16–20 November 2026

At a time when democratic values are increasingly under pressure, Oper Köln and Schauspiel Köln are joining forces for a week to become a vibrant laboratory for political participation. We invite school groups, families and everyone interested to do more than simply discuss democracy – we want them to experience it, take part and help shape it. Let's power up!

Around Offenbachplatz, participants can look forward to a diverse programme of performances, talks, readings, participatory art projects, exhibitions, community music, simulation games and hands-on democracy workshops. The programme is developed in collaboration with numerous partners from across Cologne's civic community.

Register: https://www.oper.koeln/produktion/power-demokratie-festival

Our theatre labs offer everyone the opportunity to get actively involved in theatre. Drawing on current productions, participants can gain stage experience, experiment and form an ensemble in multi-part projects under professional guidance – without the pressure of putting on a production. Ideal for beginners or anyone looking to develop their theatre skills.

Theatre Lab on PINOCCHIO 

Who do we want to be today? Which version of myself do I choose? In this theatre lab for families with children aged 8 and up, we set out together to explore, play, and improvise. First of four sessions, including a theatre visit in January 2027.

ZEICHEN DER ZEIT - Theatre Lab on HUNDERT 

What does your age mean to you? What do we have in common despite all the differences between us? In this intergenerational lab we relate different life experiences to each other, weave memories together and look at other people’s real lives. For everyone aged 14 and over who wants to find out more about each other. The first of five sessions, which include a visit to a performance, will be in October 2026.

FEMALE RAGE – Theatre Lab on Several Productions

We explore the power of female rage, which is of ten repressed, swallowed or sneered at. What can become possible if we no longer nod, say “yes” and cross our legs? We learn new ways of acting using techniques from civic education and performance art. Or, in the words of Beyoncé: “OK ladies, now let’s get in formation!” The first of five sessions, which include a visit to a performance, will be in March 2027.

Between Haftbefehl and Harry Styles. Bad Bunny and BTS. Apsilon and Apache. Your dad and your grandad. Gym bro, gamer, NPC, softie, T-boy, TikTok boy and main character. The image of masculinity is diverse. Yet despite all this, there is a noticeable comeback of the alpha male. In OH BOYS!, POLYLUX explores masculinity as a personal experience. How do you actually become a "man"?

Participation is free and no previous experience is required. Introductory workshops for young people aged 14 to 20 will take place in October.

To register, please contact theaterstadtschule@schauspiel.koeln

For everyone who is curious and wants more practical experience: the stage is yours! In our open workshops, you can try out theatre for yourself. Each workshop is different, takes place in a safe environment and lasts two and a half hours, drawing on current productions from our repertoire. No previous experience is required.

https://www.schauspiel.koeln/produktion/offener-theaterworkshop

GOLD! nimmt seinen Anfang in Köln-Mülheim, seinen Straßen und Geschäften, wo Menschen es gelernt haben, Hürden zu überwinden, findig zu werden und in widrigem Terrain zu überleben. Von hier aus zieht das Projekt rund um den Globus, sammelt Taktiken und subversive Gesänge aus Kontexten, die vielleicht noch nie hatten, was wir gerade zu verlieren drohen.

Was wäre, wenn wir diese Erfahrungen, die zu oft unsichtbar bleiben, gemeinsam in Gold verwandelten? Wo am Rhein bis ins 19. Jahrhundert Gold gewaschen wurde, machen wir neues: Mit allen Beteiligten hebeln wir die Verknappungslogik des Kapitalismus aus. In sieben Recherchephasen tragen wir Geschichten, Stimmen und Ereignisse aus der Mitte der Gesellschaft zusammen.

Mehr Informationen zur Teilnahme folgen im Laufe der Spielzeit.

In our Music Theatre Lab, the opera and theatre departments come together to explore theatre and music as a group. Inspired by HOFFMANNS ERZÄHLUNGEN (Oper Köln) and HUNDERT (Schauspiel Köln), we'll explore life experiences, turning points and growing older. We'll create our own fictional and personal stories and bring our voices together to create a shared sound.
Open to everyone.
Artistic direction: Anna Mangold and David Vogel

Dates
Lab sessions: 3, 10, 17, 24 November and 1 December 2026, 19-21 h
Optional Performance visit HUNDRED: 12 November, 20.00 h
performance visit HOFFMANN'S TALES: 10 December 2026, 19.30 h

https://www.oper.koeln/produktion/musiktheaterlabor

Who do we want to be today? Which version of myself do I choose? In this theatre lab for families with children aged eight and up, we set out together to explore, play and improvise.

The first of four sessions, including a theatre visit, will take place in January 2027.

We explore the power of female rage – anger that is often repressed, swallowed or laughed off. What becomes possible when we stop nodding, saying "yes" and crossing our legs? Using methods from civic education and performance art, we explore new ways of taking action. Or, in the words of Beyoncé: "OK ladies, now let's get in formation!"

The first of five sessions, including a visit to a performance, will take place in March 2027.

GOLD! begins in Cologne-Mülheim, in its streets and shops, where people have learned to overcome obstacles, improvise, and survive in difficult terrain. From here, the project moves around the globe, gathering tactics and subversive songs from contexts that may never have had what we are now in danger of losing.

What if we could transform these experiences, which so often remain invisible, into gold together? Along the Rhine, where gold was panned until the 19th century, we make something new: together with everyone involved, we challenge capitalism's logic of scarcity. In seven phases of research, we collect stories, voices, and events from the heart of society.

More information on how to take part will follow over the course of the season.