Leaflet AE Budapest 2009 by Dirk Neldner

ATINA Independent Practitioners in Theatre

for Children and Young People Association Buenos Aires /Argentina

Founded 2002. This non profit association was created on the aim of working to encourage the development of the Argentine Theatre for Children and Young People along the whole country, and strengthening bonds with artists from all over the world. Schoolyard Stories (based on the project which has been developed in Europe) of Iberoamerica is an interdisciplinary project about high schools´ schoolyards of today, aimed to create plays and performances devoted to young people (12-18 years old).

Play Fair During the project, at least 30 new theatre scripts will be created for the target group. Play Fair is a trade fair for plays newly written within the project. Extracts or summaries will be read or performed to professional visitors in all 11 countries at 13 Play Fairs (stage readings in the original language, summary in English, and a partial translation into the respective national language) in cooperation with regional cultural institutions and publishing houses. The incorporation of these scripts into national and/or international theatre festivals at partner theatres serves to direct information to a special professional audience. The first PLAY FAIR of Platform 11+ takes place in Budapest.

The final result is the staging of a performance in each of the participating countries, based on research, interchange and workshops previously realized. The project will end in an International Festival, at the same time with the exhibition of the research work, the plays publication and the multimedia support. In 2008 ATINA was invited to participate in Platform 11+ as the Iberoamerican partner. Even when the characteristics of both projects are different in their implementation, a wide perspective of international interchange is opened then for the professionals as well as for the young people.

After four years of work, Platform11+ wants to present a many-layered (self) portrait of a young European generation, whose presence at the beginning of the 21st century is reflected in more than 30 new plays, 50 interdisciplinary co-productions and theatre events, 40 pieces of art and new media and in a European database with theatre plays for the target group. The integration of artists from different origins and artistic backgrounds into the project activities guarantees a high content and aesthetic diversity in the art productions in European contexts. To reach this aim each partner theatre commissions an author and a visual artist for the thematic work in the project, who work on the basis of SCHOOLYARD inquiries. The companies will produce the new plays. For the creation of scripts and productions, the problem of different languages will be addressed as a challenge. The partners collectively seek out innovative solutions, which lie not in reduction or avoidance of speech, but rather in multilingualism on the stage. Diversity of content and form-aesthetic (documentary-, modern dance-, figure-, and musical theatre, cross-over productions, and site specific productions) are encouraged. The visual artists create objects in immediate connection with the theatre productions. This provides for the creation of numerous multi-form thematic art works (images, graphics, sculptures, video art, installations, photos, and others). All art works will be presented at national and bi-national exhibitions, at the European level and in the “Digital-Art-Gallery” in the Internet.

Agenda Budapest Fri. Sep 4 16:00 Exhibition: Educating Cities. The Educating role of Culture: The City of Budapest – Opening.

1st Annual Encounter 4-8 September 2009 | Budapest

20:00 Reception by the Hungarian Ministry of Education and Culture.

Sat. Sep 5 10:00 – 13:00 & 14:30 – 16:00 Presentation of Project and Partners | Rehearsal Stage of Budapest Operetta 18:00 Play Fair: Stage Reading of new European Repertoire for Young People | Rehearsal Stage of Budapest Operetta

Sun. Sep 6 15:30 Youth + Culture = youth cultures? Everyday culture and lifestyles of young people 2009. Keynote speech by Prof. Manfred Zentner, Austria – European Knowledge Centre for Youth Policy (EKCYP) | Theatre Kolibri, main stage 17:30 Theatre in Hungary: Panel discussion. | Theatre Kolibri

Mon. Sep 7 10:00 Schoolyard Crossing Budapest: Open-Air Event | Derkovits Gyula Elementary School 18:00 Bonnie and Clyde by Anders Duus. Performance by Theatre Kolibri | Theatre Kolibri, main stage 20:00 Farewell

Theater de Citadel Groningen | the Netherlands

Schoolyard Crossing is a multidisciplinary art event in a public place (real schoolyards or similar) at Annual Encounters. All artists will create a site-specific theatre performance together. Schoolyard Crossing Budapest is the first common production in which all of the theatres participating in Platform 11+ have collaborated. Each of the playwrights from 13 different countries has developed a character who may well be found in a schoolyard. Actors from all companies perform these characters for this exceptional event.

