Upcoming Common Session

This page aims to provide information on upcoming sessions. For previous sessions, please refer to “Past Common Sessions”

Vilnius University will be organising the upcoming Spring 2026 Common Study Sessions.

The welcome event will take place on Tuesday, 5 May 2026 and the three-day sessions will start on Wednesday 6 May and end on Friday 8 May 2026.

The theme is Criminal Justice as Theatre: Performers, Viewers, and Reviewers

Theatre transcends its role as a mere public venue for visually crafted performances; it both reflects and shapes the human experience, guiding the viewer’s attention to themes, actions, and elements that educate, provoke emotional responses, and entertain. It occupies a vital place in our culture, deepening our understanding of life, stimulating our imagination, and offering a platform to explore diverse experiences. The elements of theatre are intricately woven into our collective consciousness and discourse, with terms such as “scenarios,” “roles,” “actors,” “actions,” “audience,” and “critics” commonly found in academic, political, and public discussions.

While themes related to criminal justice present a rich source for theatrical exploration, the field itself often invites both public scrutiny and academic analysis. Viewing the criminal justice system as a performance offers a unique lens through which to examine the complex themes of crime and justice. This perspective transforms these themes into compelling narratives and facilitates a critical evaluation of the roles played by various professionals—including law enforcement officers, attorneys, judges, and social workers—alongside offenders and victims. By framing these interactions as performances, we gain valuable insights into motivations, societal influences, and emotional dynamics, illuminating the human aspects that are frequently overlooked within the system. This theatrical perspective not only provides entertainment but also enhances our understanding of the diverse dimensions of criminal justice and its ambiguous significance within society.

The organisers of the Common Session at Vilnius University cordially invite you to explore Vilnius and gain critical and cultural insights into the diverse facets of plays, actors, and audiences at the exciting performance titled “Criminal Justice.”

Blog: Theatres of Crime: THEATRE(S) OF CRIME

Nothing Yet Determined But Soon To Be.

By Marilena Drymioti *A diary entry* Three years ago, I started my PhD project aiming to discuss different forms of violence that seemed to emerge during the years of economic recession in Greece. Usually, when talking of violence, we think of the ‘mainstream’ understanding of the notion which requires a physical attack from one person […]

Perverted Justice in Times of Austerity: Paedophile Hunting in UK

By Jack Farrell The last ten years of austerity politics in the UK has seen a dramatic reduction in the provision of funding for police and probation services. Funding for police services dropped by 25% between 2010 and 2016 (Millie and Bullock, 2013) resulting in the loss of approximately 34,400 general police personnel and […]

Only 70% of Estate Agents are Crooks – The Illegal Charging of Estate Agency Fees through the lens of Glocalisation

By Alex Belloir The face of glocalisation is McDonalds. If you type in the word on Google and search images, you will be met by the unmistakable golden arches dominating your screen. Fortunately, glocalisation does not reduce itself exclusively to ‘the art’ of combining local flavours and delicacies with a trademarked aftertaste. Originally imported […]

Street Art and Graffiti: Urban Decay or Urban Delight?

By Veerle Bonestroo Visiting an unknown, big city gives me a kind of energetic and magical feeling. The bustle, the sounds, the crowded streets, all the visual incentives. Coming from the country of clean perks, better known as the Netherlands, the city of Athens is really in your face. One thing that draws the […]

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