Roma Theatre

The Roma people are a traditionally nomadic ethnic group living mostly in Europe. Learn more about their rich artistic tradition and exciting contemporary work through the Journal series Roma Theatre in Europe, or watch work from the Roma Theatre Retrospective 2020.

The Latest

Viewpoints for Achieving Authentic Representation of Roma Communities on Stage

Essay

Viewpoints for Achieving Authentic Representation of Roma Communities on Stage

by Tímea Éva Bogya, Márton Illés

27 March 2024

Should We Write Differently About Roma Theatre?

Essay

Should We Write Differently About Roma Theatre?

by Noémi Herczog, Éva Moharos

25 March 2024

A Roundtable Discussion on Roma Heroes International Theater Festival, Sixth Edition

Video

A Roundtable Discussion on Roma Heroes International Theater Festival, Sixth Edition

Presented by the Independent Theater Hungary

Thursday 28 March 2024

Roma Futurism and the Future of Roma Theatre

Essay

Roma Futurism and the Future of Roma Theatre

An Interview with Mihaela Drăgan

10 February 2020

HowlRound’s director, Jamie Gahlon, talks with theatremaker Mihaela Drăgan about contemporary Roma theatre and the artistic movement Roma Futurism.

The (self-)representation of Romas on stage - trends and challenges in today’s Hungary

Video

The (self-)representation of Romas on stage - trends and challenges in today’s Hungary

A conversation during the dunaPart 5 platform

Saturday 30 November 2019

Budapest, Hungary

dunaPart—an initiative of Trafó House of Contemporary Arts in Budapest—presented the conversation The (self-)representation of Romas on stage - trends and challenges in today’s Hungary livestreamed on the global, commons-based peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv Saturday 30 November 2019 at 8 a.m. PST (Los Angeles, UTC -8) / 11 a.m. EST (New York, UTC -5) / 16:00 GMT (London, UTC +0) / 17:00 CET (Budapest, UTC +1) / 18:00 EET (Bucharest, UTC +2).

Five actors on stage dressed in Roma clothes from the 1940's.

Performance of Kali Traš (Black Fear) by Giuvlipen Theatre Company, Romania

Giuvlipen Theater Company

Video

Performance of Kali Traš (Black Fear) by Giuvlipen Theatre Company, Romania

On the Roma Genocide during the Second World War

Friday 25 October 2019

Bucharest, Romania

Giuvlipen Theatre Company and State Jewish Theater presented a performance of Kali Traš (Black Fear) by Giuvlipen Theatre Company livestreaming from Bucharest, Romania on the global, commons-based peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Friday 25 October 2019 at 9 a.m. PDT (Vancouver, UTC -7) / 12 p.m. EDT (New York, UTC -4) / 16:00 UTC +0 / 5 p.m. BST (London, UTC +1) / 18:00 CEST (Budapest, UTC +2) / 19:00 EEST (Bucharest, UTC +3).

Two actors in traditional Roma women clothing with their backs to us.

Discussion of Who killed Szomna Grancsa? by Giuvlipen Theatre Company (Romania)

Independent Theater Hungary

Giuvlipen Theater Company

Oana

Hodade

Video

Discussion of Who killed Szomna Grancsa? by Giuvlipen Theatre Company (Romania)

Presented by the Roma Heroes International Theatre Festival, Budapest, Hungary

Sunday 15 September 2019

Budapest, Hungary

Roma Heroes International Theatre Festival produced by Independent Theater Hungary presented a conversation about Giuvlipen Theatre Company's Who killed Szomna Grancsa? from Budapest, Hungary for the global, commons-based peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv Sunday 15 September 2019.

Roma woman posing as the Statue of Liberty with a US flag as a her dress.

