Developing theatre games in schools & workshops
How do I facilitate a game design exercise? How do I develop a theatre game during a school project week? How do I integrate digital and analog technology into my theatre education work? How do I write interactive fiction for the stage, audio walks, or urban games? What do I need to design a narrative space?
The machina eX toolkit provides fitting resources for anyone asking these questions. For over 15 years, the Berlin-based game-theatre collective machina eX has combined game mechanics, coding, and interactive spaces with the classic techniques of illusion theatre. More than thirty productions have given rise to an extensive body of practice – now prepared in a form that teachers, theatre educators, and other facilitators can use independently in lessons and workshops.
From November 6, toolkit.machinaex.de offers practical exercises, technical guides, and expert input that can be freely combined. The materials cover the fundamentals of game-theatre – such as game mechanics, branching dramaturgies, and interactive props – and show how to integrate game design elements into theatre education work or build your own playable theatre scenes, up to full-length productions. Anyone planning a concrete project will also find Flows: curated combinations of materials for targeted projects with a specific focus and duration, which can be used, for example, to learn game-theatre basics, develop productions with school classes, or design narrative spaces.
We’ll be celebrating the launch on November 6, 2026, at HAU Hebbel am Ufer with an accompanying program.
OPEN CALL
Beta testers wanted
For the final phase of our project, we’re still looking for testers who’d like to independently try out the beta version of our toolkit and give us feedback in Zoom calls.
What to expect
You’ll test the beta version of our website with exercises, methods, and expert input on game-theatre, and give feedback on clarity and usability.
We are looking for
Teachers and theatre educators who work with groups or classes and are interested in new methods for theatre education.
No prior technical knowledge is required.
How to participate
The testing and review phase runs from September 17 to October 15. During this time, there are two Zoom sessions – a kickoff starting September 17 and a wrap-up on October 15, both at 5 pm – with the opportunity in between to independently test the beta version of the toolkit and give feedback.
It would be great if you could join both Zoom sessions.
Registration
Sign up for our mailing list to receive information about the sessions (in German).
If you have any questions, email us:
Anton Krause & Lena Vöcklinghaus
E-Mail: toolkit@machinaex.de
Before your first appointment, you will receive an information email with all the details.
Credit: Elisa Haubert
Concept: machina eX /// Editors: Clara Ehrenwerth, Anton Krause, Lasse Marburg, Lena Vöcklinghaus /// Web Design and Development: Elisa Haubert /// Video Production: Anton Krause, Anton Rose /// Theatre pedagogy advisory: Lukas Müller, Leicy Venezuela /// Production Management: Sina Kießling
Production: machina eX. Co-production: HAU Hebbel am Ufer. Funded by: Berliner Senatsverwaltung für Kultur und Gesellschaftlichen Zusammenhalt, Stiftung Erlebnis Kunst.