Annual Dramatic Extravaganza for Kids Aged 1 to 16: Schäxpir Theatre Festival
In Linz, the 13th edition of the SCHÄXPIR Theater Festival for Young Audiences Prepares for an Eleven-Day Run
The Upper Austrian city of Linz is set to be transformed into a canal-side theater landscape from June 3-14, as the SCHÄXPIR Theater Festival for young audiences embarks on its 13th edition. The festival, a significant cultural event in Upper Austria, will present 25 diverse productions, spanning eleven days, with the focus on the theme, "What Remains."
LH Thomas Stelzer (ÖVP) highlights the festival's importance, calling it a vital enrichment to the local theater scene. SCHÄXPIR attracts both local and international attention and acclaim. This year, the festival expands to embrace a broader scope by hosting performances for children and young people aged 1 to 16. In keeping with its commitment to making theater accessible, all performances will be offered at affordable ticket prices.
The festival's agenda includes several noteworthy productions. The solo piece "Ausnahmezustand," staged at the Tribùne Linz, explores the boundaries between climate activism and radicalization. The theater production "Wo ist Wald?" at Theater Phönix incorporates a sign language interpreter as a performer, posing profound questions about the essence of a forest.
Other festival highlights include the one-woman show "Amazons," performed by actress Nora Jacobs, using Lego figures, exclusively for children, at Central on Landstraße. Additionally, the annual after-theater festivities will feature club and dancefloor nights at Stadtwerkstatt and Salon Ship Fräulein Florentine, culminating in the festival's closing on June 14. A performative open-air concert is also planned for the Schlossparktheater Linz.
The SCHÄXPIR Theater Festival serves as a platform for experimentation, development, and engagement with topics relevant to young audiences. The event is organized by Julia Ransmayr and Sara Ostertag, with Mag.a Anja Lang as the organizational director. The festival will utilize various locations around Linz to host the diverse productions. The festival's timing during the Pentecost holidays provides an ideal setting for school groups and families to attend, complementing the main theater performances with digital and immersive experiences at places like the Ars Electronica Center, such as Deep Space 8K.
This year's SCHÄXPIR Theater Festival promises to offer an extensive cultural experience, engaging young audiences through diverse theatrical and multimedia performances centered on existential themes that span past, present, and future.
The festival's organizers, Julia Ransmayr and Sara Ostertag, have curated a lineup that extends beyond theater, incorporating digital and immersive experiences at the Ars Electronica Center, such as Deep Space 8K, for lifelong learning and personal growth. Aiming to inspire sustainable living, the festival also offers educational sessions on home-and-garden and lifestyle topics, encouraging a sensible approach to our environment. Furthermore, the festival's inquiry into existential themes presents an opportunity for learning and self-development, aligning with the priorities of education-and-self-development and personal-growth enthusiasts.
