Sign up now for Fresh Start – creative residencies await!

We are looking for enthusiastic young artists who are eager to experiment, research, collaborate, and discover the exciting world of independent theatre production!

Fresh Start – 4th Edition is thrilled to guide eight recent graduates of vocational universities (acting, directing, dramaturgy, scenography, choreography, and music) through the wonderful journey of creating a show using devised theatre techniques in an independent setting.

Our eight selected residents will enjoy the wonderful guidance of experienced artists using various creative methods.

The first part of the residency will be led by:

Sinkó Ferenc – actor, lecturer at the Faculty of Theatre and Television in Cluj-Napoca, with a passion for choreography and performance

Petro Ionescu – playwright, member of the Reactor team, and an expert in devised theatre and theatrical research methods

Residents will dive into hands-on work with Sinko Ferenc in a fun team-building workshop, exploring performance art and dance. Together, you will shape the direction of your new project based on your shared interests, followed by an inspiring theoretical and practical introduction to devised theatre with Petro Ionescu. Throughout the residency, the eight participants will benefit from regular check-ins with Petro Ionescu for personalized consultation on developing the show's concept and dramatic structure.

The program spans several months of creative joy, including a workshop phase, a production period (July-August), and a wonderful national tour across Cluj, Bucharest, and Târgu Mureș (September-October). Plus, there is a fantastic opportunity for Reactor de creație și experiment to include the production in their current season!

The residencies are open to passionate young graduates who have finished their studies within the last 5 years and are not currently employed in the field, coming from Romanian and Hungarian departments of vocational faculties across the country. The Fresh Start project happily welcomes joint applications in various creative pairings (e.g., director-playwright or director-choreographer) if you have a shared vision—just let us know in your application form!

Residencies are paid, and the organizers will gladly provide accommodation for participants coming from outside Cluj-Napoca.

How to Apply:

To apply, simply download this form and send it to freshstart.rezidente@gmail.com by April 15th, 11:59 PM.

Following the applications, our mentors and project coordinators will select an exciting directorial project. Based on this, a vibrant mixed team of a director, playwright, scenographer, choreographer, actors, and/or dancers and musicians will be formed, with the possibility of a friendly online or face-to-face interview between April 16th and May 3rd.

Key Dates:

April 15 — Application deadline

April 16 – May 3 — Selection of participants

May 4 — Announcement of the selected participants

July 1 – July 15 — First stage of the residency, guided by our mentors: practical workshops with Sinkó Ferenc and Petro Ionescu

July 16 – August 31— Second stage of the residency: collaborative working sessions with Petro Ionescu, rehearsals, and previews

September-October— Presenting the exciting results in Cluj, Târgu Mureș, and Bucharest

A cultural project proudly co-funded by the National Cultural Fund Administration.

/divider

This project does not necessarily represent the position of the National Cultural Fund Administration. AFCN is not responsible for the content of the project or how the project results may be used. These are entirely the responsibility of the beneficiary of the funding.

Organizer: Asociația Reactor de creație și experiment

Partners: Faculty of Theatre and Television Cluj, University of Arts Târgu Mureș, National University of Theatre and Film, Replika Educational Theatre Center.