Directors in Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA) – An International Exchange, known globally also as the “International Directors’ Seminar”, occurs biennially, with the next one taking place June 22-29 2025 at FUNDUS Theatre in Hamburg, Germany.

TNA as the Australian national centre for ASSITEJ will be selecting one director to attend, to be decided through an EOI process. The program is open to independent or organisation-based directors in the field of Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA) and it is open to all genres and forms of performing arts for young audiences.

Around 25 directors from all over the world will travel to Hamburg for the exchange, which encourages all participants to bring their ideas and experience. Small group work will provide enough space and time to work practically and from different perspectives. Theatre performances by the host theatre and other companies in Hamburg as well as leisure activities will complete the week’s schedule.

You can see a list of all previous participants, including Australians who have attended since 1984 here.

The working language of the seminar is English.

ASSITEJ Germany and FUNDUS Theatre will cover the costs for accommodation, catering, theatre tickets and leisure activities for all participants. Participants are expected to cover the costs for their travel. TNA can provide assistance and letters of support for you to secure funding for this opportunity.

Expressions of interest for this opportunity can be submitted using this online form and close on Sunday July 28th, 2024.

Applicants will be informed of the outcome by Friday August 23rd, 2024.

If you have any questions or need more information, please contact Yuhui Ng-Rodriguez at yuhui@tna.org.au (before July 17th) or Joshua Lowe at josh@tna.org.au (after July 17th) or phone (03) 9947 1015.

THE 2025 THEME

Reassembling the world: Intergenerational and international alliances in TYA

Working in Theatre of Young Audiences allows us to create connections – connections between kids and adults, connections in our local communities and connections with colleagues working intergenerationally around the world. The latter has always been at the core of ASSITEJ Directors’ Exchange. With our next edition in June 2025, we would like to focus on these connections as a challenge, topic and aim for our shared artistic practice: How can TYA create alliances between kids and adults around the world, between communities locally and globally? How can these connections enable us to work towards peace, justice, solidarity, and inclusion together worldwide?