Revolution auf der Bühne

Einblicke in Bedingungen, Entwicklungen und Wirkungen des emanzipatorischen Kindertheaters

Abstract

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Setzt man bei der Darstellung revolutionärer Prozesse im Kindertheater in den 1960/70er Jahren an, so liegt der Fokus auf einer Zeit gesellschaftlicher Umbrüche und politisch-sozialer Bewegungen, die für die Geschichte des Kinder- und Jugendtheaters von besonderer Bedeutung ist (vgl. Schneider 1984). Wie andere Intellektuelle und KünstlerInnen auch wurden Theaterschaffende von den Protesten und dem Klima der Veränderung und des Aufbruchs vielfältig angeregt.

Revolution On Stage
Insights into the Conditions, Developments and Effects of Emancipatory Children’s Theatre

This article provides an overview of the origin and development of emancipatory children’s theatre in the 1960s and 1970s in Western Germany. The modification of structures in children’s theatre is analysed based on a taxonomy of changes in themes, forms and functions. The analysis shows an increasing politicisation of scripts and plays in theatres for the young and the foundation of new theatres and groups with mainly political goals like GRIPS and Rote Grütze. New formats like Mitspiel [playing along-], Mitmach [participating-] and Vorführ [demonstrating-] theatre emerged alongside the ideas of the German student movement of 1968. Children’s theatres became places for developing a critical perspective on society with major innovations being presented first in independent theatre groups and later adopted in modified forms in municipal theatres. This shift of emphasis still affects contemporary children's and youth theatre. These days, theatres and theatre groups producing professional children's and youth theatre are located in most German cities. Theatre work for young audiences takes a variety of forms and genres, deals with a diversity of themes and includes the participation of the audience and their experiences. Current political affairs and issues of interest and relevance to today’s youth are still at the centre of the theatre productions; however, the focus nowadays is less instructional.