The German State Theatre Timișoara is participating, together with partners from Romania and Hungary, in a major international project dedicated to the development of children’s theatre and to strengthening collaboration between German-language theatre institutions in the region. The three German-language theatres are bringing together actors, directors, and theatre educators in a joint initiative inspired by the well-known folk tale “The Tricked Wolf.”
The project involves the creation of three pocket theatre productions developed by artistic teams from Timișoara (German State Theatre Timișoara), Sibiu (the German Section of the “Radu Stanca” National Theatre), and Szekszárd (Deutsche Bühne Ungarn / German Theatre of Hungary). Beginning in the autumn of 2026, the productions will be presented in kindergartens and primary schools. Specially designed for very young audiences, the performances will have a flexible and mobile format, adapted to educational spaces and to direct interaction between actors and children.
Representing the German State Theatre Timișoara are actresses Aida Olaru and Enikö Blesseny, alongside director Clemens Bechtel, who is also responsible for the project’s overall artistic coordination. The involvement of the GSTT artists reflects the theatre’s ongoing commitment to developing productions for young audiences and expanding international collaborations within the European cultural space.
Starting from a folk tale known across several European cultural traditions, the project aims not only to create new stage interpretations of a traditional story, but also to bring children closer to both theatre and the German language in an accessible, playful, and contemporary way. Each of the three artistic teams will develop its own version of the story, highlighting the stylistic and creative diversity of the participating theatres.
At the same time, the initiative represents an important step toward revitalizing collaboration between German-language theatre institutions in the region, with the intention of continuing this cooperation beyond the duration of the current project. The partnership lays the groundwork for future co-productions, artistic exchanges, and programs dedicated to young audiences.
The project is funded by the Hungarian Ministry of Culture and Innovation. Through its participation in this international initiative, the German State Theatre Timișoara reaffirms its commitment to promoting cultural dialogue, arts education, and cross-border artistic cooperation, while actively contributing to the development of children’s theatre within the German-speaking European cultural sphere.