Brageteatret Drammen | Norway Teatro O Bando Palmela | Portugal Theatre Institute Bratislava | Slovakia

Imprint PLATFORM 11 PLUS is a network supported by the European Commission (Culture 2007-2013). Leading organisation is Brageteatret Drammen/Norway. Kolibri – children and youth theatre in Budapest/Hungary hosts the 1st Annual Encounter 2009 in cooperation with PLATFORM 11 PLUS. Organisation team: P11+: Dirk Neldner, Odette Bereska, Sven Laude, Elisa Braun, Johanna Malchow | all Germany Kolibri: János Novák, Gréta Ádám, Éva Pánti, István Farkas Play Fair Organisation: Odette Bereska with the friendly assistance of Emergency Exit Arts (UK), Pilot theatre company (UK), Kolibri theatre (HU) Schoolyard Crossing Budapest Artistic Directors: Dirk Neldner, Andrew Siddall (P11+), György Vidovszky, Balázs Perényi, Péter Horváth Actors from 12 different European companies. Design: Barbara Martens-Simon

Playwrights Meeting Berlin, June 2009

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www.platform11plus.eu

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PLATFORM 11+ IN THE SCHOOL COURTYARD

e all have memories from the school courtyard even if it was only a square of concrete, and also if it was surrounded by shade-giving trees. We do, whether we were only allowed to go outside in groups on special festive days or whether we spent each and every break there. We appeared on this stage both as frightened young ones and envied big ones, we won and we lost, we vowed everlasting friendship and everlasting foes. We gossiped, played tricks on others and tricks were played on us and in the meanwhile we were doing all we could to finally get the attention of the opposite sex. We had our own language and own laws. What is the schoolyard of today like? What are they talking about, what language do they use, what fashion-trends do they follow, what are they afraid of, what are they happy about, how do the students of today merit the esteem and dislike of their peers? No matter how hard we search our own memories, the schoolyard of today is a real “terra incognita” for us, an unknown continent. It is really a unique event that a project of the European Union offers us the chance to explore the life of the schoolyard of today’s Hungary and to get closer to the young people of the present. We, adult artists, have been offered the possibility to see the joys and the worries that concern them face to face, so we could then speak with authenticity when staging the stories we find during the process. European artists in the Hungarian schoolyard and Hungarian playwrights, stage directors, visual artists, drama teachers, teachers and students in the schoolyards of ten other European countries. With a special age group in focus: the age group of the 11+. They are the ones who – in contrast to our experience of the past decades – no longer consider themselves children, while the real problems of (real) adolescence still do not take up all their attention. They surf the Internet freely, the way the dress imitates the stars of MTV and they resemble their peers living in Europe more than their predecessors. They may be the generation who will hold their own in life both as citizens of their native land and as Europeans. Are they the citizens of the expanded Europe? We’d better learn from them. Thank you for the opportunity!

János Novák artistic director, Kolibri Theatre for Children and Youth

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BRAGETEATRET Drammen/Norway The leading organisation of PLATFORM 11 PLUS started as a project run by the cultural affairs office in Buskerud County in 1998, with the intention of building up a professional theatre in the county. From 2001 Brageteatret became a Public Organisation with its own board. Its main purpose is to produce and perform theatre for children and young people, as well as theatre with a multicultural perspective. It produces 3-4 new productions per season and puts on more than 350 performances for about 40,000 spectators every year. The company is an active partner in the Norwegian concept of “The cultural schoolbag”, – a concept which aims to give all schoolchildren between 6 and 16 years quality encounters with art. Artistic Director: Terje Hartviksen ı www.brageteatret.no

KOLIBRI THEATRE Budapest/Hungary started as an alternative puppet theatre in 1992 after the break up of the State Puppet Theatre. The funding body is the City Council of Budapest. Kolibri operates with a permanent company, with an equal emphasis on puppetry and prose. This is the first children’s theatre in Budapest in which each age-group can find the performance suitable for their interest and development. The audiences have the choice of three different venues. Each of the venues has its own particular image and independent artistic program. The comprehensive repertoire is characterized by a variety of genres and responsiveness to what is new. Artistic Director: János Novák ı www.kolibriszinhaz.hu

DIVADLO ALFA Plzen/Czech Republic The professional puppet theatre, founded in 1966 as DIVADLO DĚTÍ / Children´s Theatre, was renamed as ALFA Theatre in 1992. The shows address a large variety of audiences and offer literary and art design quality; original stage set means (puppeteering techniques in combination with actors), synthetic form on the stage, where music plays an important role. The repertoire includes a variety of genres and themes - from classical and modern fairy tales to classical comedies. In recent years the number of tours abroad has significantly increased, not only in Europe. ALFA has been a co-organiser of the Skupova Plzen Festival, the bi-annual Czech professional puppet theatre competition, since 1967. Director: Tomáš Froyda ı www.divadloalfa.cz

