The students' play, which links the life of the resistance fighter Anna Pröll with their own, is ready. Before rehearsals and preparations for the performance began, the students went to Munich to experience theater live. For many, it was their first visit to the theater.

They had chosen the play "Robinson & Crusoe" at the Schauburg. Even the title was intriguing. Because Robinson Crusoe was actually one person. But maybe that's what it was a bit about?

In the midst of the unbearable background noise of a storm or war, two people, presumably soldiers, save themselves. They meet but can't understand each other. The audience didn't understand the different languages either. They were both speaking their own imaginary language that was incomprehensible to everyone else.

So how is understanding possible? First of all, there is a fear of the unknown, which is why everyone sees each other as opponents. A feeling familiar to both children and adults. Added to this are almost automatically insecurity and hostile behavior. It doesn't have to be this way, says not only the play, but also the accompanying material for preparing for and following up the play, which the Theater für junge Leute, the Münchner Schauburg, provides for schools: If we approach each other, are curious about what we don't know, we can overcome our fear of the unknown.

This is also the case in the play. Without a common basis of understanding, it is difficult to engage with one another. But at some point, the danger from outside becomes greater. Robinson and Crusoe see the need to act together in order to save themselves. Working together creates an exchange. Communication in a different way. Trust grows. The experience of working together means that you can no longer see the other one as an enemy. This is just as true on a large scale, at country level and in world politics, as it is on a small scale, in one's own neighborhood, for example.

After the play, the young people had pizza and drinks with Wolfsmehl, their theater group leader, and talked for a long time about what they had experienced. Everyone liked the futuristic make-up and costumes. The actors also did well. What the seventh and eighth graders criticized was the enormous soundscape, which sometimes even hurt their ears. And that you couldn't understand anything at all. A play in which the AI-generated fantasy languages of the actors remained completely incomprehensible, even for the audience, was a real challenge.

The students finally returned to Gersthofen with many colorful impressions. "Our play - "A Diary for Love" - is at least as good", said Patrick, one of the students. We're really looking forward to it!

And not to forget: Many thanks to Felix Mayr, Anna-Pröll-Schule, for the photos of the theater excursion!