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Rwanda is the land of a thousand hills, and Kigali the capital is spread out on the flanks of several ridges which catch the breeze and make for cool mornings and evenings despite being very near the Equator.

The context for this well organised and popular event, which coincides with the annual Children’s Day, is important for a visitor from Western Europe to understand. Turkey is not really like most Western European countries today even if in the big cities there are superficial resemblances.

Nina Hajiyianni is Artistic Director of Action Transport Theatre in Cheshire. She was elected to serve on the Executive Committee of the International Association of Theatre for Children and Young People (ASSITEJ) at its Congress in Copenhagen and Malmo in May 2011. Here she explains how ASSITEJ works worldwide.

Latest update agreed at General Assembly, May 2011.

ASSITEJ International is changing. The world network, which connects hundreds of theatre companies and thousands of theatre makers across 80 countries, is entering a period of reflection and self- examination.

Belfast Childrens Festival is an annual event combining activities, a programme of top flight international productions and this year an academic seminar on TYA.

The German national development agency for TYA invited young theatre makers to the Augenblickmal Festival in May 2009

Impressions from a young UK designer at Augenblickmal Festival 2009, the biennial showcase of TYA in Germany.

Open Space event at ASSITEJ Congress 2011. 17 conversations about the future of the International Association of Theatre for Children and Young People ('ASSITEJ)

Five shows in two days in Bristol and Bath ought to reflect a richness of activity, variety and accomplishment characteristic of what the UK can do for young audiences in 2011.

An impulsive response to a notice in TYA News resulted in my flying off to Turkey to deliver a workshop at the 15th International Bursa Theatre Festival for Children and Young People.

Forum at ASSITEJ Congress 2011 looking at new trends in theatre by, with and for children and young people.

Playwright Charles Way gave this talk at the 2010 Gathering held in Belfast at Replay Theatre

A thousand theatre-makers and enthusiasts from 53 countries – the largest numbers ever – met, debated, watched shows, argued, did deals, planned and plotted in Malmo and Copenhagen.

Anthony Haddon, Artistic Director, Theatre Company Blah Blah Blah, Leeds, was at the Informal European Theatre Meeting (IETM) in Bratislava, Slovakia, 23 – 26 April 2009. This report is for TYA-UK Centre of ASSITEJ

It’s like the country itself, full of contradictions, a rich history, http://www.bellasartes.gob.mx/ natural talent and wide social divisions.

Danish Plus is a promotional showcase of leading professional companies in Denmark.

Wendy Harris, Artistic Director of Tutti-Frutti, was delighted to be selected onto the 2009 director’s seminar and honored to be hosted by the Junges Schauspielhaus Hamburg and German Assitej. It felt a little daunting to be the only UK delegate amongst 25 directors from across the world but these fears soon diminished once all the delegates met.

Manifesto advocating Government support for experiences of theatre and drama education for all UK children and young people.

ASSITEJ festivals of TYA this Autumn have led me from East to West across the Northern edge of the European Union.

Guide to UK TYA Companies 2009-11 edited by Paul Harman

Sources of study and comments on different approaches to making theatre for children and young people worldwide. Paul Harman 2011

There are many voluntary associations for drama and theatre by, with and for children and young people in the UK and Ireland and a wider international family of associations and organisations supports the promotion and development of theatre and drama worldwide.

Kilkenny Gathering 2011 described by Katie Boon of Paper Balloon Theatre. Annual Gathering hosted in 2011 by ASSITEJ Ireland at Barnstorm Theatre.

Annual Festival in Hasselt Belgium. See a dozen shows in four days, wait three days more and write down what you can remember with clarity or pleasure. That is my usual way of coping with a festival.

Nina Hajiyianni was one of 20 participants in the ASSITEJ Next Generation programme at Schäxpir Festival in Linz, Austria in June 2009. Nina is Artistic Director at Action Transport Theatre and Chair of TYA-UK since September 2011.

Momix in Mulhouse France is a great festival, well-run, valued by the local authority which hosts it and led by a committed artistic director. It is attended annually by some 150 professional promoters and bookers. Usual dates: Early February.

Paul Harman, TYA-UK Chair and member of the International Executive Committee of ASSITEJ was invited to speak at a seminar on the role of Festivals in development of theatre for young audiences. The report describes theatre life in Moscow and shows at the Big Break Festival 2008.

Noel au Theatre in Brussels is the annual celebration of the best of current shows from Wallonie, the French speaking community of Belgium. Report from 2009

Cwmni Theatr Arad Goch's well organised team, led by Jeremy Turner, successfully delivered the sixth biennial festival 16 -20 March 2010.

Festival and Gathering conference in Dublin, Ireland 2009

The Executive Committee of ASSITEJ International met in Rwanda in July 2010. Read about events and shows, the country and the contribution made by UK members

Imaginate's Autumn Exchange was a full house in a superbly people friendly theatre, the Byre in St Andrews. This new building has glass windows in all foyers allowing views on to gardens and courtyards in this mostly 17th century cathedral city.

This biennial festival of theatre for early years in Northern Ireland was attended by a leading UK specialist.

I was delighted to be selected for the 2009 Director’s Seminar and honoured to be hosted by the Junges Schauspielhaus Hamburg and Assitej Germany. It felt a little daunting to be the only UK delegates amongst 25 directors from across the world ...

Tashkent is major regional hub in Central Asia where ancient trading routes - the Silk Road - and modernism meet. Russian influence provides high artistic standards and the region is growing fast in independence and wealth. This account of a TYA Festival in October 2011 reveals fascinating future players on the international scene.

The second ASSITEJ Executive Committee meeting of the 2008 – 2011 cycle was held in Turin, Italy during the annual regional festival Giocateatro.

There’s madness in the air. There’s a Portuguese chef serving fabulous festival meals out of a mobile, wooden church (Katrina), a theatre installation in itself; the festival branding depicts toddlers in teenage clothing (!!)

Paul Harman performed with a french company in 2008 / 2009 and writes on how TYA companies work in France, their conditions and approaches.

Greetings to all our colleagues here and abroad. We hope that the economic climate has not impacted too severely on the work of TYA artists, companies and organisations.

The UK Centre of ASSITEJ (International Association of Theatre for Children and Young People) unites artists and educators in the UK and 80 countries worldwide to promote and support theatre for young audiences.

TYA-UK Current Memorandum and Articles (photocopy)

Details of procedure for Election of England representatives on TYA-UK Board.

List of UK, Ireland and International Theatre organisations and Associations with special reference to Theatre for Children and Young People (TYA)

TYA professional companies at all scales, touring drama, dance and puppet companies

Disability in TYA: a day of presentations, installations and discussion at ASSITEJ Congress 2011 in Malmo, Sweden

A family activity fundraiser for Japan Tsunami victims led by Thousand Cranes

The annual World Day of Theatre for Children and Young People is 20th March. Each year a celebrity from the world of TYA writes a special message ...