Follow the ErasMuses act 1 A travelling story written by Girls and Boys of The Power of Art, Erasmus+ Partners: Estonia Greece, Hungary, Italy and Portugal

Follow the ErasMuses Scene 1 In the theatre backdrop a screen with the picture of the Temple of Poseidon (taken by the Italian team) and the European flag. Five children in hoodies - back to the audience - are watching it. Music (composed by Portuguese team). Children start walking on the stage and show their T-shirts symbolizing their own countries. Valerio (Italy, taking his hood off): Hi! Where are you from? What are you doing here? The other boys from Greece, Portugal, Estonia and Hungary (taking their hoods off one by one) answer in their own language. P (Portugal): Hi, I’m from Portugal (translate). E (Estonia): I’m from Estonia, nice to meet you (translate)! H (Hungary): I’m from Hungary. I’m here with my schoolmates and teachers (translate) G (Greece): I’m from Greece, and I am here on an Erasmus Project! (translate) On the screen, a slideshow of the pictures taken at the Acropolis Museum, Athens (each partner can choose one or two photos), including “The dance of Apollo with the Muses” by Baldassare Tommaso Peruzzi. Children visit the Acropolis Museum. They move on the stage, look around, then they stop in front of some statues of young girls keeping odd pieces in their hands. (Different pictures on the screen, the last one is a picture representing Urania, keeping the world).

Follow the ErasMuses While other children walk on the stage, Valerio stands alone, watching the picture of Urania. Valerio: That must be Urania, a sort of Goddess or something like that… I think it was in my epic textbook! Unexpectedly, the globe of the Muse lights up, leaving Valerio speechless and incredulous. Portuguese boy, after watching the statues, goes to the toilet. He notices something on the mirror: it’s a message written in red paint. “On the way to the temple of Poseidon you’ll find some secret clues… Your Muse, Calliope” Soon the message mysteriously vanishes. The Portuguese boy is very frightened. He would like to tell his friends what has just happened, but they could make fun of him. So he decides to keep the secret. (P) (Portugal): Oh, my God! I can’t believe it… What does it mean?! How can it be? I have to tell my friends, right now! But… I’m afraid if I tell them such a thing they will NEVER believe me. The writing disappeared, how can I prove it REALLY happened! They will not believe me, that’s for sure… Better keep it a secret… it’s so hard for me!

Follow the ErasMuses Scene 2 Morning, Temple of Poseidon. All students involved in the project (about 15 pupils wearing T-shirts with the flags of their own country). A guide explains them the history of that important archeological site. The five children of the first scene, walking around, see five beautiful girls dressed in ancient clothes scanning the horizon. One of the girls walks away, the Greek boy follows her. The girl writes a message on the basement of the Poseidon statue. The boy gets closer and reads (the message appears on the screen): “Hi! I’m Clio, I’m your Muse. My sisters and me are trying to come in contact with you. Stay tuned!” Scene 3 Evening, a beautiful restaurant on the sea (sea pictures on the screen). Some tables, pupils eating. The Estonian girl finds a message under her plate (the message appears on the screen): “Hi! I’m Thalia, I’m your Muse. My sisters and me are trying to come in contact with you. Stay tuned!”

Follow the ErasMuses Scene 4 Morning, a classroom, some desks, a teacher. Art lesson. The Hungarian girl opens her folder and finds a message: “Hi! I’m Eutherpe, I’m your Muse. My sisters and me are trying to come in contact with you. Stay tuned!” Scene 5 End-of-meeting party. Students and teachers dance and eat typical food. The five children that received the messages are clearly upset. One by one, they leave the party to reach the proscenium. All of them, in their own language, express the wish to share their secret. But they are worried about their friends making fun of the whole thing. I (Valerio): Come vorrei raccontare tutto ai miei amici! Ma se mi prendono in giro? (I would really like to tell everything my friends! But… what if the other students make fun of it?) G: Translate H: Translate E: Translate P: Translate

Follow the ErasMuses They sit side by side quite by accident, take their hoods on in order to hide. All of them get a Whatsapp notification at the same time. They make contact eye, understand each other, read their texts. “Go to Portugal, Porto, Clèrigos Tower ASAP. There you will find other important clues… stay tuned!” Your ErasMuses Clio, Euterpe, Urania, Thalia e Calliope.