The working group of theatres for young audiences NRW

The Arbeitskreis der Theater für junges Publikum in Nordrhein-Westfalen (AK TjP NRW) is the association of professional theatres with and without houses in NRW that produce and perform for young audiences. These theatres are members of ASSITEJ Germany.

In the working group, municipal theatres, state theatres and independent theatre companies and groups are committed to the interests and further development of theatre for young audiences, with the aim of achieving the participation of children and young people in culture. The working group acts as a representative body vis-à-vis the public and politicians. The form of co-operation and the objectives of the working group are formulated in jointly adopted statutes.

The exchange and cooperation between the freelance players and the various theatres leads to a gain in experience and resources. In addition, interests based on very different working and funding structures are bundled in the working group and translated into clear common demands. This takes place in regular working group meetings and in thematic focus working groups. In addition, an annual closed conference lasting several days is organised, at which jointly selected burning issues are addressed. External expertise is brought in here in particular, but also on other occasions.

The theatre scene for young audiences in North Rhine-Westphalia presents innovative forms and formats for children and young people, and increasingly with children and young people. Many new productions are created every year: World premieres, devised plays, exciting adaptations of current themes or material from literature, plays from the repertoire of children's and young people's theatre literature find their way to audiences in the fields of drama, dance and performance. In addition to the work for the stage, performances in public spaces and the work of touring groups that perform in special spaces such as event venues, schools, youth centres and daycare centres in urban and rural areas are gaining visibility.

Networking with multipliers in schools, kindergartens, family centres, children's and youth facilities, but also paediatricians, training centres, other cultural institutes, universities, sports clubs and music schools and other associations is essential, as well as the exchange within the scene nationwide and internationally and with politicians.

There are already good contacts between the TjP NRW working group and the Ministry of Culture and Science (MKW). Regular dialogue takes place with MKW and the Ministry for Schools and Education (MSB) in the NRW Education Partnerships working group. The aim is to involve the Ministry for Children, Family, Refugees and Integration (MKFFI).

Theatre for young audiences is not always adequately funded. The fight for sufficient funding for theatre for young audiences is a common goal of all players in the working group. Building lasting structures, reliable partnerships and sufficient funding is one of the tasks of the working group of theatres for young audiences in NRW.

At its meeting on 05.09.2022, the following workgroup spokespeople were appointed for a period of 3 years.

Since March 2024 and the resignation of individual spokespersons, Manuel Moser (COMEDIA Theatre, Cologne) and Kirstin Lea Hess (Junges Schauspiel, Düsseldorf) have agreed to continue in the role of interim spokespersons until a new election is held at the first working group meeting of the new 2024/25 season.
This development has shown how important it is for us within the working group to address the question of how, for what and with whom we want to work in the future. At the last digital meeting on 14 March 2024, it was decided that a change process is needed that takes into account structural and content-related issues as well as the changing social, cultural, political and societal situation. A working group has been formed for this purpose, organised by David Gruschka (echtzeit-theater, Münster).

Note: Most recently, the members of the working group jointly developed statutes on working methods at a closed meeting and discussions at the working group meetings, which were adopted in November 2010. The document can be downloaded here  (in German only)