Get Hands-on at Reactor: LimonArt!

Between December 2021 and February 2022, we had the wonderful joy of continuing our internship program with a brand-new group of brilliant students! This is all part of the magical partnership between Reactor and the Faculty of Theatre and Film. Together with 7 incredibly talented and creative students, we dreamed up a vibrant Romanian-Hungarian theatre company that would bring together all their shared passions and sparkling aspirations. And that's exactly how LimonArt was born—a super exciting idea that feels absolutely perfect and so needed in Cluj's cultural scene! During this wonderful journey, we shaped the identity of this dream company, designed a full one-year management plan, created the company's very first project, and played around in our artistic laboratory with ideas that beautifully came together in a final performance all about communication and multilingualism. Our wonderful shared adventure has wrapped up, and now the journey continues for each of our amazing LimonArtists. We truly hope they've gathered some fantastic tools to build their own creative spaces and future artistic adventures. Until then, we invite you to meet this delightfully sweet-and-sour artistic blend we call LimonArt!

THE LIMONART COMPANY | LIMONART TÁRSULAT

We are absolutely thrilled to be the very first Romanian-Hungarian theatre company on the Cluj scene! Through fabulous events and playful theater, we aim to build a joyful, welcoming space where our two wonderful cultures can meet, chat, and connect. Our LimonArtists are energetic young Romanians and Hungarians who share a deep love for theater and personal growth through the arts. We are on a mission to create accessible, thought-provoking, and delightfully humorous theater with a special focus on music and mixing different art forms. Whether we are working on fresh, original texts or putting a new spin on the classics, we love producing green and inclusive shows for everyone!

We are the very first Romanian-Hungarian company on the stage of Cluj! Our goal is to use our shared play to create a wonderful space of connection and communication between our two rich cultures. The LimonArt artists are spirited Romanian and Hungarian youths who share a deep passion for theatre and a belief in growing through the arts. They aim to create accessible, critical, yet delightfully humorous theatre that places musicality and interdisciplinary magic at its heart. We work on both fresh original texts and classical ones, producing eco-friendly and inclusive performances.

What is LimonArt?

It's a wonderful opportunity to connect and communicate between two vibrant cultures. And our creative recipe goes far beyond just blending two languages! It’s a lively, constant search and conversation about what the world around us really means. It's the kind of spark we want you to carry with you long after the stage lights go down and you leave the theater! We don't just want to talk at you—we can't wait to meet you and hear your thoughts! That's why we offer fabulous workshops closely tied to our shows and our unique identity. We never stop at just presenting an idea; we love encouraging friendly dialogue with our audience, opening up exciting conversations, and playing with ideas that matter to all of us!

What is LimonArt?

A wonderful opportunity to connect and communicate between two vibrant cultures! Our artistic recipe goes far beyond just blending two languages. It is a lively, constant search and conversation about what the world around us really means. It's a dialogue that we want to keep buzzing even after you leave the theatre. We don't just want to do all the talking; we want to get to know you and chat together! That's why we offer wonderful workshops closely tied to our shows and our unique identity. We never stop at just presenting an idea; we love encouraging friendly dialogue with our audience, opening up exciting conversations, and playing with ideas that matter to all of us!

Why LimonArt? | Why LimonArt?

Because lemonade is fresh, sweet and sour, light yet incredibly satisfying! It is a harmonious blend where everyone can add their own unique flavor. We want our theater creations to be just like that—perfect for quenching our community's thirst for culture! Just like a wonderfully tart lemonade on a hot summer day, our artistic interventions are here to stir your soul, cool you down, and inspire self-reflection, togetherness, empathy, solidarity, and lots of fun!

Logo design: Csüdöm Henrietta

MANIFESTO | MANIFESTO

or | or

The LimonArt Recipe in Ten Easy Steps | The LimonArt Recipe in Ten Easy Steps

#1 We dream of a lively space for friendly dialogue, self-expression, and healthy debate—an inclusive, welcoming home for creative experimentation! We want to be a vibrant space open for communication, transparency, debate, self-expression, and playful experimentation.

#2 We are on a continuous journey of growth! Personal development, broadening our horizons, and understanding different perspectives are so close to our hearts as we bring exciting issues and themes to life through performances, talks, and shows. We will constantly strive to expand our horizons, learn together, and shine a light on important contemporary topics through fresh productions and respectful, friendly dialogue.

#3 We are all about self-discovery—from our wonderful artistic team to our fantastic audience! We commit to constantly growing and nurturing the unique talents of our collective. Our goal is self-discovery: from our passionate team straight to our wonderful audience. In this spirit, we are fully committed to the continuous growth of our collective!

