Terezín Memorial HS Festival

At the Terezín Memorial High School Festival, theatre-making is a reflective and responsive process shaped by young people’s experience with place, history, and lived experience. The work is guided by the ISTA Ensemble Method and Festival Framework, which shape how students collaborate, explore ideas, and create together.

Working in mixed-school ensembles and guided by professional artists, students develop original theatre through enquiry, discussion, and practical exploration. The work evolves as students respond thoughtfully to what they encounter while living and working on-site.

Each ISTA festival around the world is connected through a shared Global Challenge. For 2026–2027, Rooted & Reimagined invites young people to explore how we honour the roots that shape us while imagining new futures. In Terezín, this provocation is explored through the lens of memory, resilience, and the enduring presence of the past.

Creative decisions are made with care and intention. Students explore how theatre can hold complexity, communicate sensitively, and offer perspective without simplifying or distorting lived experiences. The process encourages listening, reflection, and collaboration, as ensembles shape work that reflects both collective understanding and individual response.

These elements are woven into the creative process, influencing what is made, how ensembles collaborate, and how ideas are developed and expressed.

The result is a learning experience that is creative, connected, and deeply human, fostering confidence, empathy, and a stronger sense of self and others.

Each ISTA festival includes a shared cultural experience that connects students to the host location and provides real-world inspiration for the work they create together.

Set in the historic fortress town of Terezín, participants will be immersed in a powerful site of remembrance and learning. All students will take part in three guided tours: the Small Fortress, the former ghetto, and the Ghetto Museum. These experiences will be further enriched by on-site visits to the Magdeburg Barracks and opportunities to engage with the stories, artworks, and lived experiences of those imprisoned there, fuelling thoughtful, deeply moving artistic inquiry.

ISTA festivals are led by a diverse team of professional artists from around the world, including theatre-makers, performers, directors, and educators. They bring a wide range of cultural perspectives and creative practices, guiding students through the process of making original work. As facilitators, they support, challenge, and inspire each ensemble, helping young people develop their ideas, take creative risks, and shape work that is unique to their experience.

Artist teams are shared in the event Information Pack, which is sent to participating schools in the lead-up to the event.

While students take part in the festival, accompanying educators engage in a dedicated specialist workshop led by one of the ISTA artists. This session supports their own professional development, offering time to explore theatre practice, reconnect with creative process, and take away practical ideas for the classroom or rehearsal space. Workshop leader and session information will be confirmed closer to the event.

Educators also take part in a collaborative session focused on sharing practice, ideas, and resources, creating space for dialogue and exchange within a global community of arts educators.

Booking secures a place at an ISTA Festival event by estimating the number of participants and paying a deposit.

Registration finalises participant details, ensuring accurate event planning, catering, and transportation.

Click here for a helpful guide on how ISTA’s booking and registration work.

Booking

Opens: 9:00 am UK time on Thursday 30 April 2026 for members and Monday 1 June 2026 for non-members.

Closes: 11:59 pm UK time on Wednesday 23 December 2026.

Before booking, ensure your trip is viable by checking:

• Travel restrictions and visa requirements
• Parental approvals
• School authorisation

At the time of booking, organisations must provide:

• Total number of students
• Total number of educators
• Lead educator chaperone contact details

Please review the ISTA Event Terms & Conditions, including cancellation policies, before booking.

Deposit & Confirmation

Upon booking, you will receive an invoice for a 50% deposit based on the number of students booked. The deposit is non-refundable and non-transferable and secures your reservation. Bookings are fully confirmed once the deposit is received within 30 days.

Bookings are made through an ISTA website account. Your booking confirmation and registration link will appear in the profile of the person who submitted the booking. If a colleague booked on your behalf, the registration form may sit under their account.

Invoices are sent to the email address provided at the time of booking. Your place is reserved, subject to payment in line with our booking terms.

If you need to make changes to your booking, please email booking@istaglobal.org.

Registration

Opens: 9:00 am UK time on Thursday 30 April 2026 for members and Monday 1 June 2026 for non-members.

Closes: 11:59 pm UK time on Wednesday 6 January 2027.

Once registration opens, schools that have confirmed their students should register as soon as possible. All registrations must be completed by Wednesday 6 January 2027 to finalise event logistics.

At the time of registration, organisations must provide:

• Finalised participant details
• Travel information

Changes in Student Numbers

Student numbers may change between the original booking and final registration. If your numbers change, please inform the Event Manager as soon as possible so we can adjust event planning accordingly.

ISTA plans each event based on the numbers provided at the time of booking. This includes scheduling artists, securing tickets for the cultural experience, and allocating places for other schools. Early updates allow us to manage availability and offer spaces where possible.

Final participant numbers must be confirmed during registration. Changes in numbers may affect deposits and final invoices. Please see the Payment Process section for full details.

Waitlist

If the event reaches capacity, it will be marked “Waitlist”. If you wish to be added to the waitlist:

1. Click the Waitlist button on the event page
2. Enter the requested information
3. Spaces will be offered in the order in which waitlist requests are received.

ISTA festivals follow a two-step automated payment process:

Step 1: Deposit Payment at Booking

• Upon booking, you will be required to pay a 50% deposit immediately.
• This deposit is non-refundable and non-transferable and confirms your reservation.
• Bookings will only be secured once the deposit payment is successfully processed.

