The Thespis Centre is the socio-theatrical centre of the Deutsch-Sorbisches Volkstheater in Bautzen. After the Willkommen Anderswo III festival - in which children and young people with and without refugee experience from all over Germany performed theatre together - the idea of founding a citizens' stage was born. It should be open to people of any age, origin, gender or education and invite them to develop new perspectives on life with the help of theatre and creative projects. Thanks to the initiative, theatre has been an instrument in Bautzen since 2018 that creates encounters through play and at the same time can, for example, also do preventative work against everyday discrimination. With its theatre concept, which has made a significant contribution to intercultural dialogue and understanding in Bautzen since its foundation, Thespis was awarded the Saxon Integration Prize in 2020. As part of the first artistic coffee tour, the Thespis Centre opens its doors to the latest production ‘Kinderszenen’.

The production ‘Kinderszenen’ is based on the diaries of Anne Frank, Helga Goebbels and Albina Bakukha. In the very personal and intimate space of the performance, the three young actresses Albina Bakukha, Suzan Ali and Oksana Kobzar move through various places in world history with the help of paper dolls, which are recreated in miniature as if in a doll's house. The girls rediscover the magic of the puppet theatre of their childhood, but at the same time deal with the most horrific events of the Holocaust, the Second World War and Russia's war in Ukraine.

TanzART - Zentrum für Tanz, Bewegung und Kunst e.V., is a leading institution for dance in eastern Saxony. In addition to its own productions, artist residencies and international exchange projects, TanzART is strongly committed to intergenerational (inter)cultural participation projects in rural areas. Residencies in Kirschau not only offer (inter)national artists the opportunity to develop their productions, but also integrate the local population into this creative process through workshops and performances. Continuous dance offerings, including classes and workshops for all age groups, characterise the varied programme. Through specialist conferences, training and networking, TanzART has been committed to promoting more art in rural areas and the visibility of artists from their region for 10 years now.

As part of its tenth anniversary, TanzART hosted the event ‘Kurzstrecke - Einblicke in den zeitgenössischen Tanz’. Short performances by dancers such as Amit Abend, Enrico Paglialunga, Sonia Rodriguez, Victoria McConnell, Jana Schmück and Anne Dietrich made it possible to discover the versatility of contemporary dance - an offer that is not usually available in rural areas. ‘Kurzstrecke’ was part of a series of events organised by TanzART, in which performances and workshops take place every month to make contemporary dance in all its breadth better known and more accessible in rural areas and to enable participation in dance art.

In the afternoon, a panel discussion moderated by Carolin Gerlach also took place on the topic of ‘Shaping together - how art and culture can promote democracy and tolerance in rural areas’. How can creative forms of expression such as art, music, dance and theatre help to strengthen social ties, promote dialogue and improve cohesion? What role do performing arts in particular play in strengthening democratic values in rural communities? What can and should cultural initiatives do in the run-up to this year's state and local elections? Lisa Wendler from the Happy Monday initiative in Bautzen, Jana Schmück and Anne Dietrich from TanzART as well as Diana Wesser and Sandra Bringer from the Institut für Festkultur discussed potential, perspectives and experiences.

The kulturinitiative zwenkau e.V. was founded in 2003 by citizens of Zwenkau and Leipzig to save a unique, listed building and to realise a special concept for future generations. The aim of the association is to develop the KulturKino Zwenkau into an open house for all generations, for people of all origins and languages. The result is a barrier-free space characterised by partnership, communication and cooperation, encounters and debate; a place to contribute personal skills
and learn from others.

For those travelling on the studio tour, the kulturinitiative provided exciting insights into its cultural work and took them on a journey through time into the past of the town of Zwenkau and the KulturKino on the "Lost Places" audio walk. In the interdisciplinary project ‘Lost Places’, children and young people from Zwenkau joined theatre educator Marlen Riedel on an audio walk along the shores of Lake Zwenkau.

After the audio walk, there was an exclusive guided tour of the building to learn a lot about the cinema's eventful history and the work of kulturinitiative zwenkau e.V., which countered the once imminent demolition with a new utilisation concept and has allowed the cultural cinema to shine in new splendour since 2017.

