This year we are looking forward to a manifold program. We will touch upon an array of topics concerning the present and the future bringing the generations into dialogue with each other. This will sometimes happen in a playful manner, sometimes in an academical one; often it will be social and informal and sometimes it will be serious. But no matter which format or constellation of people: reciprocal respect and openness towards the perspectives of the other form the foundation on which our encounters at FRATZ will take place.
In this spirit we are looking forward to six days of exchange, growing and inspiration, to exceptional guest performances from South Africa, Sweden, India, Belgium and Germany and to seeing you all in Berlin!
An overview of the symposium’s and additional program in chronological order. For more detailed information you can klick on the links or use the menu:
Hospitality
After having celebrated the festival opening on Friday afternoon (10/11) with the guest performance Bounced by Magnet Theatre Cape Town and a get together afterwards, we will start on Saturday (10/12) with an exchange on sustainability and global equity. Together with presenters of international festivals and the invited guest artists we would like to think about a sustainable and fair working and producing practice and also give room to discuss other topics regarding our role as hosts that might positively challenge us, like accessibility and inclusivity.
FRATZ dances
For the first time our festival-party on Saturday afternoon/evening will be celebrated as a Disco for everyone and are inviting children and adults alike to celebrate together in Podewil.
Punching bag, duel or joker?
Under this headline dramaturge Sarah Israel is inviting professionals for an exchange and workshop on Sunday (10/13) on practice based tools and approaches to solve conflicts in production contexts. Using games, we want to approach the question of how we can keep spaces open and continue to work together in the case of disputes, conflicts and boycotts.
Inclusion and empowerment
On Sunday evening we are looking forward to a lecture by choreographer Dalija Acin Thelander, who will offer insights into her multi-year research project with Stockholm University “Towards sensuous ecologies, Rethinking ableism in choreographic and movement practices”.
Dalija's production Fields of Tender, which was created in connection with this research and is aimed at neurodivergent children and children with disabilities, can also be seen as part of the festival.
Nature and imagination
We also shine a spotlight on the choreographic and playful practice of dance artist Cinzia Schincariol. In her experiential workshop The Trees in Us, she invites children and adults to imagine new futures together through encounters with trees. On Monday morning (10/14), she will present her approach in an artist’s talk to interested colleagues at the Tanzhalle Wiesenburg.
Building relationships
The research labs and their presentation have become an integral part of FRATZ. Since 2020, we have increasingly used this format to initiate or deepen relationships with international artists. This year, we asked our cooperation partner, the cultural organization ThinkArts Kolkata, to design the research labs according to the needs and interests of the theater scene for young audiences in India.
On Monday evening (10/14) two participants, Swapnika Reddy and Sidharth Varma, will share their lab results as part of the symposium and speak about their process.
Afterwards, ThinkArts Kolkata, the team of the invited guest performance Hanv Gara Asa from Goa and the Lab artists and FRATZ International invite you to a talk about theater for young audiences in India: What is the scene there concerned with? What structures are they working in?
In addition to the guest performance program and the symposium events, a FRATZ Atelier awaits you again at Podewil - this year designed by Michaela Millar and open to all visitors - children and adults of the festival, who can leave their FRATZ traces there and take part in an installation that will continue to grow over the course of the festival.
Contact partner for visiting industry professionals:
Kata Kovács | accreditation@fratz-festival.de | +49 (0)178 6876106
You are also welcome to leave a message; we will return your call as soon as possible.
The accreditation form you can find here