Directors in TYA 1976-2023

ASSITEJ Germany has been inviting directors from all over the world biennially (since 1976!), so that they can participate in DIRECTORS IN TYA – An International Exchange (formerly known as International Directors’ Seminar for Children’s and Young People’s Theater).

In 2016 Cathrin Bloess and Meike Fechner wrote a short report on 40 years of international exchanges on the topic of directing in TYA. Read more here.

The international directors seminar has taken place since 1993 in a reunited Germany. The event continues a tradition that started in the GDR, building on the idea of creating a forum where directors from around the world can meet each other, share ideas on their craft, and work together closely. A wide variety of methods, approaches, and ideas on the topic of theatre for children and young people come together over the course of the seminar.

Around 25 participants usually attend the event, once a different ASSITEJ member theatre takes responsibility for the invitiations. The event takes place in English.

Previous topics and themes that have been discussed at the event include:

• 1993 – The Rights of Children
• 1995 – Death and Farewell
• 1997 – Theatrical Signs in Theatre for Small Children
• 1999 – Fairytales
• 2001 – Fear and Hope – Staging the Reality of Today’s Children
• 2003 – The Antagonist on Stage
• 2005 – Family on Stage
• 2007 – Heroes and Idols – Rituals of Power and Self-Awareness
• 2009 – Stories of Migration
• 2011 – Money makes the World go ’round
• 2013 – Heimat (Home)
• 2015 – Fortschritt (Progress)
• 2017 – Streets and Crossroads
• 2019 – Walls
• 2021 – Planet B
• 2023 – Construction Hope