Area of Learning
Art as Resistance: Exploring the power of creativity in times of oppression. This festival invites young people to explore the role of the arts in bearing witness, expressing identity, and sustaining hope during times of persecution. Through collaborative theatre-making, participants will reflect on the artistic legacy of those who lived and created within the walls of the Theresienstadt Ghetto, examining how theatre, music, and visual art became powerful tools of resistance and remembrance.

Festival Story
The festival story is the central idea that inspires exploration and creative work throughout an ISTA festival. Festival story coming soon.

Cultural Experience
Set in the historic fortress town of Terezin, 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 who were imprisoned there—fueling thoughtful and deeply moving artistic inquiry.

ISTA Global Challenge
This event is part of ISTA’s season-wide theme: Waves of Change. The challenge invites young people to explore how change—personal, social, cultural, environmental, and historical—shapes our world. Through theatre, students reflect on their role in creating, responding to, and riding the waves of change in their own communities and beyond.

Booking secures your place at an ISTA festival by providing estimated participant numbers and paying a deposit. Registration finalises all participant details to support accurate planning for workshops, catering, and logistics.

Booking

• Opens: 9:00 am (UK time), Monday 5 May 2025
• Before booking, ensure your school can attend by confirming:
  
  • Travel restrictions and visa requirements
  • Parental approval
  • School authorisation
• At the time of booking, you must provide:
  
  • Estimated number of students
  • Estimated number of educators
  • Lead educator contact details

‍Deposit & Confirmation

• Once booked, you’ll receive an invoice for a 50% deposit based on student numbers. The deposit is non-refundable and non-transferable. Booking is only confirmed once the deposit is received (within 30 days). 
• Please only book spaces you are confident you can fill. 

Registration

• Opens: 9:00 am (UK time), Monday 5 May 2025
• Closes: 11:59 pm (UK time), Thursday 15 January 2026
• Once registration opens, schools with confirmed places should complete participant registration as soon as possible. You’ll need to provide final student and educator details along with confirmed travel information. 

‍Changes in Student Numbers

• Fewer students than booked? Deposits for those students are forfeited.
• Need more students? Additional spaces may be requested. A 50% deposit per added student will apply.

‍Waitlist

• If the event reaches capacity, it will be marked Waitlist. 
• To be added to the waitlist, email the Event Manager with your requested number of students and educators. Spaces will be offered in the order requests are received.

Arrival & Departure 

• Arrival: Before 2:00 pm Thursday, 19 March 2026
  
  • 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 Thursday 19 March. 

• Departure: After 10:00 am23 March 2026.  All participants will return to the Prague Airport by bus after an early breakfast at the Park Hotel on Monday 23 March 2026.  
• 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.  

Transport

• Nearest Airport: Prague International Airport (PRG) 
• Nearest Train Station:  Prague Main station 
• The Airport Express bus takes approximately 60 minutes to arrive at the Prague Main Train Station.
• To get to the Train station from within Prague:  Metro C (Red line) to Hlavní nádraží stop.  

‍Visas

• It is the responsibility of the schools/participants to ensure they have the appropriate visas, as required.
• Please ensure that you start looking into visa requirements sooner rather than later as the process can take a significant amount of time.
• If you require assistance or additional documentation to support your visa applications please ensure to contact the event manager well in advance.

‍Accommodation

• All participants will stay at the Park Hotel or other nearby accommodation in Terezín.
• Fees listed for accommodation are for 4 nights in Terezin.
• 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 Thursday, 19 March or stay on after the event ends are responsible for arranging their own accommodation and airport transfers.

ISTA festivals follow a two-step automated payment process:

Step 1: 50% Deposit at Booking

• Upon booking, a 50% deposit is required to secure your place. This deposit is non-refundable and non-transferable.
• Bookings are only confirmed once the deposit has been successfully paid.

Step 2: Final Balance After Registration Closes

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

Changes in Student Numbers

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

Festival Schedule 

• Start: Thursday, 19 March 2026 5:00 PM
• End: Monday, 23 March 2026 after breakfast.

‍Educator Workshops

• One theatre ocused workshops for teacher chaperones
• Collaborative resource-sharing sessions

📄 E-Programmes containing detailed schedules, artist bios, and key event information will be sent to participating organisations two weeks before the event.

🍏 All meals from Thursday evening through Monday 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

• All participants must bring clothing that is suitable for physically active workshops during the day (athletic wear, PE kit, performance blacks, etc.) 

‍Please note

• Participants not dressed appropriately for physically active workshops may be asked to sit out.
• Participants may be asked to remove footwear, jewellery etc. for some workshops.
• Chewing gum is not permitted in any of the workshop spaces.

‍Materials 

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