Early in the morning, they headed for the train. The pics4peace theater kids from Augsburg set off for Würzburg with their Author Mentor Wolfsmehl, two teachers and Mr. Braun from FBK. Once there, they were welcomed by pics4peace and immediately whisked away to the Mainfrankentheater.

Masked in the masque? For actors only preparation. For make-up artists it is hard work. But Wolfgang Weber, the head make-up artist at the Mainfrankentheater, and his team could really see the joy they have in the process. He explains enthusiastically: "Everything is made here: makeup, wigs, masks, from young to old and vice versa, scars, wounds, ghosts, bald heads, vampires, animals and much more. An art of its own!  Wolfgang Weber made his craft vivid for the pics4peace theater kids from Augsburg. He even pulled out his folder from his apprenticeship with wig-tying exercises and other examples.

In the tailor shop, everyone bent over the large work table. The master tailor showed the kids what was involved in making costumes: dresses, like in the Middle Ages, wild outfits or suits for the space probe, all handmade. Tailor-made for each actor. And if one of them drops out and has to be replaced? Maybe even by someone with a completely different figure who doesn't fit into the costume? That's when they get inventive. Because one thing is clear: In the end, a solution must be found that is suitable for the stage!

Leyla, Sarah, Sedra, Arda, Daniel, Paolo and Tim were even able to visit the outdoor stage in the ivy courtyard of the town hall. Lacing master Werner Weber, who among other things built the audience stand and is responsible for the technical constructions, showed how the blackouts work and invited the students to help him pull up a side wall. On stage, they were then allowed to read the last scene from their play. What a surprise, then, when Lord Mayor Christian Schuchardt and Mayoress Marion Schäfer joined the team and greeted the young visitors!

Whether stage painter or carpenter, make-up artist, tailor, lacing master or Tyron Kretzschmar with his 19 years, who led knowledgeably and entertainingly through the Mainfranken Theater and as a musician and musical actor already has a lot of theater experience himself, - they all answered the many questions of the interested students with pleasure. The kids still have a lot of plans:

The Theater Kids from pics4peace from Augsburg, meet every week on Tuesdays after class for a year with playwright Wolfsmehl as their author mentor to write their own play about what moves them. The project is a cooperative effort from the federal program "Kultur macht stark" ("Culture makes you strong"), organized for the Augsburg students by the Friedrich Bödecker Circle of Bavaria together with pics4peace and the Sensemble Theater.

The play is now finished. It is entitled "DIE KLASSE" (The Class) and is about a girl who doesn't have enough money to go to a school hostel. How she fared, what she had to suffer and experience, and then what all happened in class is captured in exciting scenes and backed up by danced raps. But there is still a lot to do before this can be seen at the end of the year. Because one of the kids' tasks is to prepare EVERYTHING that happens in front of and also behind the scenes. Hard to believe, isn't it?

In order to look beyond their own horizons, they traveled to Würzburg especially for this purpose. The professionals from the Mainfranken Theater showed them what is possible. What was particularly interesting was that they, too, often have to react very spontaneously. In doing so, they always have to ask - as they do everywhere - what financial resources are available, even in the workshops. How is it possible to put something cool on stage despite limited means? Good ideas are necessary. Often, a walk through the hardware store or a look in the old clothes box and a few handicrafts can make a lot of difference.

The young theater ensemble was also able to find out about the different job descriptions. Who knows, maybe one of them will end up not only in front of the stage but also backstage? The theaters could need it, as Wolfgang Weber pointed out. Because there, too, young talent is now rare. A small guided tour of the city by the chairwoman of pics4peace, Pia, and a picnic on the sunny Main rounded off the visit.

It was great that you Kids were here! We are looking forward to seeing more of you! In winter on the school stage and at the Sensemble Theater in Augsburg....