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Demonstrating Democracy - Demonstrating (with) Drama!
Dialogue & Call for ACT.ION
What do you think about starting a courageous dialogue together with like-minded people, without shying away from emotionality or innovation? Respect should be our attitude today, in response to the polemical discourse that has become increasingly widespread in our society. Let us approach the issues of our time with mutual goodwill!
As a responsible citizen, you feel obliged to contribute your point of view to the current debate on social developments. As an educator, you listen to the concerns and questions of young people. As a human being, you have a strong desire to help your fellow human beings. Let's start a process together that meets all these requirements!
How do we want to live?
Who decides what? And for whom?
What do we need to change? What do we hold on to?
What do we need to achieve?
Organized by IDEA AUSTRIA - ÖBV THEATER - PH Lower Austria
supported by AITA/IATA
Dr. Erika Piazzoli - Thirty Birds, One Flight
This workshop engages participants in a process drama exploring the theme of democracy through the myth of the Simurgh. The pre-text is the Persian legend of the Simurgh, as narrated in The Conference of the Birds. In the story, the creatures of the air struggle to agree on a leader who might guide them through a world of uncertainty. Together they embark on a journey, each bird carrying its own doubts, dreams, and fears. Only after crossing seven valleys of trial do they discover that the Simurgh is not a single ruler, but the reflection of themselves.
This workshop invites participants to step into the realm of legend to explore what democracy might mean today - framing leadership, wisdom and power as collective, rather than singular. The metaphor opens a space to reflect on democracy not only as voting or governance, but as collective responsibility: the fragile art of living together, sharing resources, and listening across difference. Like the birds, we ask: who is heard, and who is silenced? What must we let go of to imagine a more open, just world?
Through improvisation, soundscape, movement and collective reflection, participants will inhabit and extend the story, confronting obstacles and discovering how unity can emerge from diversity. In today’s world - shadowed by conflict, war and displacement - this workshop offers one example of how drama can become a space to enact democracy as a lived, participatory practice.
Dr. Richard Finch - Storytelling and Drama: Pathways to Democracy.
African Oral Literature such as Proverbs, Folktales and Poetry suggest that pre colonial societies used these rich cultural art forms to demonstrate the need for democracy and good governance. African Folk Tales are a rich resource for Teachers to use, as a means through drama, to explore human rights and democracy.
My practical approach with those who attend the Congress will provide material and a methodology that can be adapted and used with children of all ages.
Attending the Conference in 2026 will be one of many stimulating times I have experienced, working with Teachers in Austria. Building Bridges and Provoking Dialogue towards Peace and Understanding.
Stephen Wei - Devising Theatre for a Just Society
In this workshop, participants will explore power, privilege, and status using games, improv, and other activities to make abstract ideas tangible. From there they will use concepts from Augusto Boal’s Theatre of the Oppressed to generate performances that will use a variety of choreographic structures and movement techniques drawn from a variety of theatre and dance practitioners.
Participants will also build short pieces of work that explore issues of gaslighting and consent based on performances the workshop presenter had made with students in an act of protest at his own school as part of an extracurricular performance.
Participants will leave with more tools for their own work interpreting text and themes in their classrooms and after-school arts clubs.
2. Short Workshop / Best Practice / Warm Up / Presentation
MINI - WORKSHOPS (2 hours)
Yohan Diaz de Begar - Eye fish
Eva Göksel - “Presencing Spaces: How do we co-create sustainable togetherness?”
Anniki Scheu - The Democratic Spark
Harald Volker Sommer - Building Democracy: Collective Creativity in the Theatral Chorus
Nada Rumanovska Uherova - Teacher Training and Professional Growth
Katherina Zarnikova -
PRESENTATION
Joke Quaghebeur - Louder Together - where young performers and teaching artists unite (International Teaching Artist Conference)
If you have any question in circumstance of
Drama / Theatre in Education Conference 2026 please
feel free to ask
HERE.
REGISTRATION is open since 7th of July
Look HERE
Österreichische Pädagoginnen und Pädagogen - Achtung, Bundesseminar !!!
Die Drama / Theater in Education Conferences sind seit einigen Jahren Bundesseminare, das heißt: eine Ausschreibung existsiert auch in PH-Online der Pädagog. Hochschule Niederösterreich. Die durchgehende Teilnahme an der Conference wird als offizielle Fortbildung angerechnet, also mit Freistellung und u.U. Supplierung (wenn die Direktion die Teilnahme genehmigt hat) und Bestätigung zur Vorlage in der Direktion.
