Theatrespektakel (Theatre - Respect - Spectacle)
project coordinators: Luciana Filtri, Iris Krause, Régine Wengeler and Holger Lindemann

“Theatrespektakel” is an international youth theatre festival, which has been held in the small town of Langenau near Ulm since 2006. The European School Munich (ESM) has been participating in this project since the very beginning. “Theatrespektakel” was created by the Italian directors Marco Pejrolo and Davide di Palo and was organised by them in cooperation with various initiatives from Langenau and its surrounding areas. The coordinating teachers of the European School Munich are: Luciana Filtri, Régine Wengeler and Holger Lindemann as well as the educational advisor Iris Krause.

at the start of each theatre festival content-based work is done on the themes of respect and tolerance

At the first “Theatrespektakel” festival in 2007, the European School Munich presented the play "Smack", which the ESM pupils had created with the support of the directors Marco Pejrolo and Davide di Palo . The play portrays how alien scientists from the planet Smack become acquainted with both the tragic and the funny aspects of our civilisation. Everyday incidences of violence, disrespect and intolerance are depicted in different scenes.

 group photo taken after the „Smack“ performance on the „Theatrespektakel“ festival in 2007

At the second “Theatrespektakel” festival in 2008, the ESM pupils developed the joint project "Talg Show” together with their counterparts from the Friedrich-Schiller-Realschule in Langenau and with Marco Pejrolo’s and Davide di Palo’s guidance. “Talg Show” is a media satire that reveals how cynical television programmes exploit individual life stories for their own benefit. At the same time they pretend to help the people affected. In the end, all masks drop and only then does the audience realise that they have been lead to believe in the authenticity of the heartbreaking stories, which were ultimately fake and just presented by paid actors. Resemblance to current TV talk and court shows are not coincidental, but intentional.

aliens in "Smack" have fun observing earthly manners

21 secondary school students of years 2 and 3 across all language sections participated in the third Youth Theatre Festival “Theatrespektakel” between the 14th to the 18th November 2009 in Langenau. The teachers Mrs Filtri, Mrs Wengeler and Mr Lindemann accompanied the students. Under the title of “ESM/FSR” a showdie was created which reflected the joint working process.

“Talg Show”: low-budget programme at the expense of so-called nerds

The pupils entertained and mesmerised the audience for nearly an hour. The young actors changed their costumes on stage and coped with the healing as well as the offending power of words in small individual scenes. In addition, the two schools introduced each other in small scenes.

The individual elements of the performance were tied together by reporters who commented on the show while streaming out into the audience. A lot of singing, some acrobatic and dance acts were included and all was rounded off with a huge party together with the audience.

Marco Pejrolo discusses a scene with a member of the film crew during rehearsals for “Talg Show”

After the huge success of the International Youth Theatre Festival “Theatrespektakel” in Langenau in November 2009 and after a break of about three months, two additional performances were held on 24th and 25th February 2010 at the ESM. The Europahalle was packed and there was a terrific atmosphere. In particular, as the audience enthusiastically joined in during the various dance interludes.

at the first joint workshop (the last project so far), held at the ESM, the students from Langenau and Munich still sit opposite each other

A new joint project between the ESM and the Friedrich-Schiller -Realschule in Langenau will also be held during this school year. Mostly year 2 and 3 students from all language sections will participate. So far, both schools have rehearsed separately. The directors Pejrolo Marco Davide di Palo and have not only acted as directors, but also as messengers between the schools.

students of both the ESM and the Friedrich-Schiller-Realschule (FSR) interview pedestrians as part of the joint workshop in March 2009

Each school learned about the other school’s progress by watching each other’s short films. During rehearsal times, in the afternoons and weekends, the student worked very hard. The Langenau students spent the weekend of 7 th until 9 th October 2011 in Munich and were our guests. Between 21 st – 23 rd October 2011, another “Theatrespektakel” Festival was held in Langenau.

