"Part 1. Love" is the very first, exciting premiere of 2022 at Reactor! The show is directed by Petro Ionescu, a wonderful artist who has collaborated with Reactor on numerous shows, but who is now bringing you a performance from the director's chair for the very first time. We asked her to share a few thoughts on what we're about to experience and how she feels about this wonderful new role. Here are her inspiring thoughts:

I'm currently working on my graduation performance! I'm in my second year of the Master's program in directing at the University of Arts in Târgu-Mureș. The show explores the beautiful theme of love from various perspectives, tracing the contexts in which we learn to love or talk about love. I'm really keen on exploring the emotional baggage that comes with experiences—even those that aren't always pleasant! We started our work using devised theatre methods, so some of the stories shared in the show are personal tales of our artistic team, beautifully shaped through a poetic and fictionalized lens.

Up until now, I've had all kinds of wonderful experiences on stage, but working from a director's perspective is a delightful shift. Things change quite a bit! It's something I've dreamed of for a long time, and I absolutely love coordinating the first part of the creative process. It is truly magical to see how things are born in rehearsals and how new possibilities constantly open up. The second part of the process, the construction and refining of the show, is slightly less exciting for me because it can lose some of that initial freshness. Maybe that's why I'm so drawn to performance art and hybrid forms. I love seeing raw, unpolished moments, and I welcome mistakes on stage because they feel so delightfully alive compared to something done with rigid precision. At the same time, I do believe in a strong concept and setting clear parameters.

Of course, plans made at home don't always match the market, especially when working collaboratively! As far as the process goes, I know I want it to be light, relaxed, and fun. I care deeply about harmony and finding a common language. I don't function well under stress at all—it blocks me and dampens my enthusiasm and creativity. Just like everyone else, I want to create a wonderful, engaging show that keeps you, our dear audience, captivated! But I also want to nurture a beautiful bond between the performers. That's the ultimate theme for me: a unique attention and care on stage that belongs solely to the group, with its own playful rules.

I keep thinking about how we can talk about love today, and honestly, I'm still figuring it out! I can easily recommend books written by people far smarter and more capable of discussing it than I am. In the context of the war in Ukraine, I admit it wasn't easy to keep working on this show—stubbornly choosing to talk about love while the exact opposite was happening outside. Perhaps this is a test for our show. I believe we can talk about love by discovering its many beautiful facets. Love means something different to everyone, and I don't aim to define it. It simply happens, and it is incredibly powerful, almost overwhelming, but I find myself searching more and more for the calm, peaceful side of love. Love is something that takes time. It needs the right conditions to grow and thrive. I know my sweet words won't solve everything, but this is where my heart is. The future seems a bit misty right now, making projections feel pointless, so I'm just focusing on the joy of the present moment.

"Part 1. Love" is a performance produced within the cultural program "Perspectives", co-funded by the Administration of the National Cultural Fund.

The program does not necessarily represent the position of the Administration of the National Cultural Fund. AFCN is not responsible for the content of the program or how the results of the program may be used. These are entirely the responsibility of the funding beneficiary. Like this post? Share it!FacebookTwitterGoogle+LinkedInPinterest