Kulturbahnhof Leisnig e.V. transforms the old railway station in Leisnig into a vibrant place for culture, exchange and encounters. There is close co-operation with the town of Leisnig, the university towns of Leipzig, Dresden and Chemnitz, as well as with the supra-regional cultural network and the international ethno-network. The project is recognised for its cultural events, concerts, music and dance workshops and attracts well-known lecturers from all over Europe. The cultural centre also creates a space for local cultural initiatives, youth clubs and cultural workers in the region. Leisnig railway station, which has been renovated by a small group of musicians and an architect since 2020, is an example of how cultural initiatives can shape, influence and change local conditions in a positive way and create a positive synergy effect for the town through mutual give and take. On the occasion of the 12th Saxon Theatre Meeting, the Kulturbahnhof Leisnig opened its doors to the independent performing arts for the first time for ‘Meet you in the Navel’.

IN WHAT PART OF THE BODY SHOULD WE MEET?

People usually name geographical places as meeting points with other people. What if this encounter were to take place in our bodies instead? From this idea of body parts that connect, communicate and touch emotionally, Brian Scalini has developed his creation ‘Meet you in the Navel’ - a short story about romance and addiction, which Scalini will perform together with Seraphine Detscher in the Bahnhofsgarten in Leisnig. At the point where the connection takes place, a bond is created that leaves a trace, a magnet that can attract and activate this moment again and again. People would have the certainty of always being close to someone and never being alone, but with the risk of being stuck in a past that binds them to each other like a string that clutches and becomes ever stronger in its dependence.

In addition to the performance of the duet by Brian Scalini and Seraphine Detscher in the station garden, we took a look behind the scenes of the Kulturbahnhof and learnt about the history of the old station building.

The ensemble of the SandsteinSpiele e.V. landscape theatre surprises its audience every year with unusual stage plays and colourful costumes. Together, the actors create a cultural treasure in the middle of the Elbe Sandstone Mountains that guests from near and far look forward to. In contrast to conventional theatre on a fixed stage, this time the rock formations and table mountains around the municipality of Kleinhennersdorf formed the backdrop.

In the production ‘The Sandman’, an unexpected visit brings both joy and sorrow. In this year's edition of SandsteinSpiele e.V., the guest in tranquil Kleinhennersdorf brings more of both. The village is 585 years old and the mayor does not yet know whether the celebrations can take place at all. Out of nowhere, a benefactor appears who turns out to be an old acquaintance of the community and gives the village rich gifts. His generosity opens up new perspectives and leads to euphoric outbursts of emotion among the inhabitants. But the guest has plans that turn life in the idyllic community upside down. Together with their audience, the Sandstone Players find out whether the visit will be a dream after all in this unique setting.

As a former holiday home, the Heymannbaude has long been an attraction for hikers, holidaymakers and locals. Today, its appearance is characterised by many structural transformations and additions. After a long period of standstill, it has been in revival mode since 2022 and its history of around one hundred years continues as a cultural centre. Surrounded by a sensual sandstone landscape, an inspiring space for art, culture and encounters is being created at
. The aim is to gradually open up the Heymannbaude as a centre of knowledge and culture, for
performances and events, as a stage and guest house for new celebrations and joyful festivities. With the TanzSaal at its centre, a centre for dance, movement and the performing arts is being created. In addition to a guided tour of the newly revitalised rooms of the historic Heymannbaude by operator Torsten Haubold, the premiere of Helena Fernandino's in-house production ‘Warten’ (Waiting) was shown:

Waiting is part of everyday life. Waiting at the doctor's, at the railway station, in traffic jams, at the traffic lights, at the checkout. People wait for a birth, for a loved one, for recovery, for spring. With the dance theatre piece ‘Waiting’, choreographer Helena Fernandino looks at life as one big waiting room. Together with a group of women of different ages, backgrounds and experiences, they explore moments of waiting. They courageously dive into the uncertainty of waiting: into the unexpected, into expectations.