The KinderSommerTheater Neukölln: magic and adventure in the open air!

The KinderSommerTheater Neukölln: magic and adventure in the open air!

The KinderSommerTheater Neukölln is offering a variety of exciting open-air performances for primary school classes from Neukölln from July 7th to 18th, 2025. The event location is the Taut Pavilion of the youth art school YoungArts at Dammweg 216 in Berlin. The third edition of this popular project enables school classes to engage with various artistic formats through theatre.

The performances, which take place in the morning and last 45 to 50 minutes, are free of charge, but prior registration is required. Various pieces are offered for the age groups of grades 1 to 2 and for grades 3 to 6:

• „Hexen“ (Ensemble Zenobia Theater) – eine humorvolle Clownerie, die sich mit Vorurteilen auseinandersetzt und drei Hexen zeigt, die versuchen, fröhliche Kinder wegzuzaubern.
• „Malwina und der Erdbeerpilz“ (Katja Tannert) – ein Stück über Naturwissen und Oddjekt-Theater, das in einer unterirdischen Rettungsmission spielt.
• „Wasserklang – Geschichte eines Tropfens“ (Kompanie Kabinet Mirage) – ein musikalisch-poetisches Abenteuer über einen Wassertropfen.
• „STADT LAND ANGSTHASE“ (Stadtmaus Landmaus GbR) – ein Tanztheater, welches Themen wie Mut, Freundschaft und Zukunftsvisionen behandelt.

Dance performance as part of the Children's Summer Theater

Another highlight of the Children's Summer Theater is the open air dance performance “Fallen!Together”, which will take place from July 1st to 3rd, 2024. Artists Coila-Leah Enderstein and Nicola van Straaten will present the piece, which explores the childlike joy of falling and destruction and seeks hope in the face of crisis. This performance is developed in cooperation with children from the Kita am Apfelsinenplatz.

The performances take place on the above-mentioned days at 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. in Young Arts and, like the plays, are free and accessible by appointment. The initiative is part of the Offensive Dance for Young Audiences Berlin, supported by TANZPAKT Stadt-Land-Bund and in cooperation with Berlin Mondiale and the Evangelical Church Community in Gropiusstadt.

Context of the theater scene in Berlin

In recent years, the theater scene for children and young people in Berlin has been confronted with numerous challenges, as an analysis by Tip Berlin shows. The effects of the corona pandemic required creative solutions to keep culture alive. Many theaters, such as the Strahl and Parkaue Theaters, used open spaces for open-air stages. The opening of houses and the conditions under pandemic conditions were often uncertain.

In response to these challenges, some theaters have developed hygiene concepts and are increasingly relying on mobile productions and cross-generational plays. Measures such as emergency funds from the Senate Department for Culture offer support for affected theaters that are struggling with reduced audience numbers.