The Independent Theatre Hungary has been drawing attention to the values, stories and heroes of Roma theatre for 15 years. This year, the company organised the international theatre meeting for the 5th time, 5–9 May, 2022, in the RS9 Theatre. During the festival’s five years, the audience saw 29 performances. The festival’s main goal is to present authentic stories written by Roma authors which places Roma culture’s values in the spotlight.
„We work to draw attention to the values of Roma dramas and storytelling, to Roma communities’ situations by putting value-driven people’s stories and extraordinary challenges in the spotlight through presenting contemporary European plays.” – Rodrigó Balogh, art director
On the 5th of May, the Independent Theatre Hungary, celebrating its 15th anniversary, presented the theatrical collection called Roma Heroes Digital Collection of European Roma Theatre and Drama. The collection presents the values, the past and the present, the artists and the works of Roma theatre and drama. Visitors can find various artists, companies and plays from Ireland to Bulgaria, Spain to Ukraine, all translated into English. The collection’s priority is to collect works of cultural heritage and make them available for educational and art initiatives – this heritage could serve as the intellectual foundation of later European Roma Theatres. The collection’s content helps European Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities to grow stronger and prosper culturally as well as socially, it contributes to social acceptance and to development through interethnic co-operations. What’s more, it provides an opportunity to artists of Roma origin for further creative work and cooperation. Those youngsters who read and see these works will be able to imagine, through the Roma heroes’ examples, that they can also consciously form their own lives.
The representatives of the network arrived in Budapest on the 5th of May to share their vision for the future in a common declaration and ask for visibility, support and equal opportunities for Roma artists. They are convinced that their cooperation will bring about change and that Roma culture highly enriches European culture.
The artists wrote a common declaration. The thrilling and professional performances prove that they deserve a place in European cultural life.
As a result of their partnership, they work to:
• create new Roma theatre productions and dramas at local, national and international level and ensure mobility and visibility for the artwork;
• build international mobility and capacity, and further develop the network of Roma theatres and theatre artists;
• provide opportunities for young Roma people to become theatre professionals;
• raise awareness of [their] mission and involve mainstream cultural institutions, experts and decision makers so that they also contribute to the realization of [their] vision.
-Excerpt from the declaration
Companies participating in the network:
AAIÚN Producciones Teatro (Spain)
Actor Theatre (Slovakia)
ARA ART Theatre (Czechia)
ArtHub (Romania)
GiuvlipenTheatre (Romania)
Independent Theatre Hungary (Hungary), Knowledge is Power (Hungary)
Romance Theater (Ukraine)
Romano Svato (Austria)
Romano Teatro "Nexhip Menekshe" (Kosovo)
Theater Roma Skopje (North Macedonia)
Traveller Wagon Wheel Theater Company (Ireland)
Roma Heroes Festival performances
During the five festivals, 29 plays were performed for the audience for the first time in Hungary. This year, more than 200 spectators attended the performances day after day.
The performances:
Rodrigó Balogh – Frogtales: The story of a Gypsy family that fights to be accepted by the social majority.
Ingmar Villqist – Helver’s night: Helver presents the contemporary Polish author’s play from a new perspective in which the Roma actor Frantisek Balogh plays a role that is far from stereotypical.
David Tišer – Mama: Presenting Roma women’s stories throughout half a century as well as the power and perseverance of these women.
Michael Collins – Gyászolt Írország?: The 16-year-old Johnny’s suggestive performance questions whether only academically trained actors are able to deliver first class acting.
Barnabás Boda-Novy – Panna Czinka – The Dance of the Witch: The play presents the courage and intelligence of a young girl in a world where men have the power.
The plays all raise important social questions.
Why is it that Roma people are still unwanted in many countries? Are the Gypsy families entitled to different rights and treatment? When does the social majority regard Gypsies and Travellers as equals? When does Gypsy life become valuable? What could put an end to the centuries of oppression and why do we only see the bad in the other person instead of the good?
Reactions from the audience:
„Music, a sense of humour and criticism work together and convey important messages to the audience.” – Frogtales / Melinda Vajda
„What impressed me most was the brutal honesty of the play; I felt that the actor doesn’t beat around the bush, he focuses on the goal, the message.” – Ireland Shed a Tear? / Tamás Boros
„What I most remember about the play is the clean, honest and simple language that the actors used. I believe in a theatre that talks about real problems.” - Mama / Jolán Gecse
„I took a group of students from a school at Máv-telep to the play. It was important for me that the students see that they can also have dreams because dreams set the scene for big deeds; and no matter what other people tell us, we can reach our goals.” - Panna Czinka – The Dance of the Witch / Ilona Nótár
The festival was partially funded by the European Union’s Creative Europe programme. The festival was supported by the Embassy of Ireland, Hungary.
The event was supported by Visegrad fund, The Slovak Institute, Czech Centrum, Goethe Institute and Bortársaság. The venue was provided by RS9 Theatre.
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