THE THEATRE INSTITUTE Bratislava/Slovakia

Founded in 1961.TTI is a modern European institution funded by the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic. Its aim is to promote theatre culture, as well as the research of theatre history. TTI organizes educational workshops for young

artists, cultural workers, teachers, students. These workshops are intended to stimulate new methods in artistic education and a creative approach to working with young people. Dramatically Young is TTI’s educational platform, which is focused on dramatic writing and is designed for elementary and secondary school students and teachers. It aims to deepen the relationship of children and youth towards theatre and to support informal creative education. General Director: Vladislava Fekete ı www.theatre.sk

THEATER DE CITADEL Groningen/The Netherlands Founded in 1992 by Rob Bakker, the company works with professional actors and produces about 3 shows annually. They are suitable for people of the ages 4+ . There are approximately 120 shows a year, mainly in the North of the Netherlands and mostly at schools, where a strong relationship with the teachers exists. Each production has an educational programme made for the production and its audience. The theatre has a tradition of making theatre in different locations and enables young professionals to develop themselves artistically. Theater De Citadel has a wide spread cultural network in the North of the Netherlands: Noord Nederlands Orkest (orchestra), Noord Nederlandse Dans (dance), Noord Nederlands Toneel (theatre), Grand Theatre theater en productiehuis and Jonge Harten Festival (youth theatre festival). Artistic Director: Rob Bakker ı www.citadeltheater.nl

EMERGENCY EXIT ARTS (EEA)

London/UK

Formed in 1980 EEA, based in Greenwich, is one of the leading celebratory, outdoor arts companies in the UK, creating innovative artistic work that is both challenging and accessible. We devise and produce performances and community based events on a grand scale. These involve communities in local, regional and national festivals, animating and enhancing public and private spaces and creating spectacular events using performance, visual arts, new technology, music and fireworks. Through participative art projects, EEA provides an exciting way for people to explore personal, local, national and global issues. Artistic Director: Deb Mullins ı www.eea.org.uk

ELSINOR TEATRO STABILE DI INNOVAZIONE Milan, Florence, Forli/Italy is the first interregional centre of theatrical production and performances. By diverse forms of collaboration between artists, local governmental institutions, universities and schools it presents children’s theatre, as well as organizing theatrical seasons and training laboratories in Milan, Florence

and Forli. Its driven commitment to the exploration of contemporary theatrical prose and the exchange and synergies is inspired by traditional and new approaches to theatrical classics. “Segnali”, a children’s theatre festival, is organized by Elsinor in collaboration with “Teatro del Buratto” and the Lombardy Region. Artistic Director: Stefano Braschi ı www.elsinor.net

THEATER JUNGE GENERATION (tjg) Dresden/Germany

Founded in 1949, TJG is Germany’s second oldest and one of the biggest Children’s and Youth Theatres. It’s ensemble consists of 18 actors and 4 musicians and 7 puppet players in the puppet theatre section. The repertoire includes fairytales, classics, contemporary literature and, since 2008, theatre for the very young. Every year about 90.000 visitors of different ages attend one of the 700 (approx) performances of 25 different plays. Usually there are 25 premieres per season. In 2008/09 the Theatre Academy was founded. The concept for the Theatre Academy grew out of experiences made in the theatre education department. The central emphasis is on the participation of children and young people in the theatre making process. Artistic Director: Felicitas Loewe ı www.tjg-dresden.de

JUNGES SCHAUSPIELHAUS ZÜRICH (JHS) Zurich/Switzerland JSH is an integral part of the city theatre of Zurich (Schauspielhaus Zürich). In its repertoire it offers five productions per season, plus additional guest performances, for a target audience aged between 6 and 15. The JSH collaborates with schools on a continuous and long-term basis. School classes are offered several possibilities of witnessing the process of the production of a play including the planning and rehearsal phase and the premiere. Furthermore JSH provides opportunities for children and youth to participate in theatre courses such as performing, writing and creating. In Zurich JHS cooperates with JETZT&CO. a professional, independent theatre group which produces plays for children and young people. Artistic Director: Petra Fischer ı www.schauspielhaus.ch

OULUN TEATTERI Oulu/Finland Established in 1931 as Oulu Näyttämö (Oulu Stage). In 1951 the theatre’s name was changed to Oulun Teatteri (Oulu Theatre). Between 2002 - 04 the old theatre hall was renovated and a new extension was constructed. The theatre employs 20 - 30 actors plus additional guests, especially in musical productions. There are 8-10 premieres annually, with approximately.

