Amateur theatre

The term refers to two amateur theater. On the one hand is meant by an amateur theater group (or several groups) of people who play non- professional theater. On the other amateur theater is considered as a collective term for all such existence -down expressions of theatrical game.

In amateur theaters Active like to emphasize the distinction for community theater or amateur dramatics, which in this context, the acting activities of groups are understood, their main purpose is not the theater play ( eg the yearly Christmas play a youth group ). In everyday language, both terms are often used interchangeably.

Amateur Theatre in Germany

In Germany simplistic legally organized amateur theater are under the umbrella organizations covenant German amateur theater ( BDAT ) and the Federal Association and theater (BAG ) summarized. In addition, there are dialect oriented amateur stages, the Low German language, for example, in the north of the Republic - So Low German - maintain.

The Low German amateur stages are summarized in three stage Frets: Low German stage collar Lower Saxony and Bremen (NBB NB), Low German stage collar Schleswig -Holstein (NBB SH ) and the Low German stage collar Mecklenburg- Vorpommern (NBB MV). The aim of the Low German Federal stage is to get the Low German language about the theater play and maintain. The Low German Theatre Federation operates the further development of the Low German theater, because the theater is the largest multiplier for the Low German language. The Low German stage collar connected stages are independent and usually work under professional guidance. They perform their work in ideal and non-profit basis.

History

By establishing the first professional theater groups in the 16th century manifested itself in Germany, a separation of professional and amateur theater. Amateurs who had occupied themselves with drama was mainly involved in the religious games of the Jesuit order, and in the court theater of the nobility to find (especially in the 18th and 19th centuries ). The first theater groups on the basis of associations emerged at the end of the 18th century. Where individual groups, such as the Dramatic Club, founded in 1655 at Biberach Riss, who is the oldest amateur theater club in Germany, are considerably older. The Confederation German amateur theater, which was founded in 1892, is back on 100 years earlier founded in Berlin in private theater company Urania of 1792.

In other countries

In Austria, the amateur theater in ÖBVTheater, a split in eight member associations umbrella organization, organized.