Inner Hero's Journey
Lead: Paul
You find your own arc: Where do I hear the call? Where do I meet my inner dragon? What do I bring back?
Theatre. Hero's Journey. Forum.
From Tadpole to Dragon
Three days. Three paths. One stage.
A three-day theatre intensive workshop for teachers, social workers, and educators. Three trainers. Three parallel paths. One shared Forum Theatre finale.
August 5–7, 2026 · Theaterakademie Stuttgart
Note: The workshop is held in German. This English page is for orientation.
You know how it is
You know how it is. It's 14:32, you're standing in the classroom or the counselling group or at the dinner table in the youth centre, and someone says something that makes every possible answer the wrong one. Three seconds of awkward silence. You go with answer B.
On the drive home, in the car, answer F comes to mind. You curse quietly. It's not the first time.
In three days, you'll try answer F. And G. And H. And three more you haven't even thought of yet.
Three days. Three trainers. Three paths.
The concept
You choose every morning who guides you:
- Paul with the inner Hero's Journey,
- Hayan with group dynamics,
- Katrin with staging.
Nobody tells you which path to take. But all three paths lead to the same stage on the last day.
What is Forum Theatre?
The thread that ties it all together is Forum Theatre. Forum Theatre is not a concept you have to understand. It's one you'll grasp through doing.
A small scene from your work life is brought onto the stage. It ends badly, the way it has often ended before. Then you call out „STOP!", step onto the stage, take on a role, try answer F.
The other players respond for real. What seemed inevitable becomes negotiable. And the best part: nobody judges whether your answer F was „better" than answer B. You try — and next time, you try answer G.
The Hero's Journey
The Hero's Journey sounds pompous at first. It is. And that's exactly why it works. You look at your own situation as a story. You as the main character. The conflict as the trial. The solution — the one you're searching for — as the gift you bring back.
Sounds esoteric? We promise: in 60 minutes of body work and tableau exercises, it turns into something you can use next Monday in your classroom. Or in your next theatre project.
Three paths through three days
We all work with different tools. You decide every morning which path pulls you the most. Nobody experiences everything. You experience a full Hero's Journey — through the gates that fit you.
Group Dynamics & Forum
Lead: Hayan
You experience the group as a living body, learn status work after Johnstone, work with tableaux, and try forum within the group.
Forum & Staging
Lead: Katrin
You build conflict scenes, take on the Joker role, and help prepare the staging of the shared finale.
On Friday
Shared Forum Theatre Finale
In the afternoon of the third day, all participants come together on one stage. We play a small conflict scene from everyday educational life — you call out „STOP!", step onto the stage, try what you haven't tried yet in your daily work.
Lead: Katrin · Contribution: Hayan · Framing: Paul (Hero's Journey)
Shared image
What you take home — in concrete terms
- You learn to read a conflict situation as a tableau — and to change it with a single movement.
- You experience status work after Keith Johnstone in your own body and will never again „unconsciously" come across as high or low status.
- You try how a „Joker" guides a group through a Forum Theatre round — without manipulating, without preaching.
- You build a small scene and bring it onto the stage. You'll be amazed at what's possible in two hours.
You don't rehearse for a performance. You rehearse for next Tuesday morning.
Theatre-curious? Then this is your playground. You don't need an acting degree. You need the will to try things out, a workday that doesn't always run smoothly, and three days of time.
Who guides you
Paul
Inner Hero's Journey
[Short profile to follow: training, work experience, focus areas.]
Hayan
Group Dynamics & Forum
[Short profile to follow.]
Katrin
Forum & Staging
[Short profile to follow.]
Practical info
- Dates
- Wednesday August 5 – Friday August 7, 2026
- Time
- 4 hours per day ([time to follow])
- Location
- Theaterakademie Stuttgart, Fuchseckstraße 7, 70188 Stuttgart-Ost, Germany
- Language
- German (this page is provided for orientation)
- Format
- 3 parallel paths, daily choice, shared Forum Theatre finale on Friday
- Fee
- €360 · Early bird €320 (deadline: [to follow])
- Booking
- Full package only (all 3 days)
- Group size
- Max. 15 participants per path (45 total)
- Requirement
- Enthusiasm for theatre. Prior theatre experience not required.
- Bring
- Comfortable clothes you can move in
- Registration
- via the form on this page
Detailed program and trainer profiles available as PDF on request. [Download links to follow]
Scepticism welcome
Scepticism welcome.
If on day one you think „what am I doing here?", you're in good company. If on day three you're on the stage and suddenly know what to do differently in the next conflict, it was worth it.
Reserve your spot
Just drop us a line that you'd like to be there. We confirm within 48 hours and send you the payment and preparation info.
Information for school administrators
Recognition of this workshop as continued teacher training in Baden-Württemberg is at the discretion of the respective school administration. We're happy to provide the following materials for your decision:
- Detailed program (PDF)
- Trainer profiles (PDF)
- Certificate of attendance template
Please write to [email to follow] with the subject „School administrator info".
Frequently asked questions
Do I need theatre experience?
No. You need the desire to engage in play — nothing more. The exercises are built so that beginners can follow safely without prior knowledge.
Can I book just one day?
No, we only sell the workshop as a complete package. There's a reason: the Hero's Journey and the shared finale on Friday only work if you're there for all three days.
What if I can't decide which path to choose?
That's exactly what the daily choice is for. You decide every morning anew — go with your gut. If in the middle of the day you realise another path fits better, just talk to us.
Is the workshop recognised as teacher training?
In Baden-Württemberg, this is decided by the respective school administration. We provide all necessary documents (program, trainer profiles, certificate of attendance). Talk to your administration early.
What's included in the price?
Three days of workshop at the Theaterakademie Stuttgart, all materials, a certificate of attendance. You arrange your own food and travel.
What if I can't attend at short notice?
Cancellation up to 14 days before the start: 100% refund. After that: 50%. From 3 days before the start: no refund. You can nominate a substitute at any time.
What language is the workshop in?
The workshop is held in German. Basic German conversation skills are required to follow the exercises. If you have language concerns, contact us before registering.
Who's behind the workshop?
[Organiser info to follow.]