SCHÄXPIR 2027 invites to dream together
From 24 June to 3 July 2027, Linz will once again become a stage for international theatre for young audiences. Under the motto “SHARING A DREAM”, the SCHÄXPIR Festival – initiated by the Province of Upper Austria – invites visitors to its 14th edition to dream together, discover new perspectives and let their imaginations run wild. Two special new features: ‘Play Volkshaus’ brings theatre directly into Linz’s neighbourhoods, whilst the ‘Hugo’ Children’s Play Award seeks out new plays for children.
“Great theatre for young audiences: SCHÄXPIR shows just how much imagination, creativity and enthusiasm young people possess. With the new ‘Hugo’ Children’s Play Award, we aim to bring fresh ideas to the stage and inspire even more children to take an interest in theatre”, says Thomas Stelzer, Governor of Upper Austria.
Theatre comes to the city’s neighbourhoods
With “Play Volkshaus”, municipal community centres are also becoming venues for the festival. This creates new spaces for cultural engagement right in Linz’s neighbourhoods. There is also a particular focus on collaboration with Upper Austrian schools, nurseries and after-school clubs to give as many young people as possible access to theatre.
“At SCHÄXPIR 2027, we invite you to dream together and share dreams. ‘SHARING A DREAM’ also means sharing spaces, resources and opportunities through the medium of art. Of particular importance here is our collaboration with our partners, as well as our engagement with schools, after-school clubs and nurseries, to introduce young people to the theatre and thereby open up new perspectives for them”, explains Margot Nazzal, Director of Culture.
New Children’s Play Award: Hugo
Together with the Theater der Jugend Wien, the Schauburg in Munich, the Junges Schauspiel Düsseldorf and the Children’s and Youth Theatre Centre of the Federal Republic of Germany (KJTZ), SCHÄXPIR has launched the ‘Hugo’ children’s play award. The prize, funded by the Edith and Werner Rieder Foundation, is named after a character from the work of Christine Nöstlinger.
We are looking for new plays for children aged six and over, featuring six to eight performers, multi-layered characters, wit, humour and bold dramaturgical ideas. The focus is on stories drawn from the real lives of children, which at the same time open up space for imagination and new perspectives. The award ceremony will take place as part of SCHÄXPIR 2027.
“What if we dream together? Of something shared that is bigger than just you and me. Of a ‘we’ that doesn’t mean being the same, but creating something together. Let’s share our dreams, differences, wishes and imagination. And let’s see what wonderful things can emerge”, explains artistic director Julia Ransmayr.
Festival centre as a meeting place
The OK – Offenes Kulturhaus Linz will once again serve as the festival centre under the title ‘with somebody’. German artist Theresa Rothe is transforming the building into a dreamlike universe with her installations, creating an open meeting place for artists, audiences and people who have had little previous exposure to theatre.
The festival is committed to collaborating with both long-standing and new partners. Head of Organisation Eva Malfent emphasises the aim of bringing together the local arts scene from Linz and Upper Austria with established and emerging international artists, and of encouraging young people to engage actively with culture.