350 performances for around 80,000 spectators. The repertoire includes opera and other musical theatre productions as well as theatre for children and the Oulu Children’s Theatre Festival. Artistic Director: Ahti Ahonen ı www.ouka.fi/teatteri

PILOT THEATRE COMPANY York/UK Pilot Theatre creates and tours theatre work for young people. In addition it delivers an extensive range of opportunities for engagement and development including workshops, conferences, discussions and online resources aimed to encourage active audience participation and giving young people direct contact with professional artists. In 2008-2009 Pilot toured extensively doing 260 performances to over 55,000 people in theatres from our home to Hamilton, Bermuda. We also ran over 350 activities with young people reaching over 7000 people including a 6 week Commonwealth Youth Exchange Programme with Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Collaborative projects are a key part of Pilot’s way of working, and we value the inspiration that is the result of exchanging ideas with our partners. Artistic Director: Marcus Romer ı www.pilot-theatre.com

VAT TEATER

Tallinn/Estonia

The first independent Estonian theatre group was formed in 1987. It is supported by the Estonian Ministry of Culture and Municipality of Tallinn. The company has a staff of 11 people and offers performances on our resident stage at the National Library, and also at other theatres and cultural institutions. 25,000 people visit the performances annually. The small repertoire consists of plays for children, youth and adults. In the theatre’s work there is a special place given to modern plays and plays written by contemporary Estonian playwrights. VAT Theatre has toured extensively in Europe and Africa. Artistic Director: Aare Toikka ı www.vatteater.ee

TEATRO O BANDO Palmela/Portugal Founded in 1974, Teatro O Bando is a group that chooses aesthetical transfiguration as its mode of civic and community participation. Its creations are defined by their plasticity and staging dimension and by the dramaturgical basis which is mainly derived from Portugese authors rather than from standard dramatic texts. Teatro O Bando aims to transgress a wide range of borders, rural or urban, adult or child, learned or popular, national or universal, dramatic, narrative or poetic. Over the years, the company has created more than 100 different shows. The company’s 4,500 performances have been seen by over 1,3 million spectators, not counting the PEREGRINACAO, which in EXPO ’98 reached an audience of 3 million people. O Bando has resided in several locations but has now settled on a farm in Vale dos Barris, Palmela. The company is always ready to welcome you there, with soup, bread and cheese, Muscatel and a cozy chat next to the fireplace. Artistic Director: João Brites ı www.obando.pt

Artistic Discoveries in Eurpoean Schoolyards

hat motivates 13 European theatres from 12 countries join together in a common project? Is it sheer curiosity, the desire to experience how and under which circumstances theatre is done and received elsewhere? Or is it motivated by the artistic directors, searching on behalf their artists and their audience, for new challenges in dealing with other (theatre) languages and cultures? To be sure both aspects played a decisive role for the participation of the theatres. But as well as that, there was a common conviction, that there is a lack of cultural offers for young people of the age from 11 – 15 years on this continent. At this stage in their lives, they have a special need to discover their own reality and their place in the world through art. Yet, this key aspect of supporting the next generation on their journey into adulthood - together with the valuable opportunities it provides to catch a glimpse of what sort of society may develop during the next half century – has, so far, received very little acknowledgement throughout Europe. In order to fill this gap, 13 established theatres each representing a high level of excellence in their countries and in their field, have united to form PLATFORM 11+. All partners have years of experience in developing, producing and delivering projects for and with young people. A European platform that could provide for mutual exchange and cooperation was missing. The network gives artists, as well as their institutions and specifically youth, a common European voice. The force that binds participants is enthusiasm for their own cultural forms of expression, and also the recognition of cultural diversity. This dynamic encourages the continuing development of creative abilities at the professional level. PLATFORM 11+ sees itself as a cross-sector cultural initiative of professional artists for the 11-15 year age group. The goal of the cooperative endeavour is:

• the creation of works of visual art / new media • exchange of work experience and methods by means of an intercultural dialogue (artists mobility) • European-wide dissemination of the excellent artistic products • professional guidance and support for youth to become personally active artistically In order to effectively implement these goals, the theatre agreed on an overall theme: Artistic Discoveries in European Schoolyards. The theme reflects the need of the target group to see their living space portrayed in art, and also facilitates entrance into an intensive intercultural dialogue between the artists. Basic experiences in schoolyards resemble experiences in other countries and can unite generations, even if concrete experiences in different places vary. PLATFORM 11+ will be supported for the next four years by the European Union (since May 2009). With it the network for a young audience is getting one of the biggest European grants: a delightful signal and incentive for all of us. During the coming five days almost 100 European artists will gather in Budapest. Here they will get together for the first time to develop a new cultural offer for young people in the participating regions and countries with long lasting effects. We will show just how seriously we take our subtitle, with the cross-over event “Schoolyard Crossing” in a real schoolyard in the heart of Budapest. Actors from all over Europe will perform there for more than 500 young people.

Dirk Neldner Director Platform 11 plus

• the (co-) authorship of innovative theatre plays • (co-) productions of creative performances and the production of unique art events

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