Pleasures & Politics of Autonomy – Theater between Resistance and Responsibility
Theaters need freedom in their artistic activities and in the development of their structures. Such freedom arises when they are given the opportunity to be self-determined and autonomous. But what does it mean to be autonomous as a theater? Does self-administration also mean having more leeway at a structural level? And would that mean planning an aesthetically daring program without raising social expectations that go beyond a pure “artistic experience”?
In keynotes, discussion formats and a panel discussion with this year’s award winners, the potentials of an autonomous theater will be explored and at the same time possible danger spots will be identified. Pleasures; that is, the pleasure of devoting oneself to the stubborn, ambivalent and unknown – of being artistically autonomous. Politics; that is, the challenge of creating legal and political framework conditions in which these kinds of autonomous free spaces can emerge, which in case of doubt also resist the grip of authoritarian and reactionary political forces. And both culminate in the question of how a socially committed theater can grow without being reduced to its functionality.
Impressions
Program
Coffee on arrival, accreditation and discussion
Greeting & introduction
Marlene Grunert (journalist, lawyer)
nora chipaumire gives insights into her work as a dancer and choreographer in conversation with Margarita Tsomou. Where and why is autonomy relevant in artistic practice? To what extent is autonomy influenced by and negotiated through social, cultural and political structures?
The topics of the symposium will be addressed in greater depth in round table discussions with experts and moderators from the fields of cultural policy, theatre studies and dance research, as well as curators and dramaturges, from the perspective of institutional theatre and the independent scene. Where is autonomy relevant in one’s own work, at an artistic/aesthetic level and at a structural level in theatre companies and in collective work?
‘Artistic autonomy’? – For whom, with whom?
With Christina Zintl (Director Schauspiel Essen) & Kevin Rittberger (producer, author)
Presented by Alexander Karschnia (theatre-maker, author, theorist) & Felix Sodemann (ITI Germany)
Autonomy – public – public authorities
With Aljoscha Begrich (dramaturge, curator, OSTEN Festival)
presented by Maria Gebhardt (Landeszentrum Freies Theater Sachsen-Anhalt) & Lars Hecker (BFDK)
Autonomous spaces in theatre structures: between self-determination and solidarity
With Lisa Tuyala (Theater Rampe), Anna Volkland (dramaturge, theatre scholar),
presented by Eylem Sengezer (curator) & Malin Nagel (ITI Germany)
Conserving autonomy in shrinking spaces (in English)
With Dora Yuemin Cheng (dramatist, theatre artist), nora chipaumire (dancer, choreographer), Katalin Erdödi (dramaturge, curator),
presented by Jenny Mahla (dance scholar, dance dramaturge) & Berfin Orman (producer, transnational artist)
Lunch break for all
Choral Interlude
For this second round, the initiators will change tables within their group.
Short break
Margarita Tsomou in conversation with a number of experts and the moderators of the working groups. The relevant questions and discussion points will be compiled and reflected upon. What strategies can we formulate, what connections have emerged and what questions will we take away with us?
Presented by Susanne Burkhardt (DLF Kultur)
With Katrin Hylla (Schwankhalle Bremen), Eva Lange & Carola Unser-Leichtweiß (Hessisches Landestheater Marburg), Gabi dan Droste (FELD Theatre for Young Audiences) and Johanna Sandberg (Ernst-Barlach-Theater Güstrow)
Documentation
The panel discussions was and made available in the form of a video documentation www.iti-germany.de.
Federal Theatre Prize Project Manager | Anneke Wiesner |
Symposium Project Management & Programme | Felix Sodemann |
Symposium Project Coordination & Programme | Florence Römer |
Scenographer | Eva Veronica Born |
Assistant Scenographer | Maria Jose Basantes Campoverde |
Symposium Helping Hands | Maria Elena Mela Seidenari, Charlotte Vieweg |
Simultaneous Interpreters | Irina Bondas & Stefan Schade |
Sign Language Interpreters | Bernadette Peterka & Laura Marie Maaß |
Technical Coordination | Andreas Harder |
Video & Documentation | Maxim Wittenbecher, Lukas Von Heidenfeld |
Technical Production | Daniel Gierlich |
Social Media | Manuela Goschy |
Accessibility Consultant | Fanette Macanda |
Graphics + Setting | Jan Grygoriew |
Photography | Dorothea Tuch |