International theater festival SCHÄXPIR
SCHÄXPIR is an international theater festival for young audiences. It has taken place in Linz ( Upper Austria ) in a biennial rhythm since 2002 . The organizer is the state of Upper Austria.
concept
Establishing theater for young audiences in Austria and internationally as an art form to be taken seriously was a declared aim of the festival from the start. The concept is to offer theater for the very young, plays for young people and performances that interest all ages on around ten days of the festival. Dealing with unusual forms of representation is also an essential point at SCHÄXPIR.
Numerous workshops, dialogues and symposia challenge visitors as well as a specialist audience. Special theater-pedagogical events prepare children and young people for the plays at each festival. Young adults are also particularly addressed by the supporting program, especially the Nightline.
The SCHÄXPIR Festival is actively committed to promoting theater for young audiences in Austria: Among other things, the festival is co-founder of the Jungwild.Förderpreis für junges Theater and, in 2010, jointly with ASSITEJ Austria organized the STELLA art award for young audiences in Linz. The SCHÄXPIR international theater festival has been bringing productions to Linz from all over Europe, but also from Asia, Australia and Africa since 2002.
Another important task for SCHÄXPIR is to network internationally recognized companies with well-known domestic theaters in order to give the Austrian theater landscape decisive impetus.
history
Preparations for SCHÄXPIR began in 2001 on the initiative of the Province of Upper Austria. In 2002 the first festival took place in Linz, Gmunden, Steyr and Wels. Julius Stieber was appointed managing director and festival director. Stephan Rabl took over the artistic direction until 2015.
Since then, between 40 and 60 productions from up to 14 different countries have been shown at each festival. Numerous European premieres, German-language premieres, Austrian premieres and world premieres by Austrian theaters have so far been seen at the festivals. Fixed components of the SCHÄXPIR Festival are outdoor productions, concerts and DJ lines, dialogue events and educational programs for schools and the public.
The first edition in 2002 attracted almost 15,000 visitors. In addition to Linz, Gmunden, Steyr and Wels were performance venues until 2009. In 2006 almost 19,000 people followed SCHÄXPIR. An international symposium was held in Linz as part of SCHÄXPIR on the theme of "next generation". SCHÄXPIR 2008 was under the star of the coming year of the Capital of Culture and the European Football Championship taking place in Austria.
The big exception was the Capital of Culture year 2009. During Linz09, SCHÄXPIR broke up its biennial rhythm and staged 4 co-productions with the Capital of Culture. A total of 43 productions from 14 countries were guests. 17 venues in Linz, Wels, Gmunden and Steyr were stages. In 2009, special attention was paid to opening up to the adult audience. The festival has reached its climax so far with 19,843 visitors. In 2010 Renate Plöchl took over the festival management from Julius Stieber.
In 2011, SCHÄXPIR took place for the sixth time from June 23rd to July 3rd. 48 productions from ten countries were presented. For the first time, performances were programmed in the Lehartheater Bad Ischl, the GUGG Braunau, the Hofbühne Tegernbach and the Kitzmantelfabrik Vorchdorf. The focus of the festival was again in the Upper Austrian capital Linz. The festival was attended by a good 19,800 people from small to large.
The seventh edition of SCHÄXPIR ran from June 20 to 30, 2013 on the stages. A total of 24 venues in Linz as well as the Lehartheater Bad Ischl and the GUGG Braunau were used. Over 230 events were attended by almost 23,000 people of all ages. The opening of the festival took place in the new Musiktheater Linz with over 1,000 guests and was a very special highlight. The second international ASSITEJ meeting is also worth mentioning . Specialists from over 40 countries attended this most important and largest meeting of the theater and dance scene for young audiences in Linz.
In 2015 the festival took place for the eighth time from June 25th to July 4th. 55 productions from eleven countries were shown, including 5 world premieres and 13 Austrian premieres. In addition to the established venues in Linz, classrooms throughout Upper Austria also became SCHÄXPIR venues at the 2015 festival. In addition, so-called theater buses were also on the way, which enabled a very special theater experience in different locations.
A generation change took place in 2016: Cornelia Lehner, cultural mediator and sociologist, was appointed as festival director. The two directors and theater makers Julia Ransmayr and Sara Ostertag have been the artistic directors of the festival since then.
SCHÄXPIR took place from June 22nd to July 1st in 2017: the new management team was able to continue its successful course with 17,000 participating visitors, over 250 artists from 7 nations and 35 productions at 21 venues. This festival was characterized by a diverse artistic and participatory program.
Festival date 2019, also 10th edition: June 24th - 30th, 2019
Highlights at SCHÄXPIR
2002
- Club Astrid ( Victoria / BE)
- Heimaten ( Theater an der Sihl / CH)
- Welcome to Africa ( Inkululeko Yabatsha School of Arts / ZW)
Linz premieres
- Close Up ( Phoenix Theater )
2004
- Sand Table ( Meg Stuart & Damaged Goods / BE)
- Swinging Bananas ( Artemis Theater / NL)
- King A ( Het Laagland / NL)
2006
- Fucking Åmål - show me love ( junges theater basel / CH)
- Titus ( Kopergietery / BE)
- Scoliozee d'Artrozee ( BRONKS / BE)
Linz premieres
- Kriegskindl ( u \ hof: theater for young audiences )
- F_ART ( x.IDA )
2008
- The magical world of lost treasures ( NIE / NO / UK / CZ)
- Prime ( Artemis Theater / NL)
- Romeo and Juliet ( young theater hannover / DE)
2009 (Linz 09 European Capital of Culture)
- The legend of Wüsterdam ( Kopergietery & Studio ORKA / BE)
- The story of Haruk ( Tuida / South Korea) / Gamoonjang Baby ( Play BST / South Korea)
- That night follows day ( Victoria & Tim Etchells / BE)
Coproductions with Linz09
- The ship ( Theater Sgaramusch / CH and NIE / NO / UK / CZ)
- Me gusta ( Laika / BE)
- RUMOR ( Het Lab / NL)
- Solar City ( Kopergietery / BE)
Linz premieres
- Franziska Jägerstätter tells ( Children's Theater in co-production with Linz09 and SCHÄXPIR)
2011
- The Nibelungenlied ( Justus Neumanns' CIRCUS ELYSIUM / AUT / AUS)
- Mangold (Warmoes) ( Studio ORKA / BE)
- Punk Rock ( junges theater basel / CH)
- Springville ( Rental Warlop / BE)
Linz premieres
- The Forgotten Painter ( Child's Theater )
- Du Hitler ( u \ hof: theater for young audiences )
- Material Girl ( Theater Phoenix )
2013
- The boy with the suitcase ( SCHNAWWL & Ranga Shankara Theater / DE / IN)
- MORNING ( young theater basel / CH)
- A foehn afternoon (L'après midi d'un foehn - Version 1) ( Compagnie Non Nova / FR)
Linz premieres
- My brother, the robber Kneißl ( theater of the child )
- Hot soles ( u \ hof: theater for young audiences )
- The reproduction of the amoeba ( Phönix Theater )
literature
- SCHÄXPIR program books (2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015)
- 10 years of SCHÄXPIR! (Anniversary brochure)