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The number seven is mythical, and it is almost like a fairy tale that the Independent Theatre Hungary is organizing the European Union’s first international Roma theatre festival for the seventh time since 2017. The Roma Heroes International Roma Theatre Festival will welcome audiences from 7 to 11 May 2025, at its co-organizer venue, the Eötvös10 Cultural Center. These five days celebrate theatre, paying tribute to independent theatre artists, their dramatic heroes, and Roma communities. We also express our gratitude for the support of the Romanian Cultural Institute in Budapest and the Embassy of Ireland in Hungary.
"What doesn't kill you makes you stronger—so the saying goes. Some say it's a lie embedded in a cliché, but for Roma communities in Europe it is very much a reality," says Rodrigo Balogh, Director of the Roma Heroes International Theatre Festival. "Looking at the Roma past, there is no reason to still be here. Yet we live, we create, we tell stories. We see ourselves not only as survivors, but as heroes—just like the independent Roma theatre initiatives that create new works year after year without institutional support. At the same time, we, the people who live here on Earth today, are all survivors in a sense."
The festival will feature performances from Hungary, Italy, Romania, and Ireland, presented in their original languages with English and Hungarian subtitles. After each performance, audience members will have the opportunity to meet the creators in post-show discussions, which will also be streamed live by HowlRound Theatre Commons, making them accessible online.
The Festival is part of the European Roma Theater Festivals project with the support of Perform Europe and with the support of Trust For Mutual Understanding and HowlRound Theatre Commons. We also thank the Romanian Cultural Institute in Budapest and the Embassy of Ireland, Hungary for their support.
Schedule
See the complete credits for the five performances on the Independent Theater Hungary website.
Wednesday 7 May
Caliban and the Witch Post Show Discussion
21:00 CEST (Budapest, UTC +2) / 8 p.m. BST (London, UTC +1) / 3 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC -4 ) / 12 p.m. PDT (Los Angeles, UTC -7)
Moderator: Blanka Mészáros, actress
Thursday 8 May
Magpies on The Pylon Post Show Discussion
20:30 CEST (Budapest, UTC +2) / 7:30 p.m. BST (London, UTC +1) / 2:30 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC -4 ) / 11:30 a.m. PDT (Los Angeles, UTC -7)
Moderator: Csaba Polgár, actor, director
Friday 9 May
Waiting for Bo Post Show Discussion
20:30 CEST (Budapest, UTC +2) / 7:30 p.m. BST (London, UTC +1) / 2:30 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC -4 ) / 11:30 a.m. PDT (Los Angeles, UTC -7)
Moderator: Gabriella Cselle, theatre expert
Saturday 10 May
Defining Contemporary Roma Theatre: A Conversation with Artists from the Roma Heroes International Theatre Festival
16:00 (Budapest, UTC +2) / 3 p.m. BST (London, UTC +1) / 10 a.m. EDT (New York, UTC -4 ) / 7 a.m. PDT (Los Angeles, UTC -7
Representatives of five European Roma Theaters share their opinions on the importance of self-representation and the main aims and characteristics of their work.
- Bianca Mihai (Giuvlipen—Romania)
- Sebastiano Spinella (Rampa Prenestina—Italy)
- Líza Urbanova (Ara Art—Czechia)
- Michael Collins (Traveller Wagon Wheel—Ireland)
- Ramóna Farkas (Independent Theater Hungary)
- Moderator: Lucia Lakatos
Cannibals Post Show Discussion
20:30 CEST (Budapest, UTC +2) / 7:30 p.m. BST (London, UTC +1) / 2:30 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC -4 ) / 11:30 a.m. PDT (Los Angeles, UTC -7)
Moderator: Szilvia Artner, theatre critic
Sunday 11 May
The Life of Mariella Mehr Post Show Discussion
20:30 CEST (Budapest, UTC +2) / 7:30 p.m. BST (London, UTC +1) / 2:30 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC -4 ) / 11:30 a.m. PDT (Los Angeles, UTC -7)
Moderator: Judit Bari, theatre expert and activist
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