Berlin International Youth Theatre (BIYT) has been offering expert-led weekly drama classes and producing original, high-quality productions for over a decade.
Made up of a magical mixture of children and teenagers from different countries, cultures and schools, BIYT offers participants the opportunity to learn theater skills and perform onstage. At the same time, the youth theater provides a platform for social exchange, friendship, creative expression and communication in English.
Led by experienced theater practitioners Priscilla Bergey and Grace Holme, BIYT produces exciting and ambitious theater that appeals to young and old alike.
“Growing up as a shy school girl in Berlin, joining BIYT helped shape the woman I am today. I found a safe and trusting environment in which I could come out of my shell and be free to play any role without fear.” ~ Rebecca Fixemer – Acting Student of the Year Award 2017 / Institute of the Arts Barcelona
The new fall term for the BIYT Ensemble, Lab and Ignite classes starts in September!
please contact us by sending an email to bergey@etberlin.de to sign up for a taster session.
We are looking forward to meeting you!
The BIYT Ensemble
Ages 13 to 19 | Classes are held in Berlin-Mitte | Saturdays 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm
This is a three-hour intensive class which focuses on devising a play to be performed on the main stage in June. Drawing from a wide spectrum of acting techniques, this class allows students to develop their own characters and stories. Through dramatic improvisations, scene building, choreography and creative writing, students will learn the art of devising.
They will write and choreograph their own monologue with the help of an experienced director and other theater specialists. This class is a rare opportunity to work with some of the best theater makers the city has to offer in an established theater. Grace Holme will direct one of Shakespeare’s comedies for this year’s Ensemble production.
The BIYT Lab
Ages 10 to 13 | Classes are held in Berlin-Mitte | Saturdays 10:00 am – 11:30 am
This course is intended for students who are excited about acting but not ready to commit to the afternoon intensive sessions or perhaps have less experience. These classes focus on stretching and strengthening the basic tools of acting that everyone already has – the imagination, body and voice. The first part of the class consists of fun, relaxing theater games to free the imagination, make everyone feel comfortable within the group and inspire self-confidence. The second part focuses on learning basic devising techniques, creating characters and developing a story as a group. This course is taught by Priscilla Bergey.
BIYT Ignite
Ages 8 to 10 | Classes are held in Berlin-Kreuzberg | Saturdays 10:30 am – 12:00 pm
These classes are designed especially for children from the ages of 8 to 10, to fire up the imagination and spark a love of theater and performance. The focus is on having fun, gaining confidence, learning skills and making friends along the way. We will play theater games, sing, move, dance, practice characterization and work together to bring stories to life. This course is taught by Olivia Dean.
To register and for more information please contact Priscilla Bergey at bergey@etberlin.de.
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BIYT´s Past Productions:
- 2024 Tale of the Rebel Waves: The Prelude – In 2010 we told the adventures of a magical ship crewed by feisty pirate maids. In this prelude we found out how it all began. Filled with haunting songs, magical costumes and stunning scenery.
- 2023 Rumours in the Shadows – a trip to the castle of Henry VIII in the year 1535 …
- 2022 The Theory of Waiting – Loosely based on Samuel Beckett´s Waiting for Godot
- 2021 Murder at Brightshadow Manor – an original gothic murder mystery created in spite of incredible obstacles and beautifully performed.
- 2020 Dreams of a Seed, a surreal audio play, the journey of five seedlings as they search for a place to sprout …
- 2019 Feathers in the Fire in which the other side of Icarus is revealed. Based on the Greek myth of Icarus, and using elements of physical theater.
- 2018 Tribal Schmibal – A Parable, a play based on true events, which turned into a parable about intolerance, bullying and forgiveness.
- 2017 Till Someone Sneezes Re-visited. Our “Directors Cut” with a new cast and plot twists
- 2016 Sinner’s Circle – the Salem Witchcriers, a gothic horror tale based on the infamous Salem Witch Trials
- 2015 Into the Haystack, a dramatic investigation of surveillance in a suspiciously normal yet surreal society where the citizens have given up all rights to privacy
- 2014 Shakespeare’s Macbeth – a huge success!!
- 2013 MODELMONSTERMODEL – The Curse of Narcissus , a fashion-horror thriller with incredible costumes.
- 2012 Till Someone Sneezes, based on The Skin of Our Teeth by Thornton Wilder. Check it out on YouTube.
- 2011 Blood of the Butterfly, a science fiction fantasy where three separate civilizations become entangled in a web of greed, presented in June and again in December 2011.
- 2010 saw BIYT’s first full-length theater production, Tale of the Rebel Waves.