Theater an Parkaue, Berlin

As a “Young State Theater,” the Theater an der Parkaue is one of the largest cultural institutions for young people in East Berlin. Nevertheless, it is difficult for many children and young people—especially those in the outlying districts—to reach due to the physical distance.
By offering decentralized programming, the theater sought to create new avenues of engagement and strengthen its presence in other neighborhoods of Berlin. The goal was to enable artistic participation regardless of location and to build long-term relationships with local young people.

As part of Jugendkulturinitiative , the participatory format “Studio Realtalk” Jugendkulturinitiative —a performative news studio developed in close collaboration with young people and in partnership with youth outreach organizations.
The project was based on regular open meetings and short-term summer workshops. In these sessions, young people discussed topics that were important to them and staged them using the artistic tools of theater—from set design to performance, moderation, and rap.

The project fostered close collaboration between open youth work and arts education. The theater team’s contributions were seen by the young people as inspiring and eye-opening—in some cases offering concrete links to career guidance, such as through internships at the theater.
For the theater itself, new insights emerged regarding the possibilities of decentralized work and training pathways. The close cooperation with local partners led to a strong, trusting network within the social community, in which stakeholders also formed stronger connections with one another. As a result, the theater gained visibility in the neighborhood and strengthened its role as a culturally engaged institution within the local community.