Theatres for young audiences have a cross-section of society in the auditorium. Unlike the evening programme, school performances provide members of all social groups access to the theatre. At these performances, the focus is on the audience. The experience. The opportunity to get involved. That is why theatre-makers have been exploring various modes of representation and identification for years. Ensembles are becoming more diverse, antiquated narratives are being questioned and independent theatres in particular are trying out alternative formats and directing styles. Nowadays, theatres for young audiences see themselves as “role models” that enable kids to access arts and culture. But is this really the case? Do these theatre-makers live up to their responsibility? What common mistakes have they fallen prey to and how have they learned from them?

As ambassadors of self-determined agency in the arts, Nina Bazrafkan (actress, Bi*PoC-Network), Mirrianne Mahn (Diversity Officer of the Children's and Youth Theater Center in the Federal Republic of Germany) and Sivlia Andringa (freelance director, author and director of festivals, active internationally) will discuss questions of representation, responsibility, power and change.

The conversation will be moderated by Julia-Huda Nahas (freelance director, author, cultural educator).