#4 We love working in a warm, welcoming, queer-centered, feminist, anti-racist, anti-xenophobic, and anti-ableist atmosphere. Every single piece of work we share beautifully reflects this joyful, inclusive spirit. We work in a wonderfully inclusive, queer-centered, intersectional feminist spirit that stands proudly against racism, xenophobia, and ableism. All our creative productions and invited shows will joyfully shine with this energy!

#5 Our exciting playbill will proudly feature more than half of its works produced, directed, written, and/or performed by talented women or artists from wonderfully diverse and marginalized groups (ethnic, LGBTQ+, etc.). And we will mirror this beautiful diversity behind the scenes in our crew, too! True to our feminist and inclusive values, we are committed to having at least a 50/50 balance of women in our projects, and we are absolutely thrilled to welcome LGBTQ+ community members into our writing, directing, and acting team!

#6 We believe access to culture is a beautiful right for every single human being! If any of our wonderful theatergoers let us know they can't afford a ticket, we will happily offer them one absolutely free of charge, no questions asked! We whole-heartedly recognize the fundamental right of every individual to enjoy the magic of culture. If a theatergoer tells us they can't buy a ticket, we will gladly give them one for free, with a warm smile and no questions asked!

#7 We joyfully welcome and encourage people who haven't had formal higher education in the arts to join us and shine in our creative projects! We love involving passionate people who haven't completed formal university training in the arts in our exciting projects!

#8 We are fully committed to bringing our exciting projects and theater performances to lovely places that rarely get to experience cultural events. We love the idea of traveling with our artistic creations to beautiful communities where cultural events or artistic initiatives are hard to find!

#9 We embrace a wonderfully healing role, aiming to bring joy, comfort, and positive energy to as many people as possible through the magic of art! We proudly create art with a therapeutic heart, aiming to support and uplift people as much as we possibly can!

#10 We strive to make our projects, shows, and performances as green and sustainable as possible, from our creative props right to our fun marketing. We are fully committed to creating our shows as sustainably as possible, keeping things eco-friendly from the stage props to our promotional materials!

THE TEAM | THE TEAM

Csüdöm Henrietta | Actress, Communication & Design Coordinator | Actress, Graphic Design & Communication Coordinator

What is your absolute favorite lemonade flavor and why?
My favorite is the classic lemonade, sweetened with sugar syrup and topped with a touch of fresh mint. I often find that the simplest things in life hold the most beautiful value—you just have to discover them!
What kind of artistic blend would you love to create?
Theater, just like life, is full of different, wonderful flavors. These flavors can shift and change, but there should always be a little bit of sour balanced with a little bit of sweet. I love playing with those beautiful contrasts in my work!
What role do the arts play in your everyday life?
They rescue me, shake me up, amaze me, challenge me, and guide me forward every single day!
When did you last feel a burst of creative inspiration?
Right this second!
What are your exciting hopes for the future?
I want to help people discover and understand themselves better, and I truly believe the magic of art is the perfect way to do that!
How do you feel your art can bring different communities together in dialogue?
I believe communication goes so much deeper than words alone. Often, it's the tiny, gentle gestures we make that leave the most beautiful impact, even when we don't realize it. I think the secret ingredient is kindness, and that is exactly what I try to share through my art!
What inspired you to jump on board as a LimonActor?
I am so inspired by our shared, timely themes, and it's incredibly important to me that we explore them deeply together. LimonArt is the ultimate, cozy place to do just that!

Gáspár-Barra Szilárd | Actor, Production & Logistics Coordinator | Actor, Production & Logistics Coordinator

What is your absolute favorite lemonade flavor and why?
Elderflower lemonade (with just a tiny bit of sugar!) because it instantly takes me back to the happiest moments of my childhood!
How about your straw? Paper or plastic?
Made from sugarcane, so I can happily eat it up!
What is your favorite movie of all time and why?
Forrest Gump! I absolutely fell in love with it the first time I saw it, even though I was just a kid and missed a lot of the details. I've rewatched it so many times since, and it always leaves a giant smile on my face. It's such an inspiring movie that helps you laugh through tough times. Plus, I've always felt a special bond with Forrest because I absolutely love to run!
Name a fun song you would happily sing using lemons as microphones!
Lemon Tree by Fools Garden!
How did you first discover the wonderful world of being bilingual?
There was a lovely Romanian boy who lived right across the street from us, about two years older than me. When I was in kindergarten, I would bump into him on the street, and he would always ask me, "ce faci?" (how are you?). I don't remember exactly what I answered back then, but I started calling him "Cefaci" as his name! Later on, my parents explained what he was asking, and I learned to reply "bine" (good)—and that was the start of our friendly chats! I learned Romanian properly once school started, and from then on, I had wonderful conversations with Cefaci (whose real name is Andrei), though that cute nickname stuck with him in our family forever!
What kind of artistic blend would you love to create?
A lively mix of Jazz + Roma music, contemporary dance + folk dance + Latin-American dance, all set to the beautiful words of Federico Garcia Lorca!
What role do the arts play in your everyday life?
It helps me understand myself better, express my feelings, connect with wonderful people, share magical moments, and see our world from a beautiful new angle. And sometimes, I just stand back and admire it in pure awe!
What is your big, beautiful dream for LimonArt?
My dream is that our exciting projects will help build a warmer, more supportive community where absolutely everyone can find their perfect, happy place!

