German cultural institutions engage youth in climate and social debates

Educational and cultural institutions in Germany are utilizing theater to engage youth with contemporary global issues.

The twelfth-grade students of the Freie Waldorfschule Benefeld are staging Thornton Wilder’s classic “Our Town” on September 18 and 19. Directed by theater pedagogue Undine Zinke, the production uses humor and absurdity to explore existential human crises, including climate change, war, and global conflicts.

In Wiesbaden, the Staatstheater Wiesbaden has launched a new discussion format called “Wortwechsel” (Word Exchange). The inaugural event on September 17 features students from the Theodor-Fliedner-Schule and the Oranienschule discussing climate change and social engagement. The discussion is prompted by the play “Am Samstag gehen die Mädchen in den Wald und jagen Sachen in die Luft,” which addresses topics such as species extinction and the influence of social media. The panel includes political scientist and activist Christin Stühlen, who specializes in socio-ecological conflicts.