AITA/IATA STANDING COMMITTEE FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH

World Festivals of Youth Theatre

Rules and Guidelines

The languages to be employed in all official business conducted by the Association are French,

English and Spanish. In case of difficulties of interpretation, the French language will take

precedence. - AITA/IATA Constitution, Article 28

Introduction

The AITA/IATA Standing Committee for Children and Youth believes:

  • A World Festival of Youth Theatre celebrates the world of young people in a creative, non-competitive, safe and open atmosphere. Each festival has at its core, the appreciation of cultural differences and similarities through the production of high-quality theatre.
  • Each Festival is a forum where young people meet not only as theatre-creators, but also as theatre-audience. Within the perspective of young adults performing for their peers, it is also a forum for discussion among themselves about what they have seen and to be inspired for future productions.
  • It is essential that the participating groups from different countries have the opportunity to meet and work together under their own guidance.
  • The Festival is a meeting place for discussion, learning, development, exchanges, and creation of networks.
  • To gain all of the benefits from such a unique event, the groups are expected to full participation in the entire festival program.

The Standing Committee for Children and Youth (SCCY) expects that the Host Organizing Committee (HOC), which organizes the festival, shares and respects these beliefs.

Structure

The Festival is composed of two parts:

  1. Theatre Performances
  2. All the participating groups watch all performances
  3. All participating groups participate in giving feed back
  1. Devising Theatre Workshops under the Theme
  2. The workshops are composed of youngsters from all the participating countries
  3. The workshops are led by international theatre students.
  4. In cooperation with an artistic coordinator, they create a final performance shown for a public audience.
  5. This performance should reflect the believes, hopes and visions of the participating youth

The Festival starts with a session for all participants with the purpose of introducing and building up the different teams and working groups. All participants are expected to attend this first meeting.

Cooperation and responsibility between HOC and SCCY

The HOC and the SCCY are a Joint Committee in the organization and operation of the Festival.

  • The HOC determines the overall logistics (number of groups, variety of productions, etc.) of the festival and its formal realization.
  • The SCCY is responsible for recruiting the group of international students which devise the theatre workshops
  • Members of the SCCY are part of the Selection Committee.

Selection Criteria

  • The performers are young adultsbetween 16 and 22 years of age
  • The production must carry out the theme and the criteria of the festival set by the hosting country.
  • Consideration must be given to representation from as many parts of the world as possible.

When the selection process is complete, the HOC will notify the National Centre of each selected production and the Chair of the SCCY of the HOC’s invitation.

Lingen, 17.October 2009

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AITA/IATA STANDING COMMITTEE FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH

World Festivals of Youth Theatre: Rules and Guidelines