Ilyés Klaudia | Actress, Communication & PR Coordinator | Actress, Communication & PR Coordinator

What is your absolute favorite lemonade flavor and why?
Strawberry or orange lemonade! It brings back the happiest memories of a wonderful spot where my friends and I used to have the best time together, which sadly burned down.
How about your straw? Paper or plastic?
Paper, of course! We love taking good care of our beautiful planet 😉
What is your favorite movie of all time and why?
I'd have to say Shutter Island and Black Swan! I absolutely adore psychological thrillers that keep my mind buzzing and thinking.
What kind of artistic blend would you love to create?
A fantastic mix of Latin music and dance + R&B and Hip Hop blended with beautiful classical dance styles!
What role do the arts play in your everyday life?
Art makes me feel completely whole! It's a huge, joyful part of my life—I wake up with art, live through art, and express myself with it. I look for a little touch of art in everything because when art is present, life is just so much brighter and more wonderful!
What are your exciting hopes for the future?
I would love to work with an amazing theater company to gain wonderful new experiences! I also dream of traveling and visiting creative places where I can learn, grow, and expand my horizons.
Who are you at your heart as a person?
I like to think of myself as a wonderfully fun, energetic, and free-spirited girl who loves spontaneous adventures and helping others with a big smile!

What is your absolute favorite lemonade flavor and why?
Strawberry or orange lemonade! It brings back the happiest memories of a wonderful spot where my friends and I used to have the best time together, which sadly burned down.
How about your straw? Paper or plastic?
Paper, of course! We love taking good care of our beautiful planet
What is your favorite movie of all time and why?
I'd have to say Shutter Island and Black Swan! I absolutely adore psychological thrillers that keep my mind buzzing and thinking.
What kind of artistic blend would you love to create?
A fantastic mix of Latin music and dance + R&B and Hip Hop blended with beautiful classical dance styles.
What role do the arts play in your everyday life?
Art makes me feel completely whole! It's a huge, joyful part of my life—I wake up with art, live through art, and express myself with it. I look for a little touch of art in everything because when art is present, life is just so much brighter and more wonderful!
What are your exciting hopes for the future?
I would love to work with an amazing theater company to gain wonderful new experiences! I also dream of traveling and visiting creative places where I can learn, grow, and expand my horizons.
Who are you at your heart as a person?
I like to think of myself as a wonderfully fun, energetic, and free-spirited girl who loves spontaneous adventures and helping others with a big smile!

Kerekes Ákos | Actor, Multi-Tasking Helper Extraordinaire | Actor, Multi-Tasking Helper Extraordinaire

What is your absolute favorite lemonade flavor and why?
My favorite is pomegranate lemonade! Back in the sunny summer of 2018, I tasted a delicious pomegranate lemonade in France. To this day, I'm not sure if I loved the lemonade itself or the magic of drinking it on the Champ-de-Mars!
What kind of artistic blend would you love to create?
A delightful mix of absolutely everything! I want to taste every style and learn as much as I can to create the perfect artistic recipe for myself—though I think that's a beautiful journey that takes a whole lifetime!
What role do the arts play in your everyday life?
It supports me, helps me find the brightest light on the darkest nights, and reminds me that reality is in my own hands to shape into something beautiful and fun!
When did you last feel a burst of creative inspiration?
Every single time I feel the magic of creating my own reality. Honestly, right now!
What are your exciting hopes for the future?
I want to discover exactly how characters are born, how an actor brings them to life, and how they step back from them. I'd love to see if this beautiful process can be shared to help support people dealing with different psychological challenges.
How do you feel your art can bring different communities together in dialogue?
My art is built on a foundation of warm understanding. I want my audience to connect with it, even when I don't fully understand it myself—because to me, that's the true magic of theater! If you peel back the layers of acting, at the core, we are all exploring together, and that beautiful mystery is what I love sharing with our spectators!

