Our work spans far beyond geographical boundaries, knowing that every corner of the globe holds profound creative wisdom. From remote Indigenous communities to urban performing arts centres, from community theatres to national institutions, we know that knowledge is not hierarchical but circular. Just as our elders can teach, they equally learn from the young. It’s all about our intention.
From the Arrernte people of Central Australia, this profound First Nations wisdom captures the heart of our global ASSITEJ community. Just as the storyteller and story are inseparable, so too are we – interconnected across continents, united by our commitment to theatre for young people.
Our work spans far beyond geographical boundaries, knowing that every corner of the globe holds profound creative wisdom. From remote Indigenous communities to urban performing arts centres, from community theatres to national institutions, we know that knowledge is not hierarchical but circular. Just as our elders can teach, they equally learn from the young. It’s all about our intention.
Our sector – theatre for young audiences – understands this fundamentally. We are not just creators of performance, but advocates, listeners, and constant learners, committed to amplifying voices of the young, and/or marginalised or overlooked.
I have had the privilege to be in a creative space with a collective of learning disabled and/or neurodivergent creatives in the last 6 months. They are united by their need to respond to aggressive online hate; united by the need to express themselves creatively. Part of the process has included storytelling, the telling of their true stories and experiences. The often-brutal realities of when humanity has been pitched against one another. But in the space where difference is acknowledged and held, we learn from one another. We learn the true, deep power of what resilience can be, and the incredible power of how creativity and collaboration cannot only bring people together but literally save lives.
In these times of global uncertainty, division, and complex challenges, our work becomes more urgent than ever. We will continue to work. We can do that work and create spaces of empathy, understanding, and genuine human connection.
Our theatres, our stages, our creative platforms are not just spaces of performance, but of resistance, healing, and hope. For me, it feels like the work is shifting; it’s more urgent than I’ve experienced before. I recognise the need to keep my heart and mind open, to listen deeply, and to be truly present with our global community of artists and audiences as we navigate increasingly complex social, political, and personal landscapes.
As we move forward, our collective journey is about more than artistic practice. I want to create spaces where understanding can bloom, where different perspectives can meet, and where the transformative power of performance can bridge seemingly impossible divides.
In the words of Nigerian Author Wole Soyinka: “When you understand the story, you understand the struggle” – a testament to the profound potential of our shared mission.
