Calling all performers!
Calling all rising stars! #EMERGENT is now open!
Calling all young creative teams who are eager to experiment, research, and form an exciting new independent theatre company!
#EMERGENT aims to launch newly formed debut teams of young artists—whether you are in your final years of study (undergraduate or master’s) or a recent graduate of vocational faculties in Cluj-Napoca from the last 3 years (directing, playwriting, acting, music, visual arts, cultural management). Together, we’ll dive into creating an independent theatre company and producing a brand-new show using dynamic devised theatre techniques!
We warmly invite young artists to team up in mixed groups with different specialties (having one person responsible for company management is a must!) and propose a project inspired by the concept of a “Performative Future.” Teams should consist of a maximum of 6 artists with diverse backgrounds—directing, playwriting, acting, music, choreography, or visual arts—along with, of course, one cultural manager (preferably a graduate with specialized studies, though not mandatory). For the 6 artistic positions, there is no set formula, but it is important that the lineup is complete enough to bring your exciting proposal to life and realistically cover all your project's needs!
The selection process will aim to choose one winning team that will benefit from professional training workshops and full support in producing a theatrical show, alongside another 3 teams who will join the adventure for the first stage of the project—the workshops. Selection will be based on your project idea inspired by the research concept, as well as the team’s passion and motivation to collaborate.
The project workshops will be wonderfully coordinated by:
Oana Mardare - actress, co-manager of the Reactor space, producer, and founding member of the REACTOR creation and experiment association
Doru Taloș - actor, co-manager of the Reactor space, producer, and founding member of the REACTOR creation and experiment association
Alexa Băcanu - playwright, member of the Reactor team, cultural project coordinator, and PR/communications specialist
Petro Ionescu - playwright, director, member of the Reactor team, with extensive experience in devised theatre and research methods in theatre
Raul Coldea - director, artistic member of the Reactor team, with extensive experience in devised theatre, and initiator of the Framework platform
Theodor-Cristian Popescu - director, professor at the National University of Theatre and Film „I.L. Caragiale”, and founder/artistic director of the 777 Theatre Company
The first part of the project features a fantastic series of workshops led by artists from the Reactor team, who bring a wealth of experience in both artistic and administrative fields. They will offer a friendly introduction to the management of independent companies and spaces, project development and management, and the exciting creative method of devised theatre.
The second part of the project—the artistic creation and production phase—will kick off with a research lab led by Petro Ionescu, who will mentor the team through the next working stages. During the production period, the team will enjoy 8 mentoring sessions led by Oana Mardare to shape their company’s unique identity and build a solid one-year management plan. In September, director and professor Theodor-Cristian Popescu will also lead an engaging two-day workshop on crafting an artistic concept within a theatre company.
The project spans several months and includes a workshop period (July-August), a production phase (August-September), showcase viewings with Reactor's collaborating artists, and the public presentation of the resulting performance in both Cluj and Bucharest at the Replika Educational Theatre Center (September-October). The theatre production will remain in the hands of the newly formed company, with the exciting possibility of being scheduled for future runs at the Reactor space!
This opportunity is designed for young artists residing in Cluj-Napoca, including students in their final years of undergraduate or master’s programs, or recent graduates who are not yet employed in the field (up to 3 years post-graduation) from vocational art faculties. The #EMERGENT project welcomes collective applications in various configurations, provided you have one designated company manager (e.g., director-playwright-actors-manager or director-choreographer-scenographer-actors-manager, etc.).
Members of the team selected for the entire project will be paid. Please note that accommodation will not be provided by the organizers, so applying artists must reside in Cluj-Napoca.
Applications should be sent to emergent.reactor@gmail.com by July 8th, at 11:59 PM.
Your application package should include:
CVs of all members of the formed team
A description of the team, detailing each member's role
A motivational letter from the team
An artistic project proposal
Following the submissions, the project and workshop coordinators will select one team to form a theatre company and benefit from producing an independent show, as well as 3 other teams to join the professional training workshops. Depending on the applications received, we may schedule interviews (live or online, as appropriate) between July 9th and July 14th.
Schedule:
July 8th — Application deadline
July 9th – July 14th — Team selection process
July 15th — Announcement of the winning team and the 3 workshop-participating teams
July 25th – August 2nd — The first phase of professional training workshops led by Oana Mardare, Doru Taloș, Alexa Băcanu, Petro Ionescu, and Raul Coldea
August 3rd – 6th – Artistic research lab with Petro Ionescu (winning team)
August 8th – 18th – Rehearsals and stage work (winning team)
August 19th – September 8th – Working sessions for company development with Oana Mardare, scheduled meetings with Petro Ionescu, Doru Taloș, and Alexa Băcanu, rehearsals (winning team), the workshop led by Theodor-Cristian Popescu, and further rehearsals (winning team)
September 9th – 30th – Rehearsals and previews
September – October— Presentation of the show in Cluj and Bucharest
Best of luck to all!
This cultural project is co-funded by the National Cultural Fund Administration.
The project does not necessarily represent the position of the National Cultural Fund Administration. AFCN is not responsible for the project's content or how the project results may be used. These are entirely the responsibility of the funding beneficiary.
A cultural project carried out with the support of the Ministry of Culture.
Partners: Replika Educational Theatre Center, Faculty of Theatre and Film Cluj-Napoca,
Poster: Mihai Păcurar
Discover more details about Reactor creation and experiment projects on the website www.reactor-cluj.com, on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/ReactorCluj, and on Instagram: www.instagram.com/reactor.cluj.
