European initiative derived from research by CEDEFOP and EFRE, focusing on improving community development and living/working conditions.
In an effort to raise awareness about the pressing issue of school stress, the school theater group "poco*mania" is set to perform a series of immersive and interactive productions this May and June. Founded by Axel Mertens in 2002, poco*mania specialises in experiential theater, providing audiences with a unique opportunity to engage in real-life simulations and reflect on the challenges faced by students due to academic expectations and social demands.
The MCG troupe, composed of students from grades 5 to 10, will take the stage at the Marie-Curie-Gymnasium auditorium and the Rhineland State Theater studio stage on May 24, June 7, and June 28. Each performance will be followed by discussions under the motto "Asked afterwards!", offering the audience a chance to share their thoughts and experiences on the topic of school stress.
Julia, a student from grade 10, emphasises that school stress is an important topic that adults may not always consider. "We want to give a voice to children and young people affected by school stress," she explains. The plays performed by poco*mania are based on the actors' own experiential world, including their own experiences with school stress.
Despite the heavy subject matter, the actors in poco*mania ensure that their performances do not portray personal burdens or affectations. "We only portray things that do not personally burden or affect us," says Julia, along with her fellow student Charlotta from grade 5. The actors in poco*mania have not experienced burnout yet, but they have all experienced school stress in some way.
Axel Mertens, the founder of poco*mania, currently teaches theater at the Marie-Curie-Gymnasium. Through their work, poco*mania aims to raise awareness about school stress as a problem and to provoke reflection and emotional involvement from audiences, fostering empathy and dialogue.
For those interested in learning more about poco*mania's recent projects or mission statements, the group encourages visiting their official website or social media channels. The performances by poco*mania aim to show adults the impact of school stress on children and young people, and to create a platform for open and honest discussions about this important issue.
The performances by "pocomania" will engage audiences in discussions about school stress, providing a platform for young people to voice their experiences and opinions under the motto "Asked afterwards!". As part of their education and self-development, students in pocomania explore the impact of school stress through experiential theater, shedding light on this important issue for a younger lifestyle audience.
