Theatre has always been for me more than an artistic experience. It is also a social and cultural act, a moment of sharing, a moment full of magic and emotions.
In mid-August I had the pleasure of attending the preview of a show for 13+. There were 25 teenagers in the room and some adults.
Because of COVID, I hadn't been to a show for this age group for a long time. So I was delighted to be there. I had been told that the theme was heavy. Indeed, the show talks about family and the unspoken, about death, about words that liberate. There are also many other things in it.
I would like to share the moments I experienced, not only during the show, but also before and after. All those 'little' moments that, when you put them together, give you that feeling of fulfilment.
First, the company's playwright came to welcome the group of teenagers. They were a bit noisy, a bit casual. They sat down in the hall of the cultural centre, and calmly she began to discuss with them: how many of them have already been to the theatre, what theatre means to them, how many of them have lost a relative, etc? They listened. And then answered the questions quietly.
Just before entering the in the auditorium, we were told that there was a technical problem with the show. Strangely enough, I started to laugh. Why? Because I realised that this could only happen with live shows. So I was back in the real world, finally!
Ten minutes later, we entered into the auditorium. At the front of the stage: a coffin. I didn't know the story or the plot but I was curious to see how teenagers will react.
This audience is sometimes considered unreceptive to theatre. Well, I must admit that I have rarely experienced such beautiful, empathetic and attentive listening. I didn't just enjoy the performance, I also enjoyed listening to the audience, probably as much as the performers did. The two combined took me through a whole range of emotions.
When the show ended, I was so happy to hear the audience applaud again. Another magic trick of theatre.
Afterwards, the playwright invited the children to discuss the show. Their reactions were incredibly rich. The confluence between the artists and the children had taken place through the sharing of emotions.
ASSITEJ Artistic Gathering 2022 at Bibu Biennial is seeking proposals for workshops, seminars, talks, presentations, round tables and similar, to be part of the Professional Exchange Programme. The theme of the programme is the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
⏰ Deadline: 25 November 2021 🌎🌍🌏 Helsingborg, Sweden 🗓 17 – 22 MAY 2022
Are you working in theatre and the performing arts for young audiences or wish to do so? Then have a look at this exciting programme during ASSITEJ Artistic Gathering 2022 at Bibu Biennial in Sweden. The residency is targeted for emerging artists aged 36 years or below.
ASSITEJ will create an online magazine that communicates through images, films and text. Visuals and text should address the theme: Regenerating: handle with care.
This magazine calls for articles that envision the ASSITEJ dramaturgy from numerous artistic perspectives.
Perform Europe’s first report "Perform Europe Insights: Sustainability through innovation" highlights the urgency to rethink the current system of performing arts, touring and distribution support in Europe, in order to make it more balanced, sustainable and inclusive.
Open Stages is a dynamic collection of works in progress, shows, projects and plays for young audiences, about migration and social inclusion. A place to confront different views on the same issue and ask ourselves about the role of art in our society. Join us! Send in your proposal!
Open Stages is a project born from the work initiated in 2019 between ASSITEJ France, ASSITEJ Italy and ASSITEJ Spain.
ASSITEJ Sweden works to secure children and young people's rights
ASSITEJ Sweden
ASSITEJ Sweden is working to influence regional and national culture politicians to secure children and young people’s right to experience professional performing arts in schools. We are now working on a report compiling facts and figures on the present situation in Sweden and are making demands to establish new structures and continuous collection of statistics, as well as promoting professional knowledge within the field.
Little Amal visits ASSITEJ members in Bologna & Bern
Little Amal, a giant puppet of a 9-year-old Syrian refugee, has embarked on a remarkable journey – an epic voyage that is taking her across Turkey and across Europe. To find her mother. To get back to school. To start a new life.
On 16 September Little Amal visited the children of Bologna (photo below) and learned about the rights of children to enrichment through the arts. This step on her journey was arranged by ASSITEJ Italy and its members.
On 29 September 29 she was welcomed in Bern by ASSITEJ Switzerland. In more than 20 workshops held by ASSITEJ Switzerland theater educators in and around Bern, students got to know Amal and her experiences on her long journey.
Philosophy on stage: New edition of IXYPSILONZETT Magazine published ASSITEJ
ASSITEJ Germany
ASSITEJ Germany’s magazine asks how artists deal with those big, eternal, philosophical questions that we are all trying to find answers to: the world as it is versus the world as it should be and our role in the whole thing.
All Together Now: ASSITEJ Canada Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Conference
In May, June and July of 2021, ASSITEJ Canada hosted a Conversation Series about equity, diversity and inclusion and inherent barriers in the TYA sector.
The 11th edition of the African Theàtre Festival for Children and Young People, FATEJ will take place in November in Yaoundé. This year's edition coincides with the celebration of the 20th anniversary of FATEJ and the 35th anniversary of Theàtre Du Chocolat, making this year's festival very special.
In 2021, Festival elPetit will be back for a face-to-face, full-body artistic experience by simultaneously visiting over 20 venues across 13 cities. This year’s edition focuses on the opportunity to (re)discover, (re)think, (re)create and (re)meet through the Arts.
BIG BANG festival: 25 years of adventurous music projects for a young audience
Belgium & International
This year, Big Bang Festival is back for a special anniversary edition and a new page in its rich musical history. The BIG BANG festival exists for and with children, for young and old alike.
For six days, you will discover some of the most inventive, poignant, funny and incisive performances of our time. The mix of young artists, small companies and established performers from Belgium and abroad, ensures an ultra-diverse and rich assortment of talent.
In the frame of the Visioni Festival 2021 at the Testoni Ragazzi theater in Bologna there will be a day of meetings and conversations between delegates, artists and presenters focused on dance for children.
The second International Puppet Theatre Festival based in Iran takes place online during 16 - 21 October is still keeping the call for online performances open.
The compagnie Zapoï organizes the 13th edition of its Festival Itinérant de Marionnettes (Puppetry Itinerant Festival), in the urban community of Valenciennes (France).
A Personal Perspective – and Call to Action from North America
by Boomer Stacey
My name is Boomer and I use he/him/his pronouns. I was born in London, England, and spent early years with my family in a small mining town in Cornwall before emigrating to Canada in the late ‘60’s. My parents are biracial, my dad, British and mom was Sri Lankan (she passed away in February 2020). As the brown component in the mixed race equation, my mom faced extreme racism and oppression as being the only person of colour in a small rural village at that time. Choosing flight over fighting, our family attempted to move to Australia,...