All payments and cancellations are subject to ISTA Event Terms & Conditions.

Step 2: Remaining Balance Upon Registration Closure

• Once registration closes, organisations will be automatically invoiced for the remaining 50% of registration fees, plus any applicable surcharges, based on the final number of students registered.

Changes in Student Numbers

• Fewer students than booked: Deposits for students who do not attend will be forfeited. (e.g. If you book 15 students but only 10 attend, the deposit for the 5 who do not attend will not be refunded.)
• Additional students: A 50% deposit per added student will be invoiced at the time of the increase.

Festival Schedule

• Start: 6:00 pm Wednesday 10 March 2027.
• End: 6:30 pm Saturday 13 March 2027 (followed by dinner and social time at the Park Hotel).
• Participants will be transferred to Airport/Train station Sunday 14 March 2027 after breakfast.

IMPORTANT:

• Participants are expected to attend the full festival programme, including the final sharing.
• Festival schedules are designed as a complete experience and cannot be adapted to individual travel arrangements.
• Schools should plan travel to ensure participants arrive on time, are ready to take part from the start, and remain until the end of the festival.
• Late arrivals or early departures affect the ensemble process and the shared creative work, as groups rely on full participation throughout the festival.

Click here to explore a sample ISTA Festival Schedule

Arrival & Departure

• Arrival: Before 2:00 pm Wednesday 10 March 2027.
• Participants must arrive in Prague allowing adequate time to make their own way to the Prague Main Train station to meet the private bus transfer at 3:45 pm on Wednesday 10 March 2027.
• Departure: After 10:00 am Sunday 14 March 2027

• All participants will return to the Prague Airport by bus after an early breakfast at the Park Hotel on Sunday, 14 March 2027. Travel time from the Park Hotel to the Airport is approximately 60 minutes.

Please note:

• There are no public transportation options for schools wishing to return to Prague earlier or later than the private bus hired by ISTA.
• Uber/Bolt coverage is spotty at best and often unavailable in Terezín.
• Any private bus hire outside of the ISTA-arranged transfers must be arranged and paid for directly by the school.

Getting there

Nearest Airport: Prague International Airport (PRG)

Nearest Train Station: Prague Main Station /Praha hlavní nádraží (IATA: XYG)

All participants must arrange their own transportation to the Prague Main Train Station for private bus Transfer to Terezín.

• From the Airport: The Airport Express (AE) bus takes about 60 minutes to reach the Prague Main Train Station and runs every 30 minutes. Tickets may be bought from the driver or at the Airport information desk. Cost as of March 2026: CZK 200/person via cash or card payment
• From within Prague: Metro C (Red line) to Hlavní nádraží stop.

Transfers

• Prague Main Train station to Terezín and return to Prague Airport transfers available for £30 per person

Travel time

• Travel time to/from airport/train station - 60 minutes
• Travel time to/from Terezín is 60 minutes
• Please book travel accordingly and allow for ample time to travel to and from the airport/train station.

Accommodation

• All participants will stay at the Park Hotel or other nearby accommodation in Terezín.
• Fees listed for accommodation are for 4 nights in Terezín.
• Students will be placed in shared rooms with others from their school.
• Educator Chaperones will be placed in single rooms.
• Participants choosing to arrive in Prague before Wednesday 10 March 2027 or stay on after the event ends are responsible for arranging their own accommodation and airport transfers.

Visa Requirements

Participants and schools are responsible for ensuring they have the necessary visas.

Visa applications can take time, so we strongly recommend starting the process as early as possible.

• ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) regulations come into effect the last quarter of 2026. Participants travelling to Europe should check the ETIAS website to ensure that they have the required documentation in place to enter Europe.

If you require supporting documentation, please contact the Event Manager well in advance.

Important Communication Information

ISTA business days are Monday to Friday, and we aim to respond to all emails within three business days.

ISTA staff do not monitor emails on weekends (Saturday & Sunday) or public holidays. If a staff member is working at an event, response times may be longer than usual.

All meals from Wednesday evening through Sunday morning will be provided at the Park Hotel.

Participants will be able to purchase additional snacks at the potraviny (convenience store) beside the hotel.

Appropriate attire

Participants should bring clothing suitable for physically active workshops during the day (athletic wear, PE kit, performance blacks, etc.).

All attire, both during the event and during time spent at the hotel or in the local area, should be respectful of the host country, host school, and the diverse international community of participants.

ISTA festivals bring together young people and artists from a wide range of cultural backgrounds, and participants are asked to dress with awareness and consideration for others.

Please note:

• Weather-appropriate outerwear and footwear are required for this event, as participants will walk between venues throughout the day, and tours of the Small Fortress and Terezín Ghetto are outdoors (rain or shine!).
• Workshops are physically active. Participants who are not appropriately dressed may be asked to change or may be unable to fully take part in the experience.
• Footwear and jewellery may need to be removed for certain sessions.
• Chewing gum is not permitted in workshop spaces.

Materials

• Pens, pencils, highlighters, etc. for notetaking.
• Refillable water bottle.

Information Pack

A detailed digital programme will be shared two weeks prior to the event, outlining schedules, artist biographies, and key event information.