What is your absolute favorite lemonade flavor and why?
My favorite is pomegranate lemonade! Back in the sunny summer of 2018, I tasted a delicious pomegranate lemonade in France. To this day, I'm not sure if I loved the lemonade itself or the magic of drinking it on the Champ-de-Mars!
What kind of artistic blend would you love to create?
A delightful mix of absolutely everything! I want to taste every style and learn as much as I can to create the perfect artistic recipe for myself—though I think that's a beautiful journey that takes a whole lifetime!
What role do the arts play in your everyday life?
It supports me, helps me find the brightest light on the darkest nights, and reminds me that reality is in my own hands to shape into something beautiful and fun!
When did you last feel a burst of creative inspiration?
Every single time I feel the magic of creating my own reality. Honestly, right now!
What are your exciting hopes for the future?
I want to discover exactly how characters are born, how an actor brings them to life, and how they step back from them. I'd love to see if this beautiful process can be shared to help support people dealing with different psychological challenges.
How do you feel your art can bring different communities together in dialogue?
My art is built on a foundation of warm understanding. I want my audience to connect with it, even when I don't fully understand it myself—because to me, that's the true magic of theater!
If you peel back the layers of acting, at the core, we are all exploring together, and that beautiful mystery is what I love sharing with our spectators!

Kocsis Robert | Director, Production & Logistics Coordinator | Director, Production & Logistics Coordinator

What is your favorite movie of all time and why?
Absolutely anything directed by the brilliant Ken Loach! He has been making films since the 1960s and miraculously manages to keep them feeling incredibly fresh and contemporary even today. If you haven't discovered his work yet, I highly recommend starting with: Looking for Eric!
What kind of artistic blend would you love to create?
I recently saw a sci-fi musical and was so wonderfully surprised! So, I would love to try any mix that seems unexpected at first, because with a little patience, it always turns into a unique and thrilling experience!
What role do the arts play in your everyday life?
I think they keep us beautifully grounded in real life right when we need it most!
When did you last feel a burst of creative inspiration?
When I learned how to use the software TouchDesigner! It's hard to put into words, but the moment I realized how I could bring its magic onto the theater stage, a whole world of exciting new possibilities opened up in my mind!
How do you feel your art can bring different communities together in dialogue?
My biggest dream is for my art to help bring together communities that don't often get the chance to meet. If we can spark a moment of connection and mutual discovery, I know we've started something wonderful!
How did you first discover the wonderful world of being bilingual?
Around age 3 or 4! I spoke Hungarian with my dad's family and Romanian with my mom's. One day, it suddenly hit me: "Hey, this is actually pretty cool and unique!"
What inspired you to jump on board as a LimonArtist?
It felt just like choosing a new lemonade from a menu full of exciting flavors you've never tried before. You take a sip, your face lights up, and you realize you absolutely love it and can't wait for more!

Moga Diana | Manager | Manager

What is your absolute favorite lemonade flavor and why?
My absolute favorite is elderflower lemonade! It's a delightful classic with a special touch that always brings back memories of long, warm, sunny summers watching the jars of elderflower and lemon brew in the yard, waiting excitedly for them to be ready!
What role do the arts play in your everyday life?
As an avid lover of all things creative, I am constantly enjoying theater, films, books, and visual arts! Every day, I feel the wonderful power of art to stretch my mind, open up new horizons, challenge my values, and help me see beautiful perspectives I wouldn't otherwise experience in my daily routine.
What is your big, beautiful dream for LimonArt?
I dream of LimonArt growing with sparkling energy, building a lively, passionate community around it, inspiring fun conversations, and bringing unique joy to the cultural world and everyone we meet!
How do you feel your art can bring different communities together in dialogue?
I have complete faith in the power of art to gently nudge people into places where fresh perspectives and ideas can bloom! By exploring new stories and understanding each other's experiences, we build empathy, open hearts, and deep compassion. For me, these are the essential sparks that a person can carry from the theater back into their community, creating a warm, respectful, and safe space for dialogue!
Name a fun song you would happily sing using lemons as microphones!
Lemon Tree – Fools Garden!
How did you first discover the wonderful world of being bilingual?
Growing up in a wonderful Romanian-Hungarian family, I noticed it quite early—especially during the summers spent at my grandparents' house with my cousins, when I realized I was the only one who didn't speak fluent Hungarian yet!

