Stage of Generations

urrently, about 40,000 residents of Offenbach am Main are over 60, making up nearly a quarter of the city’s population. Especially striking is the rise in older adults dependent on basic social security, highlighting increasing vulnerability and precarious living situations among the elderly. 

This trend underscores the pressing need for accessible educational and social programs that promote participation, self-efficacy, and orientation for older adults. Many areas still lack formats that actively engage seniors and give them a voice. Ageism, digital exclusion, and social isolation are frequent challenges. Offenbach needs sustainable approaches that respond to demographic change with creativity, inclusion, and a focus on fostering social cohesion.

Creative Change e.V. has developed 'Stage of Generations,' a theatre-based educational model program that provides older adults in Offenbach with new opportunities for engagement, learning, and active involvement. Its aim is to enhance social participation in later life, reinforce social networks, and support lifelong learning. 

Through training sessions, participants—guided by professional theatre educators, students, and volunteers—develop competencies in forum theatre and peer case consultation. These activities produce interactive scenes and focused workshops that tackle real-world issues, including ageism, digital exclusion, and social isolation. 

The project places a strong emphasis on participation, with the needs and experiences of participants at its core. Working alongside the Creative Change e.V. team, participants help design, implement, and refine the program content. The aim is to establish a self-organized working group of older adults by the end of the project, which will continue to provide social and educational opportunities for the target group, in partnership with senior centers, adult education programs, assisted living facilities, and other municipal institutions in Offenbach.

Creative Change e.V. stands for creative, inclusive education based on empathy, dialogue, and active participation. Our theatre-educational approach is practical, oriented to real-life contexts, and provides space for self-efficacy—regardless of age. We see older adults not just as a target group, but as co-creators with diverse perspectives, experiences, and skills. Our approach is grounded in geragogy: we promote a learning culture based on mutual respect, curiosity, and lifelong learning. We view theatre work as a tool for civic education, reflecting on societal structures, and strengthening individual agency. 

With 'Stage of Generations,' we aim to create intergenerational spaces that overcome isolation, break down barriers, and promote solidarity—both in Offenbach and beyond.