From 8 to 12 October 2025, Seville became a European meeting point for eco-performing arts with the celebration of the TREES Festival, hosted within the wider 18th MITIN International Research Theatre Festival. Organised by TNT – Centro Internacional de Investigación Teatral, the festival transformed theatres, courtyards and public parks into living stages where artists, audiences, scientists and activists came together to explore our relationship with nature through contemporary performance.
The festival was part of TREES – Theatre for Environmental Sustainability, a Creative Europe project uniting eight artistic organisations from across Europe. In Seville, the festival showcased all partner performances developed during two years of collaborative research and artistic exchange.
A Festival Rooted in Nature and Community
The TREES Festival unfolded across three emblematic spaces in Seville: TNT Theatre, Anillo Muriana Park, and Miraflores Park, inviting audiences to experience theatre immersed in the natural environment. These venues were chosen for their ecological and social significance. TNT’s courtyard was specially prepared for the festival with the planting of new trees, symbolising the project’s commitment to environmental engagement.
Performances and workshops were intentionally held outdoors, emphasising a direct connection between spectators, artists, and the surrounding ecosystems. Through this approach, the festival showcased how theatre can become an active space for sustainability—one that mirrors ecological values in its creative processes, logistics and community involvement.
An International Programme of Performances
For five days, audiences enjoyed a rich selection of original eco-theatrical productions created by TREES partners. The programme included:
- Resistencia Arbórea (AndanZas/TNT, Spain) – a ritual of dance, song and movement giving voice to trees and forest guardians, performed in Anillo Muriana Park.
- The Art of Trees (Smashing Times, Ireland) – an enchanting outdoor performance combining storytelling, music and myth.
- Dancing Trees (DAH Teatar, Serbia) – a poetic site-specific dance work reflecting on the fragility of forests.
- Among Trees (Antagon TheaterAKTion, Germany) – a physical theatre piece portraying trees as witnesses to human history and climate change.
- Whispering Trees (Grenland Friteater, Norway) – a guided walk where trees “speak” to audiences through stories of resilience.
- Water and Oxygen (ZID Theater, Netherlands) – immersive performances exploring the symbolism of water and air in the climate crisis.
- Breathing Earth (Aeroplio Topos-Alou, Greece) – a poetic ritual honouring the memory of burned forests.
Each performance addressed environmental issues through distinct artistic languages—dance, music, physical theatre, flamenco, installation and ecological storytelling.
Workshops, Talks and Community Engagement
The TREES Festival also included participatory workshops and educational activities, strengthening the connection between artistic creation and environmental responsibility. These featured:
- A recycling and climate-action workshop by environmental activist Quique Bolsitas.
- Movement and theatre workshops led by participating companies.
- Activities at the Environmental Education Centre Miraflores, and engagement with Ecologistas en Acción Sevilla, fostering dialogue with environmental organisations.
TNT carried out extensive outreach in the Pino Montano neighbourhood, distributing posters and flyers and collaborating with local authorities to ensure strong community participation. Over 700 people attended the festival’s performances and activities, showing enthusiastic engagement.
A Collaborative European Effort
The TREES Festival in Spain was enriched by the strong collaboration between eight TREES partner organisations representing Serbia, Germany, Ireland, Greece, the Netherlands, Norway and Spain. Communication channels included emails, virtual meetings, phone calls and on-site coordination, ensuring smooth logistics and artistic cohesion.
Public authorities—including the City of Seville and the Andalusian Institute of Performing Arts and Music—supported the initiative, reinforcing the festival’s cultural and environmental mission.
Impact and Reflections
Local media highlighted the importance of the TREES Festival within MITIN, noting its contribution to experimental theatre and environmental discourse. As Diario de Sevilla wrote, the festival “made possible the visit of six performances from six different European Union countries” and showcased Spain’s own contribution, Resistencia Arbórea.
Audience surveys revealed strong emotional and reflective responses, with many participants expressing increased awareness of climate change, the importance of trees, and the role of art in ecological advocacy.
The festival’s key successes included:
- High-quality artistic presentations delivered on schedule.
- Meaningful engagement with an underrepresented local community.
- Enhanced collaboration among European partners.
- Integration of environmental organisations into the creative process.
- Development of innovative outdoor performance practices. TREES fedtivalReport
Challenges—such as coordinating outdoor performances, engaging new audiences and managing technical issues—were overcome through teamwork, adaptability and strong community partnerships.
A Living Model for Eco-Theatre
The TREES Festival 2025 demonstrated how theatre can inspire environmental consciousness and community transformation. By blending artistic innovation with ecological values and local participation, the festival offered a compelling example of how cultural institutions can become agents of environmental change.
Seville’s TREES Festival stands as a cornerstone achievement of the TREES project, leaving a lasting impact on audiences, artists and the wider community—rooted in creativity, collaboration and care for the planet.