Performance of American Gypsy by PARADAIZ

gold triangle with crescent moon over black background

PARADAIZ

green circle next to black text centrul national al dansului

National Dance Centre

Brailescu

vlad

ionescu

Video

Performance of American Gypsy by PARADAIZ

Bucharest, Romania

Thursday 12 September 2019

Bucharest, Romania

PARADAIZ in Bucharest, Romania presents a performance of American Gypsy livestreaming on the global, commons-based peer-produced HowlRound TV network on Thursday 12 September at 11 a.m. EDT (New York, UTC-4) / 15:00 UTC+0 / 17:00 CET (Berlin, UTC+2) / 18:00 EEST (Bucharest, UTC+3).

a group of performers dancing onstage with an audience watching

Performing Gitanidad (Romaniness) On Stage

Miguel Ángel

Vargas

Essay

Performing Gitanidad (Romaniness) On Stage

14 March 2019

Miguel Ángel Vargas unfolds the history of Gitano (Romani) theatre in Spain, from the eighteenth century to today.

Nomadic Theatre Keeps its Traditions Alive in France / En France, la perpétuation du théâtre Sinti et nomade

Marine

Leduc

Essay

Nomadic Theatre Keeps its Traditions Alive in France / En France, la perpétuation du théâtre Sinti et nomade

13 March 2019

Marine Leduc discusses the nomadic theatre traditions of the Hognon family, who travel southwestern France staging plays that explore their Tsigane identity. / Marine Leduc explore les traditions du théâtre nomade des Hognons, une famille qui voyage à travers le Sud-Ouest de la France et y joue des pièces qui parcourt leur identité tsigane.

The Revolution is Here and Now

Arman

Heljic

Essay

The Revolution is Here and Now

The Revolution is Roma, Queer, and Feminist

12 March 2019

Arman Heljic uses the play Roma Armee to discuss how European Roma are rejecting their colonial legacy and reclaiming their narrative.

The Other Role

katarzyna

pabijanek

Essay

The Other Role

On the Representation of Roma on the Hungarian Stage

11 March 2019

Katarzyna Pabijanek reflects on Roma presence in Hungarian theatre, both throughout history and today.

Seven Romani actors sit together looking at the camera

From Cultural Appropriation to Self-Representation

Mihaela

Drăgan

Essay

From Cultural Appropriation to Self-Representation

A History of Roma Theatre in Romania

10 March 2019

Mihaela Drăgan looks at the way Roma are and have been portrayed in theatre in Romania and how Romani artists are working to reclaim their stories.

Roma Artists Telling Stories of Resistance, Not Victimhood

Mihaela

Drăgan

Essay

Roma Artists Telling Stories of Resistance, Not Victimhood

24 May 2018

Mihaela Drăgan interviews Sandra and Simonida Selimovic of Mindj Panther about their show Roma Armee, and the activist work they are doing in Austria to fight against Roma oppression.

A group of actors stand in a cluster onstage.

Roma Self-Representation

Independent Theater

Hungary

Series

Roma Self-Representation

The aim of the festival and this series is to present and preserve the values of the theatre and theatrical heroes of the largest ethnic minority in Europe, highlighting the challenges the members of this minority face because of segregative and discriminatory practices—which offend minority rights.

Roma Heroes on the Streets of European Cities

Márton

Illés

Series

Roma Heroes on the Streets of European Cities

Roma Theatre Retrospective 2021

Series

Roma Theatre Retrospective 2021

Celebrating Four Years of Contemporary, International Romani Theatre

Independent Theater Hungary in partnership with HowlRound Theatre Commons presented the Roma Theatre Retrospective 2021 which included forty livestreams of twenty shows and twenty interviews from Romani artists in ten countries who were featured during four editions of the Roma Heroes International Theater Festival, Budapest. Livestreamed on the commons-based peer produced HowlRound TV network Tuesday 19 October to Friday 10 December 2021.

Roma Theatre Retrospective 2020

Series

Roma Theatre Retrospective 2020

Featuring Roma artists from the Roma Heroes Theater Festival, Hungary

The Roma theater has more than a century long past with active professional theatre groups in many European countries, but unfortunately, they are still hardly known.

Roma Theatre in Europe

Mihaela

Drăgan

Series

Roma Theatre in Europe

From cultural appropriation to (mis)representations, this series documents the history of Roma theatre in Europe.