The basis for this is a concept for "restructuring the theater offerings for young audiences in Bonn", which was jointly developed by the General Director of Theater Bonn, Dr. Bernhard Helmich, and JTB Director Moritz Seibert. The concept will be implemented with a cooperation agreement in which Bonn's two largest theaters agree to work together closely and amicably. The cooperation between the two theaters is intended to help maintain and further strengthen the diverse theater offerings and effective structures. Theater Marabu and Bühne in der Brotfabrik will also be involved in the content-related cooperation.

"It is very good news that the successful work of the Junges Theater and Theater Marabu will be put on a stable footing together with Theater Bonn," says Mayor Katja Dörner, "At the same time, it is a strong signal of cooperation between municipal theater and the independent scene. This will strengthen and secure the diverse theater landscape in Bonn. It is important to me that we also secure the offers for children and young people through the cooperation and thus promote cultural participation at the same time." Dr. Birgit Schneider-Bönninger, Head of the Department of Sport and Culture, also welcomes the cooperation. "This cooperation will significantly strengthen the children's and youth theater sector throughout the city," says Schneider-Bönninger, "This is a milestone in the further development of Bonn's theater landscape."

The JTB has been the best-attended theater for young audiences in Germany for many years and attracted around 140,000 visitors a year before the pandemic. Despite its enormous success, the financial situation of the private theater on Hermannstrasse in Beuel is difficult because public subsidies are much lower than for comparable theaters. The cooperation will now compensate for this financial disadvantage.

"In future, we will develop our repertoires together, coordinate them and grow closer together artistically," says General Director Dr. Bernhard Helmich about the proposed cooperation with the JTB. In addition to the artistic cooperation, there is also an economic aspect. The JTB will receive cash and in-kind contributions from Theater Bonn totaling almost half a million euros annually in order to implement the jointly designed and coordinated repertoire and to be able to provide its theater offerings for young audiences at least to the same extent as before. The workshops and fundi of Theater Bonn, which the JTB will be able to use in future, will also contribute to this.

"We are very happy and relieved about the planned cooperation, which will secure our existence," explains JTB director Moritz Seibert. Above all, however, he is also looking forward to the content-related and artistic collaboration. Theater Bonn wants to further strengthen its commitment to young audiences by working with the JTB. Together, the institutions offer high-quality and diverse theater and thus introduce young people to the theater. At the same time, the future joint appearance of Junges Theater and Theater Bonn will highlight the great importance of theater as a public space for discourse for the city's citizens, including young people.

The first co-production between the two theaters was planned for the Beethoven festival year with 'Wie im Himmel', but fell victim to the pandemic. Other co-productions are already in the pipeline, as are joint projects to improve the marketing of offers for young people or to further reduce barriers and achieve the greatest possible inclusion in both theaters.

Collaboration with Theater Marabu is also to be intensified as part of the cooperation. It is planned that a cooperation project between Theater Bonn and Theater Marabu will take place at least every second season. While this will enable Theater Bonn to expand its offering for young audiences, Theater Marabu will receive financial support through the production on the one hand and will become more firmly anchored in the city's consciousness through its educational theater offerings and the good networking of PORTAL in schools on the other.

The resolution can be downloaded  here .