New article highlights the role of theatre in supporting endangered languages

A new article by Dirk Neldner, published in Youth Theatre Journal, examines how theatre can contribute to language transmission, youth participation and the revitalisation of Europe’s endangered and minoritised languages.

Entitled “Together: Where Endangered Languages Take the Stage”, the article presents the experience of phōnē, an EU-funded collaboration involving professional theatres working in Breton, Frisian, Galician, Irish, Kven, Ladin, Sorbian and Yiddish.

Through artistic residencies, community theatre, new productions and intergenerational activities, the project created opportunities for young people, artists and language communities to use their languages creatively and share their experiences internationally.

The article also looks ahead to POLYPHONY, the European network continuing this cooperation and strengthening the visibility of performing arts in regional and minoritised languages. NPLD is involved in this emerging network, connecting its artistic work with wider European language policy and revitalisation efforts.

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