The Hochschule Niederrhein (HSNR) has had a theater group created by students since February. The ensemble of 15 members is now taking the next step and starting a collaboration with the Kresch Theater, Krefeld's theater for children and young people.

"The cooperation with the Kresch Theater greatly strengthens the cultural awareness of young people in the university environment and paves the way for bringing the unique art form of drama closer to students at The Hochschule Niederrhein," says Florian Frenster, student and founder of the theater group at HSNR.

The plan is that next year, the play "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald, which was developed by the students themselves and deals with the materialistic world of the American upper class in the early 1920s, will be included in the regular theater program and performed.

In order for this to succeed, the group is allowed to use the theater stage in the Heeder factory, including its technology, for rehearsals. In addition, the theater educators from the Kresch Theater will accompany the students on site. "We are very much looking forward to working with the theater ensemble of The Hochschule Niederrhein as another cooperation partner in the city," says Kresch director Isolde Wabra. "I hope that this collaboration will also make more students aware of our program," says Wabra.

The Kresch Theater was founded in 1991 as the municipal children's and youth theater of the city of Krefeld. In addition to productions for audiences of all ages, it also offers theater projects with children, young people and adults with its own productions and a wide range of theater education programs. Further information can be found at www.kresch.de.