The Mainz Children’s and Youth Theater Festival is an integral part of Mainz’s theater and cultural scene. For many years, it has been bringing theater for young audiences to the city’s stages and offering families from Mainz and the surrounding region a diverse program. Up to 4,000 visitors are expected this year.

Jana Schmöller, Commissioner for Children and Youth, explains: “Theater opens up new worlds for children and young people. They can laugh, be amazed, get caught up in the action, and discover their own imagination along the way. The Mainz Children’s and Youth Theater Festival makes exactly that possible and, with its diverse program, shows that there is a theater experience to suit every age and every taste.”

The program ranges from well-known characters and stories to new and unusual theatrical experiences. Among other things, young visitors can look forward to Ritter Rost, Thumbelina, and The Silly Augustine. “Mozart’s Little Nightmare” is also on the program. “The Bremen Town Musicians” is another popular classic on the lineup. The various productions are aimed at children and teens of different age groups, offering suitable theater experiences for both the youngest children and older kids.

Claudia Wehner, coordinator of the children’s theater festival at the Mainzer Kammerspiele, says: “We want to spark an interest in theater among children and teens and show them that theater can tell a wide variety of stories and evoke all kinds of emotions. I’m very pleased that we’re once again able to offer such a diverse and high-quality program this year.”

Numerous cultural institutions and theaters in Mainz are participating in the festival. Among them are the Mainzer Kammerspiele, mainzplus GmbH with the Frankfurter Hof and the KUZ Kulturzentrum Mainz, the Staatstheater Mainz, the Unterhaus Mainzer Forum-Theater, the Kulturbäckerei/K-LAB, the Junge Bühne Mainz, and the WishmobTheater.

The festival traditionally takes place between the summer and fall breaks, making it a special cultural event for families. The extensive program is made possible through the collaboration of the participating cultural institutions as well as the support of patrons and sponsors.

“I would like to thank all our partners and the many people behind the scenes whose dedication ensures that this festival can take place every year,” said Schmöller. “I would like to extend my special thanks to the Rhineland-Palatinate Ministry of Municipal Affairs, Construction, Housing, and Culture for its grant of 9,000 euros, as well as to ENTEGA for its advertising subsidy of 2,000 euros.”

Advance ticket sales for the individual performances have begun. Tickets are available directly at the respective venues. The complete program and further information about the festival can be found here.  (opens in a new tab)