Political workshops
Four workshops on housing, solidarity, discrimination and activism. Supported by the Landeszentrale für politische Bildung.
“Let’s Get Talking!” is the umbrella for our political workshops on topics that affect our society. They are supported by the Landeszentrale für politische Bildung (the state agency for civic education), with a new format funded every year. So far there are four workshops.
Housing Hurdles Newest format
Goals
- To raise awareness of housing issues in Berlin
- To encourage critical thinking about social housing and the housing crisis while exploring solutions
- To strengthen empathy: using role play to explore what life is like for others on a lower income
- To foster creativity and expression using theatre games and exercises
- To promote teamwork and engagement, communication and collaboration
Download: Flyer (PDF, in German)
Solidarity Reloaded
Goals
- To encourage students to think about the meaning of solidarity and deepen their understanding of it
- To reflect on solidarity in the context of different situations in society, e.g. the Covid pandemic, the energy crisis, the war in Ukraine, the Syrian refugee crisis, and catastrophes such as floods and fires
- To create awareness of how prejudice and racism can influence solidarity
- To use theatre games and exercises to help the students express their points of view and develop empathy for one another by stepping into different roles
Power to the People
Goals
- To use the themes and stories from the Platypus play “Safestay Hostel” as a tool to begin discussing and reflecting on the political opinions of the students
- To engage and encourage discussion with each other on topics of gender, race, religion, sexuality and wealth
- To create awareness of the many situations in society people find themselves in, e.g. racial discrimination, gendered double standards and homophobia
- To use theatre games and exercises to help the students express their points of view and develop empathy for one another by stepping into different roles
The details on grade, duration and costs do not apply to this workshop. Please get in touch.
Rebellion in Action
Goals
- To explore the motivation for political activism by looking at the work of activists and movements, e.g. Boyan Slat, cancel culture and the #MeToo movement
- To develop an awareness of current political and social conflicts and the students’ own role in society
- To discover ways to actively work for change, exchange opinions, open up and take a stand in a group situation
- To use theatre games and exercises to help the students express their points of view and develop empathy for one another by stepping into different roles
The play: “Safestay Hostel”
All workshops can be combined with the play “Safestay Hostel” (grades 11–12), an interactive play about national identity, politics and change.
London 2026: a government with autocratic tendencies is in power and new laws are passed. A young woman who grew up in Britain but only has a Pakistani passport, a Brazilian activist and an Australian influencer meet in the Safestay Hostel. The new laws don’t make things easy for the Finnish owner and her guests. Follow or resist? The young woman is afraid, the Brazilian wants to take to the streets and protest, the influencer is undecided, and the owner just doesn’t want any trouble in her hostel. The repressive government is threatening the foundations of democracy and, by banning demonstrations, the fundamental right to freedom of expression.
For more information or to book: workshops@platypus-theater.de or call us on 030 61401920.