the mirror exercise, in which the movement of the partner is mirrored, was part of the workshop and was incorporated as a scary scene into the play "ESM /FSR", reflecting the joint working process of the two schools

The project “Theatrespektakel” provides pupils the opportunity to meet young people from other cultures and countries as well as working with them in a creative atmosphere. Thus, they learn more about themselves and their own culture as well as about different people and cultures. The creative process, the rehearsals and the performances strengthen their tolerance and respect for others, while deepening their self-perception and self-esteem.

the performance on the „Theatrespektakel“ festival in 2009 is opened by a rhythmical editorial meeting during which photos are taken in a specific rhythm

The Italian directors are not only interested in the final result, but also pay special attention in developing an atmosphere of listening; in addition encouraging an impartial and judgment-free approach to each other. The young participants learn that cooperation is important and that every individual contributes towards a successful theatre play; regardless of whether they play the lead or a minor part. The performance of the entire cast is all that counts. Incidentally, the language skills are strengthened as pupils of all language sections work together and communicate in English, German, Italian or French.
the white gloves glow in the black light during the energetic dance performance

The cooperation with the Friedrich-Schiller-Realschule
At the first “Theatrespektakel” festival in 2007, the ESM already initiated the idea of working together with the Friedrich-Schiller-Realschule in Langenau. Initially, each school rehearsed separately together with the Italian directors, who acted as messengers of the ideas between the schools. Soon pupils of the ESM visited their counterparts in Langenau for a day and the pupils from Langenau in turn visited Munich.

telephones beat the time during the rhythmical editorial meeting at the beginning of the performance on the „Theatrespektakel“ festival in 2009

For the duration of the “Theatrespektakel” festival in March 2008, the Langenau pupils’ families accommodated the ESM pupils. Lasting friendships developed and emotionally moving farewell scenes were seen at the train station. Later in the year, "Talg Show" was performed three times at the ESM. On this occasion, the Langenau pupils stayed at the Munich pupils’ homes. Since 2009, the joint rehearsals have already included overnight stays, which has contributed to reinforcing more rapidly the team spirit.  

actors change their costumes on stage and slip into another role in front of the audience’s eyes (Theatrespektakel 2009)

The cooperation with the Friedrich-Schiller-Realschule proved to be a stroke of good luck for various reasons. It soon became apparent that pupils of both schools got to know each other quickly and that friendships were easily formed. The similarities between the young people from many European countries evidently outweighed the differences between them. It is of great significance that the pupils of both schools were able to learn such a fundamental lesson at a young age, therefore allowing prejudices against people of other national, social and economic backgrounds not to become defined in the first place.

great important is attached to content-based work on the themes of respect and tolerance during the workshops and at the festival

In addition, the pedagogical teamwork had a promising start. The Friedrich-Schiller-Realschule has been offering drama-based subjects for many years, which were requested and have since received great support by the parents. The teacher Wilmar Jakober from the Langenau school has been providing an extraordinary support to his pupils’ efforts in organising the “Theatrespektakel” festival and has always valued highly the cooperation with the ESM.

The “Theatrespektakel” team (from left to right): Wilmar Jakober, Manuela Fritschi (who is no longer part of the team due to change of schools), Marco Pejrolo, Régine Wengeler, Holger Lindemann, Davide di Palo and Luciana Filtri

The Langenau and the ESM teachers have quickly become friends. In addition to their normal teaching hours they volunteer and invest every effort into the project. A big thank must especially be given to the school management of the secondary school, who actively supported the project and provided the means for the professional work of the two Italian directors.

  Marco Pejrolo working with pupils just before the first performance of "Talg Show" at the “Theatrespektakel “2008 in Langenau

Theatrespektakel website
 Theatrespektakel

Past news items on Theatrespektakel
 26/10/2007 Smack
 10/03/2008 Youth Theatre Festival
 29/04/2008 Talg Show
 28/03/2009 Workshop
 11/11/2009 Youth Theatre Festival
 24/02/2010 Restaging
 22/10/2011 Future of the Past