Festival Politics in Free Theater: Rediscovering boundaries in Leipzig!

Festival Politics in Free Theater: Rediscovering boundaries in Leipzig!

The “Politics in Free Theater” festival is gathering in Leipzig and begins today, October 16, 2025, with a diverse program centered around the motto “Borders”. From October 16th to 25th, visitors can look forward to a total of 16 theater and dance guest performances, which will be performed in five Leipzig theaters - including the Schauspiel Leipzig and the Theater der Junge Welt. Organized by the Federal Agency for Civic Education, the festival is in its 12th edition this year. How MDR reports, the selection of performances has proven to be so popular that the 16 most exciting projects from 455 applications were chosen by an expert jury.

The opening ceremony is scheduled for this evening from 6 p.m. in the ag(o)ra of the Schauspiel Leipzig. A highlight of the evening will be the performance of “Dancing with our Neighbors” by Gob Squad, accompanied by concerts by the Brazzbandits and the big band So-called Anarchist Music Industry. This festival promises a wide-ranging thematic discussion: conflicts, identities and our dealings with the environment are examined as well as the challenges that come with city and country life.

Diverse program for every age group

Particular attention is paid to the supporting program, which includes over 150 events and projects. In addition to the performances, this also includes workshops, discussions, film screenings and artistic city walks. The “Backstage” project at the main station in particular will attract a lively audience with daily performances and exciting discussions. Here, visitors can not only enjoy the performances, but also actively participate in the discussions and thus become part of the creative exchange themselves. The Partner of Schauspiel Leipzig, which include LOFFT – THE THEATER and Schaubühne Lindenfels, ensure that the whole thing is a delight for the eyes and ears.

What is particularly noteworthy is that more than a third of the theater and dance guest performances were staged specifically for a young audience, which means that children and young people aged 6 and over also get their money's worth here. A great example of this is the “Young Festival”, which is aimed specifically at schools and educational institutions and aims to appeal to the next generation of people interested in art and culture.

Cultural reflection and social discussion

Social issues also play a central role in the festival. Particular attention is paid to the piece “The Director’s Guide for Theater During Wartime,” which deals with the Middle East conflict. After the performance, audience discussions are planned to enable a dialogue about the complicated connections and human fates. This reflects the desire to use art and culture as a means of communication to initiate social discourse - a concern that is also supported by Aachen city portal is supported. The influence of art and culture on identity formation and intercultural understanding should not be underestimated.

In conclusion, it remains to be said that the “Politics in Free Theater” festival not only offers a platform for creative development and artistic debate, but also plays an important role in the exchange of current social issues. So if you make it to Leipzig in the next few days, you definitely shouldn't miss this cultural stronghold - after all, this is where art meets political events, and all in a festive setting!