In manchen Bundesländern, in manchen Schulformen bzw. manche Direktionen genehmigen auch die Einreichung von Reise- und/oder Aufenthaltskosten. Diese Rahmenbedingungen ändern sich aber häufig, weswegen wir dazu leider keine genaue Auskunft geben können. Weder BMB noch PH NÖ unterstützen finanziell, für die österreichischen Lehrenden stellt ein Bundesseminar trotzdem einen Mehrwert dar!
Bezüglich der Conference Fee gibt es die Regelung der EARLY BIRD Anmeldung. Gilt ab sofort bis 30.November 2025. Das sind immerhin 10% off.
Voraussetzung: Deine Registrierung über das Registry-Formular (ÖBV THEATER)
Aktuell ist das Anmeldefenster der PH Niederösterreich gerade offen (1. bis 30. November). Wer über die PH NÖ angemeldet ist, erhält sämtliche Informationen immer als erste.
This was Drama in Education Conference 2024
PROGRAM
We are looking for the very best Speakers and Workshop Facilitators for you.
Please check from time to time to find out who will be participating in the conference.
You will be able to apply for individual program items (Short Workshop / Best Practice / Warm Up, Presentation) from December 15th. We are looking forward to your application.
We are going for workshop content around DEMOCRACY, for example:
- How to create and develop democracy? A short course for educational work.
- Mindfulness and Care - Climat Crisis & Environmental Protection as an element to build democracy
- Relationship, Social Work and Togetherness - the sight on democratic values
- Democracy Education at different ages
- Prevention concepts - against violence, discrimination & racism
- Optimism and a positive world view - could this be a strategy?
- look for a new path to reach drama teachers
- Democracy Training
- Diversity and Inclusion - opportunities and challenges
- Drama and Theater Teachers talk about their approach to democratic values
CONFERENCE FEE & PAYMENT INFORMATION
CONFERENCE FEE: EARLY BIRD € 280,– REGULAR € 310,–
Early Bird is 10% off, please register for that before December 1st, 2025
If you are student or unemployed please contact us for further information: info[at]idea-austria.org
ATTENTION: Please wait for your invoice before transferring the conference fee to our bank account!
Your registration process for the conference is completed once we have received your conference fee on our bank account! Banking charges are totally on the participants‘ accounts.
If you have any question around the Conference Fee please contact us!
DEADLINE FOR REGISTRATION: March 15th, 2026
What do you get for the CONFERENCE FEE?
- LONG-WORKSHOPS
- SHORT WORKSHOPS
- WARM-UPs from some participants
- Opening Ceremony – activities and celebration
- Keynote & Discussion
- so much fun and laughter
- Best Practice – Presentations – Favourite Games
- a lot of drama / theatre activities with nice colleagues
- networking and exchange in the Drama-Bar
- an extensive documentation with exercises and pictures
- contacts for project planning
- wonderful atmosphere in the region of Weinviertel and an excellent accomodation
and a lot more we can not promise in the moment ……
We would appreciate to see you attending the entire conference!
ACCOMODATION
| Althof Retz Website www.althof.at/ Telephone +43 (0) 2942 – 3711 Mail: welcome@althof.at |
We ask you for your selection of accomodation at Althof. We transfer this information to Althof Retz / Reception. You have to confirm your booking directly at Althof Retz. You pay there too.
Special Prize for the group!
PRICES FOR 2026 (incl. VAT/USt.)
Adults in double room per night including breakfast: € 90,–
Adults in triple room per night including breakfast: € 84,–
Single room supplement per night = double room plus € 15,–
Overnight tax per person and night € 2,50.
If you bring your family please ask for special conditions.
PRICES FOR MEALS 2026
Half board (lunch OR dinner) € 29,50
Full board (lunch AND dinner) € 52,–
Please note:
The accomodation (5 nights) must be paid at the reception desk of Althof Retz!
[Visacard and Mastercard are accepted.]
Don’t transfer to IDEA AUSTRIA bank account!
If you do not stay at Althof Retz we have special service for the Conference Days.
We will ask you about having meals some days before the event.
ADDITIONAL
- Drama Bar
- Book Table
- Theatre Project
- Kellerführung
- Code of Conduct
- Sustainability activities