“Giving directions” is a task for language learners that everybody knows: “Take a left and then go straight ahead until you reach the big crossroads. There you take a right and you will see the big building on the left, that’s the theatre.” This task never includes looking back or turning around, at best it may include hints regarding a good resting place or a beautiful view.

ASSITEJ Germany has produced an English edition of its magazine IXYPSILONZETT for each ASSITEJ Congress since 2005 and we have always used this opportunity to look backwards and forwards, to stimulate discussions that include multiple perspectives, a variety of ideas and generations. The English issue is an invitation to the international ASSITEJ family to join our discussions and strengthen their exchange with theatre makers in Germany. And we hope that this magazine contributes to a global reflection on what directing can mean in TYA.

This issue takes a good look at the role of the director and on the idea of directorship. It discusses how we work with people, questions individuality and collectivity and reflects power relations. It asks how we direct our gaze, how we see our audience, the potential of a dramatic text or a story, how we use and present all the magic the performing arts have to offer.

Many of you might know that ASSITEJ Germany has been hosting DIRECTORS IN TYA – An International Exchange (International Directors’ Seminar) since 1976. 531 directors from 81 countries have taken part in the exchange and we will welcome 20 new participants in Braunschweig in 2021.

Looking back at my own career I can hardly believe that I was part of this exchange in Berlin in 1989, shortly before the wall came down. Meeting colleagues from all over the world has been vital to myself as a director, as a theatre maker, as a citizen of the world. It’s not just about TYA, it’s about knowing people in different parts of the world, it’s about love and friendship and care. The world has become bigger and smaller. TYA brings us together as humans and what we share is much more than, finding our way in the unknown territory of a new city, a new play, a new team. We share looking at a crossroads, reflecting the decisions we take in life and in the arts.

The Children’s and Young People’s Theatre Centre (Kinder- und Jugendtheaterzentrum in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland www.kjtz.de) is at the heart of the many projects ASSITEJ Germany runs and Gerd Taube, director of this unique national institution, has taken on the task of editing this issue. He has invited fascinating, experienced and inspiring people to discuss their thoughts and ideas. We hope that you enjoy the read! We hope that you will find your way around Tokyo, even if we have to wait until March 2021 before we can finally meet! And we are ready to draw a map of TYA in Germany that brings you together with all the people, places and performances you would like to come and see!

Brigitte Dethier

Liebe Leser*innen, alle drei Jahre veranstaltet der Weltverband der Darstellenden Künste für junges Publikum einen Kongress und ein großes, internationales Festival. In diesem Jahr war der Weltkongress der ASSITEJ im Mai in der japanischen Hauptstadt Tokio geplant, wurde aber wegen der Corona-Pandemie auf März 2021 verschoben. Anlässlich des Weltkongresses veröffentlicht die ASSITEJ Deutschland eine englische Ausgabe ihres IXYPSILONZETT Magazins, die Sie jetzt in Händen halten. Wir möchten damit Theatermacher*innen aus aller Welt für das Kinder- und Jugendtheater in Deutschland begeistern und sie zum Austausch mit uns einladen. Sie können alle Texte unter www.assitej.de auf Deutsch nachlesen. International hat sich für die Darstellenden Künste für junges Publikum die Abkürzung TYA etabliert. Dies steht für Theatre for Young Audiences. ASSITEJ steht für Association International du Theatre pour l’Enfance et la Jeunesse. Der Verband setzt sich seit 1965 weltweit für das Kinderrecht auf Teilhabe an Kunst und Kultur und die Förderung von Künstler*innen ein und hat in Deutschland rund 400 Mitglieder. Viel Spaß beim Lesen!

Ihre Herausgeber*innen und das Redaktionsteam

Hinweis: Die Texte können hier in deutscher Sprache gelesen werden (im Bereich weiter unten).