna Di Martino (Oxford/APGRD), Eleftheria Ioannidou (Groningen)
Description of the project
As part of the Blended Intensive Programme (BIPs), Palacký University Olomouc with Dr Eliška Kubartová, in collaboration with Dr Giovanna Di Martino (University of Oxford / APGRD) and Dr Eleftheria Ioannidou (University of Groningen), together with the University of Łódź (Prof. Małgorzata Budzowska), the University of Vienna (Prof. Anke Charton), Université Sorbonne Paris Nord (Dr Cécile Dudouyt), the University of Seville (Prof. Moreno Soldevila), the University of Trento (Prof. Ieranò and Prof. Novokhatko), the University of Parma (Prof. Francesca Bortoletti), Université Grenoble Alpes (Prof. Malika Bastin-Hammou) and in collaboration with the University of Oxford, jointly offer their students the opportunity to participate in the 2027 Summer School Embodied Realities: Classical Reception in Performance and Virtual Spaces.
This Blended Intensive Programme has been approved by the EU under the Erasmus+ 2021–2027 Programme. BIPs are innovative short-term mobility formats that combine intensive physical mobility with structured virtual learning, jointly delivered by international partner institutions. They encourage collaborative, research-based learning, intercultural exchange, and methodological experimentation.
Designed to be transnational, transdisciplinary, and practice-based, BIPs allow students to learn from academic and professional experts across multiple institutions while engaging in hybrid modes of teaching, including online seminars, collaborative tasks, and an in-person intensive programme.
Topic and programme
The 2027 BIP Embodied Realities: Classical Reception in Performance and Virtual Spaces introduces students to new and expanding methodologies in classical reception studies, performance, and digital media. It explores how ancient texts and performance traditions are transformed, embodied, and reimagined across physical stages, digital environments, and hybrid spaces.
Bringing together scholars, theatre practitioners, dramaturgs, and specialists in virtual spaces, the programme investigates how embodied practice, translation, adaptation theory, postdramatic theatre, and virtual/immersive technologies generate new forms of engagement with Greco-Roman antiquity. Students will work with ancient fragments and complete plays, creating new translations through embodied practice and investigating how meaning shifts as texts move across media, performance contexts, and modes of embodiment.
The Summer School consists of a six-day in-person programme at Palacký University Olomouc, held from 28 June to 3 July 2027 (Monday–Saturday), supported by a series of online sessions both before and after the on-site week. Participants who complete the programme will receive 3 ECTS, recognised by their home institution.
During the in-person week, students will take part in daily practical theatre workshops led by theatre director and academic Hossein Tavazoni (University of Groningen) and academic and dramaturg Giovanna Di Martino (University of Oxford / APGRD). Working with epic and dramatic texts related to the Trojan War (a curated selection will be shared with participants in advance), students will experiment with adaptation, translation-through-practice, and embodied interpretation. The workshops will culminate in a demonstration performance on Friday evening, documenting the collaborative creative process and the ideas developed throughout the week.
This BIP Summer School on Embodied Realities: Classical Reception in Performance and Virtual Spaces aims to foster the exchange of competences, research practices, and creative skills among the participating universities. It brings together students and academics from across Europe to collaborate, experiment, and reflect on the many ways classical texts and fragments are reimagined in contemporary performance and digital environments. Participants will explore how ancient material evolves across time through practices of translation, adaptation, embodiment, and technological mediation. The Summer School offers a unique opportunity for students to deepen their understanding of classical reception in live and digital performance, investigating how meaning is generated and reshaped as texts move between stage, screen, and virtual spaces.
Participating institutions
The Summer School is aimed at BA and Master’s students enrolled in one of the partner institutions. The Blended Intensive Programme is open to a limited number of participants from each partner university.
This edition of the BIP is jointly organised by Palacký University Olomouc, led by Dr Eliška Kubartová, in collaboration with Dr Giovanna Di Martino (University of Oxford / APGRD) and Dr Eleftheria Ioannidou (University of Groningen). The following partner institutions also contribute to the academic and practical components of the programme:
ERASMUS+ partners
- Palacký University Olomouc
- University of Groningen
- University of Łódź
- University of Vienna
- Université Sorbonne Paris Nord
- Université Grenoble Alpes
- University of Seville
- University of Trento
- University of Parma
Associate Partner: University of Oxford / Archive of Performances of Greek and Roman Drama (APGRD)
These institutions jointly offer their students the opportunity to participate in the 2027 Summer School Embodied Realities: Classical Reception in Performance and Virtual Spaces.
Selection process and criteria
Selection Process
Each partner university is responsible for selecting its learner participants.
Please select 4 primary candidates and 2 reserve candidates in case additional places become available, following the criteria outlined below. The final selection will be adjusted once all partners have submitted their lists.
Timeline
The final list of selected learner participants (4 primary and 2 reserve candidates) must be submitted by 29th January 2027.
Please send the names to: giovanna.dimartino@classics.ox.ac.uk; e.ioannidou@rug.nl; eliska.kubartova@upol.cz.
To allow students sufficient time to prepare, we kindly ask each partner institution to conduct their selection process well in advance of the submission deadline.
