Dirk H. Fröse worked as editor and theatre critic for a variety of daily newspapers and was editor-in-chief of the journal “Die Deutsche Bühne”. He worked as a dramaturg at the theatres in Cologne and Frankfurt (Main), was head of the Junges Staatstheater Wiesbaden for eight years, and member of the board of ASSITEJ Germany for ten years where he was accorded the highest distinction and honorary membership. He furthermore served on numerous theatre juries and is currently part of the theatre advisory board of Cologne. He has been translating Swedish drama since the beginning of the 1980s, primarily plays for children and youth, for which he has received the Translation Prize of the Writers Guild of Sweden.

“I am particularly interested in the use of language(s); the possible magic of actors, actresses and staging; the encounter between acting and performative forms; and the social context.”

Bernd Mand studied Art History and History in Heidelberg. He lives in Mannheim and works as a culture journalist and theatre critic. Among others he was a member of the jury of the Youth Theatre Prize Baden-Württemberg and is cofounder of the next generation culture journalism project GUSTAV, which promotes youth in their role as cultural mediators and propagators.

“I am looking for theatre that turns the audience into an accomplice. Theatre that incites, infects and sometimes disregards the pedagogue. Theatre that knows its responsibilities and does not shy away from social and artistic obligations. Theatre that has a clear view of the world and its players, and that takes its audience and stories seriously.”

Steffen Moor studied Theatre and Comparative Studies at Ruhr University Bochum and started engaging in theatre-practical work on the side. Apart from direct actions in and around public spaces, stage set building and story collecting, Steffen created work for all generations. He is interested in questions regarding the origin of theatre and the political on and beyond the stage.

“I like to discover interstices, gaps – courageous, political, and above all experimental theatre that goes beyond newly learnt conventions.”

Anne Paffenholz studied English, Theatre-, Film- and Television Science, as well as German at the Universities of Cologne and Warwick (UK). Following her graduate degree she completed a diploma study programme in Drama Theatre and Dramaturgy at the University of Hamburg. Between 2005 and 2012 she worked as a dramaturg and theatre pedagogue at the THEATER AN DER PARKAUE in Berlin. Since September 2012 she has been engaged as a freelance dramaturg, theatre pedagogue and project manager for a variety of cultural institutions, schools and festivals in Berlin.

“I am looking for theatre that has something to tell its audience. Theatre that touches, moves and inspires. Theatre that wants and dares something – in terms of its content and form.”

Melanie Suchy is a journalist. She studied linguistics, worked for a variety of cultural support and exchange organizations, and learned Physical Theatre and dance on the side. This all inspired her to see art on stage and since the 1980s she has found a home in the independent performing arts. Melany’s interests finally coincided in her work for the Fonds Darstellende Künste as well as in the organization of the Theaterzwang Festival in 2006. Following her master’s degree she also ventured into the field of journalism. She has been writing for several years now, primarily about dance.

“As a viewer but also curator of Augenblick mal! 2015, what I expect from theatre is: nothing. No: everything. In the valuable time during which theatre takes place it condenses the world and humanity, it awakens me; it enlarges, entangles, unravels its limited space in astounding ways. For this I open my senses, including my heart and my brain.”