Yes-no-stop!
Classroom theatre for the prevention of sexual abuse
Sexual education and prevention of sexual abuse/sexualized violence is part of the compulsory curriculum in primary schools.
The theatre program “ yes-no-stop!” is recommended by specialist advisory centers as well as by the responsible state offices for schools and education (Hanover and Braunschweig).
The play
Physical closeness plays an important role in children’s development. Hugging, stroking, cuddling – all of this feels good and strengthens self-confidence. But what happens when adults exploit children’s trust and their need for closeness?
The play “yes-no-stop!” encourages children to trust their own feelings: If something feels wrong, then it is wrong.
Together with the children, we explore: How can I say “no”? Why am I sometimes allowed to share secrets? Where can I get help when I need it?
The concept
We come to the classrooms as researchers. In our repertoire are scenes – some with open endings – that deal with feelings, touch, secrets, online contacts, and ultimately, sexual assault.
Just perform and be done with it? Far from it! The children become part of the research team. They empathize, think along, and are actively involved in discovering possible courses of action. In this way, what they’ve learned is playfully reinforced. And the medium of theater is perfectly suited to ensuring that, despite the seriousness of the subject matter, there’s also plenty of fun to be had.
The stories
Our scenes are based on theatre workshops with third-grade elementary school children and on reports from staff members of the Ulm Child Protection Center. This resulted in stories from the children’s own experiences, which often deal with the fine line between what is pleasant and what is no longer pleasant.
From Anna, who wants to be undisturbed in the bathroom, from Metin and Mert, who are passionately kissed by their grandmother, from Nico, whose coach gets too close to him when receiving the ball, from Loretta, who defends herself against cyber grooming with the help of her friend, or from Pia, who finds grandpa’s secret rain game unpleasant…
The messages
- I pay attention to my feelings.
- I can sense whether I have a pleasant or an unpleasant feeling.
- My body belongs to me.
- I get to decide who touches my body.
- I am allowed to say “no” if a touch feels strange, embarrassing, or disgusting.
- If someone violates my boundaries, that’s not okay, and it’s not my fault.
- I can keep good secrets that bring me joy to myself.
- I am allowed to share bad secrets that are troubling me.
- Sexual abuse is prohibited.
- I have a right to help, and I am allowed to get help.
The offer
We make it easy for you.
We’ll come to your school three times and perform for the 3rd and/or 4th grade classes:
- for three classes in one morning
- One lesson per class
- for three consecutive weeks
- in the classroom
We make it easy for you.
We’ll come to your school three times and perform for the 3rd and/or 4th grade classes:
- One lesson per class
- for three consecutive weeks
- in the classroom
- for three classes in one morning
The team
Antje Kilian and Jens Wirsching, together with the Theater Springinsfeld and in cooperation with numerous specialist agencies, have been offering professional prevention of sexual abuse nationwide for over twenty years: gently and in a child-friendly manner.
Play: Jens Wirsching and Antje Kilian;
Director: Jörg Isermeyer;
Set Design: Fabian Wessel;
Graphic Design: Tahmineh Sezavar;
Photos: Lene Weisner and Clemens Heidrich;
In cooperation with:
the Ulm Child Protection Center and the
Alter Markt Elementary School, Hildesheim
Sexual violence in childhood and adolescence — finding help
here you will find help and information
Helpline for Sexual Abuse 0800 — 22 55 530
Victims of sexual violence, their support persons and people who are worried about a child, have a suspicion or a strange feeling, can now also receive multilingual advice from the Sexual Abuse Helpline .
This means that, at the caller’s request, a translator will be added to the call at the beginning. These translators are sensitive to the topic and are bound by confidentiality. The calls themselves remain anonymous.
now also receive advice in the following languages
by calling 0800 — 22 55 530 : English, Arabic, Turkish, Spanish, Russian, Ukrainian, Romanian, Italian, Dari, Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian, Bulgarian, French, Hungarian, Persian (Farsi), Polish, Albanian, Kurdish