Submission Requirements for Candidates
Each candidate must submit the following documents:
● Motivational Letter: A one-page cover letter (A4 size, 12-point font, single-spaced) outlining their motivations for participating in the programme
● Bio: A 250-word bio (including the candidate’s preferred name and personal pronouns)
● Transcript of Records from the candidate’s home university
● Proof of English proficiency (minimum B1 CEFR level)
Selection Criteria
Please follow these criteria to evaluate the applications:
● Motivation (60% of evaluation): Assess the motivational letter to determine the candidate’s enthusiasm and reasons for participating in the programme. Additionally, consider extracurricular activities relevant to the programme’s content, particularly its practical component
● Alignment of programme with the student’s study path (40%): Evaluate the candidate’s CV and Transcript of Records to ensure the BIP aligns with their educational background and professional goals
● All selected students must demonstrate a minimum English language proficiency of B1 CEFR.
Programme
ON-SITE WEEK
Olomouc 28th June-3rd July 2027
28 June
10.00 Arrival and Welcome
10:30–10:45 Opening session and information about the programme – Eliška Kubartová (Olomouc)
11:00-12:30 Introducing the BIP: Performance Pedagogy and Classical Reception – Francesca Bortoletti (Parma) and Giovanna Di Martino (Oxford / APGRD)
Break
14.30-17.00 Introduction to Theatre Practice – led by Hossein Tavazoni and Giovanna Di Martino
29 June
10:00–13:00 Translation Workshop – Cécile Dudouyt (Sorbonne Paris Nord) and Eliška Kubartová (Olomouc)
Break
15:00–18:00 Practical Theatre Workshop II – led by Hossein Tavazoni and Giovanna Di Martino
30 June
10:00–13:00 Mythology and Storytelling – Giorgio Ieranò (Trento) and Anna Novokhatko (Trento)?
Break
15:00–18:00 Practical Theatre Workshop III – led by Hossein Tavazoni and Giovanna Di Martino
1 July
10:00–13:00 Dramaturgy and Digital Humanities – workshop led by Giovanna Di Martino (Oxford / APGRD) and Eleftheria Ioannidou (Groningen) AND/OR something led by Malika
Break
15:00–17:30 Practical Theatre Workshop IV – led by Hossein Tavazoni and Giovanna Di Martino
2 July
10:00–11:30 Postdramatic Theatre and Virtual Realities – lecture by Małgorzata Budzowska (University of Łódź)
11:45-13:15 Mediality of Sound: reception of the Trojan Wars in opera/music theatre – lecture by Anke Charton (University of Vienna)
Break
15:00–17:30 Practical Theatre Workshop IV & open session – led by Hossein Tavazoni and Giovanna Di Martino
3 July
10:00–11:30 Body, Voice and Pain in Therzopoulos’ Heracles – lecture by Alena Sarkissian (Centre for Classics, Czech Academy of Sciences)
Break
11:30–13:00 Plenary Session – chaired by Malika Bastin-Hammou (Grenoble)
13:00 Farewell drinks
ONLINE SESSIONS
PART 1: Lectures and Seminars
Please note that the online sessions will be synchronous. Attendance is mandatory for the students selected for the Summer School.
April
16:00-18:00 The Trojan War in Context: Tragedy and Epic– lecture by Malika Bastin-Hammou
April
16:00-18:00 Literary Fragments: Theory and Practice–lecture
April
16:00-18:00 Postdramatic Theatre: An Introduction – lecture by Małgorzata Budzowska
May
16:00-18:00 The Trojan War: Receptions – lecture by Rosario Moreno Sodevila
May
16:00-18:00 Close Reading of a selection of fragments – seminar
N.B. Preparation on specific passages for each session will be required. Further information on the translation to use as well as the selection of passages will be circulated in advance.
PART 2: Assessment
14:00 – 17:00 Student Presentations / Assessment (6 groups presenting a 15-minute paper each + feedback and questions)
14:00 – 16:00 Student Presentations / Assessment (4 groups presenting a 15-minute paper each + feedback and questions)
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR PARTICIPANTS
Selected students must communicate their acceptance or withdrawal by 25th March 2027 by contacting their university programme coordinator (see contacts below).
Selected students will be contacted with further instructions upon completion of the selection procedures.
Financial support
The cost of attendance of the Blended Intensive Programme may be covered in part:
● For Programme Country Institutions: by an ERASMUS+ SMS Short Mobility Grant for all mobile students (excluding students from the hosting university). This financial support may only be guaranteed by the selected student’s home University.
● The University of origin of each selected student is fully responsible for the management of the financial aspects of the mobilities in accordance with the provisions of the competent ERASMUS+ National Agency.
● For Partner Country Institutions (UCL): by any financial support that may be available to enrolled students for the purpose of international mobility.
● For Host Country Institutions (University of Groningen): no financial support is foreseen for students of institutions based in Groningen as they will not be traveling for the purposes of participation in this programme (non-mobile participants).
Please refer to your local coordinator or Erasmus/International Relations Office for any further information related to the financial support made available.