The Zwiefachen

You don’t need A-levels to have fun with culture

… is the youth theatre project at the Schaubühne. Since 1999, drama teacher Uta Plate has been working with the group founded by her initiative. Back then, Uta recruited people in supported youth housing projects for a theatre group. Many joined, a few stayed on. The »Zwiefachen« were born. And with it the desire to tell a story that is close to its members. The drama teaching at the Schaubühne gave them the stage as a platform to express this. There is no casting session to determine who takes part, but all who do have a common biography made up of setbacks and a lack of support.

The work ranges from dance to song, from writing to improvisation and gives participants chances and opportunities that until now they may have seldom had. The idea is to make theatre available to them as a complex means of expression so that they can put their own ideas and history into the scenes and navigate a public discourse. The productions are then presented at the Schaubühne, as well as at national and international festivals.