Theater festival shows democracy - audience is actively involved!

Theater festival shows democracy - audience is actively involved!

The year 2025 is all about democracy, especially in the context of two important events that deal intensively with this central topic. The “Days for Contemporary Theater Entreatment” in the Theater Laboratory Litschau and the Democracy Festival in Hamburg offer creative and interactive platforms.

The Theater Laboratory Litschau organizes the "Days for Contemporary Theater Entreatment" from April 17th to 20th, 2025. Director Zeno Stanek emphasizes that the events address the artistic examination of democracy and its passing on to subsequent generations. The focus is on the dissolution of the "fourth wall" between the stage and the audience to actively involve the audience into the content.

interactive theater formats

The premiere "Object (IVE) Democracy" by Rebekah Wild and the production of the English Lovers, which the audience, includes directly into the pieces, must be particularly emphasized. The Immersive Theater Format "The State" by Alexander Manuiloff and the monologue "Der Reichsbürger" of the Landestheater Schwaben also invite you to actively participate. Workshops also prepare the audience for the individual productions, for example for "the event" by Azzi Finder and Veronika Guschlbauer.

in "Amor and ..." by Marie-Theres Auer, the audience is also actively involved. The festival is opened with an experimental stage adaptation of "Macbeth", staged by Sören Kneidl. Further productions address the challenges of tyranny and dictatorship, including "Homo Tyrannus" from the Musik- und Art University Vienna and "How to Feed a Dictator" of the South Bohemian Theater. The ensemble in Residence (Bhakti/Delmas/Welser) presents "Brandwall", which deals with the tyranny in the Third Reich, and also offers active participation for the audience here.

Democracy Festival 2025

The festival opens with Manuel Hartung, CEO, and Amelie Deuflhard, director of Kampnagel. Interactive formats such as "dispute & confidence", ASK-Me-Anything rounds, as well as workshops and theater performances are offered. Topics such as climate protection and dealing with anti -democratic rhetorics are on the agenda. Event participants: Interior: Inside, Expert: Interior and activist: Be inside, including Bodo Ramelow and Julia Jäkel.

theater productions such as "Medea's Children" by Milo Rau and "War Games" show the artistic depth of the festival. A special highlight are the musical contributions, including an evening in honor of Rio Reiser with appearances by Adam Fear and the golden lemons. Participation is generally free of charge, whereby registration is required for special workshops.

theater as a means of political education

The connection between theater and political education is of great importance. Theater brings emotional and creative dimensions into education and makes complex political topics tangible. In this protected room, dialogues and exchange can also take place in polarized discussions. Innovative approaches to theater education translate abstract political content into concrete experiences and promote participatory learning.

The John-dewey-Research-Center shows that theater pedagogical approaches promote the self-efficacy and critical thinking of the participants. Examples manifest themselves in projects such as "Parliament of Voices" that offers the simulation of a parliamentary debate. Theater as community experience strengthens political awareness and opens up new perspectives.

The two festivals emphasize the relevance of democracy in contemporary context and invite you to actively deal with the challenges and opportunities that brings democracy in today's society. Art thus becomes a tool of political education and promotes the dialogue between generations.