Theater Thikwa

Theater Thikwa is a free (independent) theatre based in Berlin-Kreuzberg, Germany. Its name derives from the Hebrew word for hope. The company's defining principle is that people with and without disabilities make theatre and art together, and it describes itself as a pioneer of inclusion in the artistic field. It was founded in 1990 as Thikwa e. V. and has operated a shared venue with the English Theatre Berlin in the Mühlenhaupthöfe since 2006. The theatre's work spans drama, spoken word, music, dance, performance and visual art. Productions are developed jointly by artists with and without disabilities, and the house presents itself both as an artistic experiment and as a social testing ground. In the Thikwa Werkstatt für Theater und Kunst — a workshop run in cooperation with Nordberliner Werkgemeinschaft gGmbH since 1995 — all artistic projects, including theatre productions, exhibitions and performances, are created together by artists with and without disabilities. After its founding, the association produced its first four stagings between 1990 and 1993 as leisure projects. From 1994 it worked toward professionalising the artistic work of people with disabilities, and in 1995 the Theater-Werkstatt Thikwa was established. The workshop began as a model project funded by the Federal Ministry of Health — the first pilot of its kind in Germany — producing art full-time, 35 hours a week, rather than offering art as a supplementary activity. Starting in the Oranienstraße in Berlin-Kreuzberg with places for 12 employees with disabilities, capacity was raised to 20 by 2010; in October 2011 the workshop moved to larger premises at Fidicinstraße 3, near the Fidicinstraße 40 venue. By 2018 the workshop employed 44 artists with disabilities who form the ensemble of Theater Thikwa. From 1990 to 2005 the theatre had no venue of its own and depended on guest performances or renting other stages, appearing in established Berlin venues such as the Studio of the Maxim-Gorki-Theater, the Akademie der Künste, the Theater am Halleschen Ufer, the Podewil and the Sophiensäle. In 2005 the foundation council of the Deutsche Klassenlotterie Berlin approved a joint application by English Theatre Berlin (ETB) and Thikwa e. V. for funds to build a shared, barrier-free venue for audiences and artists. A large warehouse in the Mühlenhaupthöfe, Fidicinstraße 40, was rented and converted into what became the F40 venue, and a smaller studio was converted into the F40 Studiobühne with 60 seats. The large theatre, seating up to 120 spectators, was inaugurated on 28 August 2008. Since 2016 the designation F 40 is no longer used, and both venue partners present themselves under their own names. Theater Thikwa stages between 8 and 10 different productions in 70–90 performances each year at its venue. Artistic leadership has evolved over the decades. From 1990 to 2001 Christine Vogt, Gerlinde Altenmüller and Matthias Maedebach shared the artistic direction. From 2002 until her death in May 2012, Gerlinde Altenmüller was solely responsible for artistic direction. From 2012 to 2023 the theatre was led by Nicole Hummel and Gerd Hartmann; since June 2023 Nicole Hummel has shared the artistic direction with Laura Besch in a dual leadership. Laura Besch is part of the performance collective hannsjana, which has cooperated with Theater Thikwa several times. Gerd Hartmann remains associated with the house as a freelance director. Since 2001 the theatre has cooperated continuously with national and international groups and initiatives, producing co-productions. The official website notes a new artistic co-director and upcoming premieres such as "46 Quadratmeter" and "Nix gibt's!". The company remains an active independent theatre and workshop in Berlin, sustained by its association structure and public cultural funding, and continues to programme inclusive theatre, performance and art.

