Stadt. Land. Bühne.
Where people usually shop, stroll, or eat ice cream, a theatre bus suddenly pulls up. Its doors open - and public space becomes a stage.
Following the studio tour initiated by the Kooperative FUTUR OST, the Landesverband der Freien Theater in Sachsen (LFTS) is developing and presenting a mobile mini festival for the independent performing arts in Saxony in 2026: Stadt. Land. Bühne. brings current productions from Saxony’s independent scene into the city centres of both smaller and larger towns. Theatre, dance, performance, and music enter into direct dialogue with urban space and the people who inhabit it.
Between April and August 2026, the project will tour through Görlitz, Zittau, and Chemnitz, creating synergies between established festivals and the local independent arts scene.
Görlitz
The opening took place on 23 April 2026 as part of the 13th Sächsisches Theatertreffen (Saxon Theatre Meeting) at Demianiplatz in front of the Gerhart-Hauptmann-Theater Görlitz-Zittau. The theatre forecourt was transformed into an open space for performance and encounter, featuring short performances, excerpts from productions, experimental scenes, and participatory formats by artists from Saxony.
A jury of local arts and culture professionals selected four artistic contributions. The jury consisted of Christiane Hoffmann (project lead ViaThea / Gerhart-Hauptmann-Theater Görlitz-Zittau), Rosalind Masson (dancer, choreographer, lecturer, and founder of TanzRaumGörlitz), Olaf Bretschneider (actor, director, and author, Dronte Theater), Anja Christina Carstensen (artist and spokesperson for the local association of Bündnis 90/Die Grünen Görlitz), and Ute Wunderlich (city councillor and president of the Rotary Club Dreiländereck).
The programme in Görlitz included contributions by Dronte Theater with “Ritter Ohnbart und die sieben Rüben des Glücks”, Katja Erfurth with “reminiszenz/zeitsprünge”, Posenenske, Fyferling, Vinke & Transit-Theater-Berlin with “Lambe Lambe – Minitheater im Kasten”, and ponyclub circus with “the person you are calling”. The festival was complemented by a diverse accompanying programme including DIY sock puppets by Katharina Klinger, a silent disco by Augen auf e.V., listening stations by Chris Fischer, and a social dance workshop with Accepdance.
Zittau
This edition was also part of the 13th Sächsische Theatertreffen and expanded the festival into a mobile, open performance space in public urban context. The theatre bus at Theaterring in front of the Gerhart-Hauptmann-Theater Görlitz-Zittau became a place of encounter for an afternoon and evening, bringing together independent performing arts, audiences, and local communities.
The programme was curated by a jury of local arts and culture professionals. The jury included Christiane Hoffmann (project lead ViaThea / Gerhart-Hauptmann-Theater Görlitz-Zittau), Rosalind Masson (dancer, choreographer, lecturer, and founder of TanzRaumGörlitz), Olaf Bretschneider (actor, director, and author, Dronte Theater), Anja Christina Carstensen (artist and spokesperson for the local association of Bündnis 90/Die Grünen Görlitz), and Ute Wunderlich (city councillor and president of the Rotary Club Dreiländereck).
In Zittau, audiences experienced works by Katharina Klinger with “Zirkus Gockelini”, Stelzer & Gerigk with “elementar”, Philipp Grimm with “Der Fremde in mir”, Theater Labaaz with “Home?”, and the guts company with “Karussell der Zeit”. The programme was complemented by accompanying formats including DIY activities, a silent disco with Augen auf e.V., listening stations by Chris Fischer, and a social dance workshop with Accepdance.
Chemnitz
In summer 2026, the mobile stage of the independent performing arts scene will also stop in Chemnitz. Further details about the event will be announced shortly.
Perspective
The project opens up new access to the performing arts while strengthening the visibility of the independent scene in diverse urban contexts. It creates encounters on equal footing between artists and audiences and connects local stakeholders with statewide and supra-regional networks.
As a mobile mini festival, Stadt. Land. Bühne. also functions as a forward-looking format: it tests approaches, collaborations, and working methods that may, in the long term, feed into a statewide festival of the independent performing arts in Saxony.
Participate
Want to learn more, collaborate with us, or stay informed about updates on the project?
We look forward to hearing from you at info@freie-theater-sachsen.de!
With the kind support of the Kulturstiftung des Freistaates Sachsen. This project was co-financed with public funds based on the budget approved by the Saxon State Parliament.