From Mexico to Elmira: Applied Theatre Brings Communities Together

From left to right: Erika Diaz Pascacio of Universidad Autónoma de Chiapas, Sarah K. Chalmers of Elmira College, and Debra Ann Castillo of Cornell University.

When Debra Ann Castillo asked Sarah K. Chalmers, Elmira College’s new Lecturer of Applied Theatre and Theatre Program Manager, to accompany her to the southernmost region of Mexico to facilitate applied theatre workshops, Chalmers enthusiastically said ‘Yes!’ What she didn’t realize at the time was how her experiences teaching students thousands of miles from Elmira in Chiapas, Mexico, would inspired her when she got back to EC. Meeting and working with the students in Mexico gave Chalmers a renewed energy to facilitate a closer sense of community here at EC.

Chalmers and Castillo, who is a Stephen H. Weiss Presidential Fellow, Emerson Hinchliff Professor of Hispanic Studies at Cornell University, decided to go to Mexico after working together on a workshop in November 2023. The duo prepared a gesture workshop for The Soil Factory, a community space in Ithaca, New York that brings together art and science around the topic of sustainability to facilitate new collaborations, experiences, and ideas.

“We gave a gesture workshop together about food access, which generated a conversation about working together in the future,” explained Chalmers. “Debra had long-term relationships in Mexico and asked me to come and do more with the communities in Mexico.”

Chalmers and Castillo were joined by Erika Diaz Pascacio from the Universidad Autónoma de Chiapas. Pascacio, an engineering professor, cultivates a humanistic mindset among her students. She wants them to appreciate the impact their work will have on people and communities.

“This pairs nicely with my work applying theatre to different problems and investigations. I teach people to use theatre to delve into a topic and come up with potential solutions,” said Chalmers.

Engineering students in Chiapas, Mexico use applied theatre to better understand the effect of their designs on people and communities.

For example, in one of her workshops in Chiapas, she challenged the engineering students to imagine how community members feel in Barrio Colón, an economically depressed region of the city. She wanted the students and community members to envision how the residents feel looking at the concrete walls hemming in the Rio Sabinal, a small river. Chalmers explained that the walls were built to prevent flooding but unintentionally caused problems that led to the death of fish and other life in the river.

“We walked along the river to see the consequences of the engineering choices made. Many of the students hadn’t been to the river. They were struck both by the barrenness of the concrete river walls and the beauty of the sections of the river that have been revitalized.”

By design, the workshops facilitated community. Throughout, Chalmers emphasized respectful listening as members shared insights from the applied theatre exercises.

“Through whatever we were doing, we explained how we treat each other,” she said.

After the city workshops, Chalmers traveled to the nearby mountains to conduct her final, and favorite, workshop with Indigenous students attending a program run by the Regional English Language Office of the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Mexico.

“The students were nearly done with an 18-month program and were putting together presentations about their solutions to environmental problems. There were 35 students in a very humble school. But the students were remarkable. We loved them.”

In her workshop, Chalmers led a series of culminating activities that came together as a one- to two-minute play. The students began by writing and then animating a poem, and although the students were excited, Chalmers found language a barrier. The students speak fluent Tzutzil and Spanish, but are still learning English. Since Chalmers didn’t speak Spanish, every interaction required an additional five minutes to work through the translations.

“It was really eye-opening,” shared Chalmers. “I want to work on my Spanish so I can go back and do better.”

Yet, the language barrier made Chalmers pause and consider how, even when she speaks the same language as her students, misunderstandings can occur.

“I’m more aware of the things that might come between a teacher and student.”

That’s why she’s committed to using applied theatre across the EC campus to remove communication barriers.

Chalmers is brainstorming ideas for an interactive workshop during the Elmira College Teach-In on Climate and Justice on February 26 and will teach an Applied Theatre course in Term III called Creating Meaning Through Community Drama.

“We often keep to our own groups. That is to our detriment. We can do more when we know and care for each other. It only takes a little encouragement.”