20/06/2025
The first edition of the took place as part of the , organized by the in Cluj – and I’m so proud and happy! It truly feels like things are finally starting to move in this field, even here.
We had the joy of listening to three deeply different – yet beautifully complementary – perspectives on the impact of theatre in educational and social contexts.
(Studiourile Ferentari) brought us into the heart of a fragile community, where theatre becomes voice, resistance, and belonging.
(Centrul Replika) spoke about co-producing with education – that living space where theatrical aesthetics meet social activism and critical pedagogy.
shared an emotional project working with seniors – a form of community theatre that rebuilds biographies and reignites forgotten meanings.
Also in the first part of the conference, the master’s students in the program presented their own projects and research. Topics included: theatre and well-being, art therapy, and using theatrical tools in the training of future teachers and educators. These projects highlighted the deep connection between the artistic and pedagogical dimensions of theatre – not just as academic exercises, but as concrete directions for the students’ future professional roles.
Later, during the panel discussion, our colleague from the , Lect. Dr. Mirona Stănescu, introduced a thought-provoking conceptual proposal that sparked rich reflection:
Could we understand as an umbrella field that brings together , , , and ?
Such a structure could help us better navigate the complexity of a field that sits at the intersection of art, education, and social intervention.
This vision includes four core dimensions of theatre:
The artistic/aesthetic dimension – theatre as a creative, metaphorical, and emotional expression, essential to any form of deep communication;
The social dimension – theatre as a space for dialogue, inclusion, and community belonging;
The therapeutic dimension – theatre as a means of reconnection with the self and others, and of symbolic (re)construction of identity;
The educational dimension – theatre as a teaching method that fosters critical thinking and creates a living relationship with the learning process.
Attempting to define and theorize such a field (especially in the Romanian context) would require proper funding to support broader, sustained research.
In the second part of the day, we moved from theory to practice through an led by our Theatre in Education master’s students. Participants explored with educational and social applications – from group games and techniques to exercises in attention, collaboration, and emotional expression. It was a true space for , , and .
The workshop reaffirmed that is not just a method – it is a philosophy of living education, based on relationship, presence, and transformation.
Huge thanks to everyone who joined us – guests, participants, students, and colleagues – for a day filled with meaning, ideas, and human connection.