The history of Theater Thikwa began in 1990 with the founding of Thikwa e. V., whose goal was to promote the joint artistic work of people with disabilities and non-disabled artists. Initiated by Christine Vogt, the key founding members were Hanna Näter, Gerlinde Altenmüller and Matthias Maedebach, along with friends and staff of the Werkheim Zehlendorf. Klaus Altenmüller was responsible for theatre technology from the first production onward. Between 1990 and 1993 the first four stagings were created as leisure projects. From 1994 the association began efforts to professionalise the artistic work of people with disabilities. In 1995 the Theater-Werkstatt Thikwa was founded and has since been run in cooperation with NBW gGmbH. From 1990 to 2001 Christine Vogt, Gerlinde Altenmüller and Matthias Maedebach shared the artistic direction of the theatre. From 2002 until her death in May 2012, Gerlinde Altenmüller was solely responsible for artistic direction. From 2012 to 2023 the theatre was led by Nicole Hummel and Gerd Hartmann; since June 2023 Nicole Hummel has been responsible for artistic direction together with Laura Besch in a dual leadership. Laura Besch is part of the performance collective hannsjana, which had already cooperated with Theater Thikwa several times. Gerd Hartmann remains associated with the house as a freelance director. The theatre's principle is that different people work together — people with and without disabilities and from various artistic genres and cultures. The theatre sees itself as pioneering with regard to inclusion in the artistic field. It observes developments in social and aesthetic questions and responds to them with its artistic work. Productions in drama, language, music, dance, performance and art are intended to express both the differences among the participating people and their commonalities. Theater Thikwa also understands itself as an artistic experiment and a social testing ground. In the years 1995 to 1997 the Thikwa-Werkstatt für Theater und Kunst started as a model project. Funded by the Federal Ministry of Health, this pilot was the first such project in Germany. In the workshop, art was produced full-time, 35 hours a week, exclusively — distinguishing it from the then-common practice of offering artistic work as an accompanying activity to compensate for largely repetitive tasks. In its initial phase the Theaterwerkstatt Thikwa in Oranienstraße in Berlin-Kreuzberg offered artistic-sector jobs for 12 employees with disabilities. The Thikwa motto "Der Geist lässt sich nicht behindern" ("The mind cannot be disabled") was placed above the substantive work. Under this motto, the workshop's employees use artistic training and practice opportunities in the interrelated areas of drama and dance, craft and graphics, painting and sculpture. In connection with artistic working methods and processes, new methods of qualification, support and rehabilitation were and are being developed and tested. The number of jobs was increased to 20 by 2010. In October 2011 the workshop moved to larger premises at Fidicinstraße 3, in the immediate vicinity of the Fidicinstraße 40 venue, enabling a further expansion of capacity. In 2018 the Thikwa Werkstatt für Theater und Kunst employed 44 artists with disabilities, who form the ensemble of Theater Thikwa. From 1990 to 2005 Theater Thikwa was entirely dependent on guest performances or renting other venues. In line with its claim to be an equal part of Berlin's cultural life, performances took place from the beginning in established venues such as the Studio of the Maxim-Gorki-Theater, the Akademie der Künste, the Theater am Halleschen Ufer, the Podewil and the Sophiensäle. In 2005 the foundation council of the Deutsche Klassenlotterie Berlin approved the joint application by English Theatre Berlin (ETB) and Thikwa e. V. for funds to expand a shared venue that would be barrier-free for audiences and artists. In the Mühlenhaupthöfe, Fidicinstraße 40, a large warehouse was rented and converted into what became the F40 venue. In addition, a smaller studio was rented at the same location and converted into the F40 Studiobühne with 60 spectator seats. On 28 August 2008 the large theatre, which holds up to 120 spectators, was inaugurated. Since 2016 the designation F 40 is no longer used; both venue partners use their own names in their public presentation. Theater Thikwa stages between 8 and 10 different productions in 70–90 performances each year at its venue. Since 2001 the theatre has cooperated continuously with national and international groups and initiatives, resulting in co-productions.

• 2023

  Since June, Nicole Hummel and Laura Besch lead artistic direction in a dual leadership.

• 2018

  Thikwa Werkstatt employs 44 artists with disabilities, forming the theatre's ensemble.

• 2016

  The designation F 40 is no longer used; both venue partners present under their own names.

• 2012

  Gerlinde Altenmüller dies in May; Nicole Hummel and Gerd Hartmann take over artistic direction.

• 2011

  Workshop moves to larger premises at Fidicinstraße 3 in October.

• 2010

  Number of workshop jobs increased to 20.

• 2008

  Large theatre (up to 120 spectators) inaugurated on 28 August.

• 2006

  Theater Thikwa operates a shared venue with English Theatre Berlin in the Mühlenhaupthöfe.

• 2005

  Deutsche Klassenlotterie Berlin approves joint application by English Theatre Berlin and Thikwa e. V. for a shared barrier-free venue.

• 2001

  Continuous cooperation with national and international groups and initiatives begins.

• 1995

  Theater-Werkstatt Thikwa founded, run in cooperation with NBW gGmbH; model project funded by the Federal Ministry of Health (1995–1997).

• 1994

  Efforts begin to professionalise the artistic work of people with disabilities.

• 1990

  Thikwa e. V. founded in Berlin; first four productions created as leisure projects between 1990 and 1993.

An independent Berlin theatre and workshop pioneering inclusion in the arts, where artists with and without disabilities create work together; both an artistic experiment and a social testing ground.

• Theatre productions (drama, spoken word, music, dance, performance)

• Exhibitions and performances in the Thikwa Werkstatt

• Co-productions with national and international groups

• Artistic training and practice in drama/dance, craft/graphics, painting/sculpture

1. 1Startseite - Theater Thikwa Berlin Kreuzbergthikwa.de
2. 2Theater Thikwa - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Theater Thikwa - Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org