Țentea Roxana | Dramaturg & Coordinator of Words

What is your absolute favorite lemonade flavor and why?
I have to confess—I'll always choose a fresh orange and carrot juice! Did I just give away my secret right from the start?
How about your straw? Paper or plastic?
No straw at all! Straight from the glass is always best, if possible!
What is your big, beautiful dream for LimonArt?
I want us to expand into a whole rainbow of flavors! I want us to squeeze every drop of essence from the topics we explore. Let's not forget the fun little cocktail umbrellas and ice cubes! In short, I dream of us taking on a beautiful form—fresh, inclusive, social, critical, super relaxed yet deeply determined, natural, rhythmic, and full of heart and energy. I’d also love to sprinkle in some raw, beautiful emotion!
Do you feel your art can bring different communities together in dialogue?
I truly hope so! I want my work to communicate something wonderfully relevant and important that uplifts our community, society, and world. When it comes to LimonArt, I absolutely believe we can inspire and open up meaningful dialogue between different communities!
Name a fun song you would happily sing using lemons as microphones?
Easy peasy lemon squeezy! Lemon... Lemon Song? Or just Lemon!
What inspired you to become a LimonDramaturg – LimonArtist?
The pure joy of working in this beautiful, collaborative way! The desire to be a fresh creator who can make delicious lemonade out of whatever life serves up. Am I succeeding? Well, the LimonDramaturg-LimonArtist is still happily brewing inside of me—I'm letting it simmer a bit more before taking myself too seriously!
Who are you at your heart as a person?
I always tell people that I am a kid at heart! And I truly am a child looking for a wonderful world to play in. In fact, I'm playing all the time! But the beautiful paradox is, in my play, I can be wonderfully serious too!

What is your absolute favorite lemonade flavor and why?
I have to confess—I'll always choose a fresh orange and carrot juice! Did I just give away my secret right from the start?
How about your straw? Paper or plastic?
No straw at all! Straight from the glass is always best, if possible!
What is your big, beautiful dream for LimonArt?
I want us to expand into a whole rainbow of flavors! I want us to squeeze every drop of essence from the topics we explore. Let's not forget the fun little cocktail umbrellas and ice cubes! In short, I dream of us taking on a beautiful form—fresh, inclusive, social, critical, super relaxed yet deeply determined, natural, rhythmic, and full of heart and energy. I’d also love to sprinkle in some raw, beautiful emotion!
Do you feel your art can bring different communities together in dialogue?
I truly hope so! I want my work to communicate something wonderfully relevant and important that uplifts our community, society, and world. When it comes to LimonArt, I absolutely believe we can inspire and open up meaningful dialogue between different communities!
Name a fun song you would happily sing using lemons as microphones?
Easy peasy lemon squeezy! Lemon... Lemon Song? Or just Lemon.
What inspired you to become a LimonDramaturg – LimonArtist?
The pure joy of working in this beautiful, collaborative way! The desire to be a fresh creator who can make delicious lemonade out of whatever life serves up. Am I succeeding? Well, the LimonDramaturg-LimonArtist is still happily brewing inside of me—I'm letting it simmer a bit more before taking myself too seriously!
Who are you at your heart as a person?
I always tell people that I am a kid at heart! And I truly am a child looking for a wonderful world to play in. In fact, I'm playing all the time! But the beautiful paradox is, in my play, I can be wonderfully serious too!

THE PROJECT | A PROJEKT

The very first project from the LimonArt company is beautifully titled "Úgy érzem magam mint …/ I feel like …" and it is designed to bring Romanian and Hungarian teens in Transylvania together to explore identity, safety, and language! We are putting a joyful spotlight on bilingualism and the funny, touching things we sometimes lose in translation when speaking another language. This exciting project will spark friendly conversations among youth from different backgrounds, gather and share their experiences, and bring them all to life in a spectacular theater show!
The project will feature five interactive youth workshops, a cozy creative laboratory, a brand-new theater show, and a fabulous tour across five cities in Transylvania and Bucharest!
In the first phase, we will open up the conversation with five lively workshops for 60 partner high school students, both in-person and online. These workshops aim to create warm, guided dialogue between groups of 12 teens from Hungarian and Romanian high schools in Cluj-Napoca, Deva, Miercurea Ciuc, and Borșa-Baia Mare about their personal experiences and shared dreams.
In the second phase, we will gather all these wonderful stories and ideas to run a creative workshop within our company, using collaborative theater-making to craft a delightful show around these themes.
In the third phase, we will take this wonderful show back to the communities, performing in the cities where we met our fantastic teen participants (Cluj-Napoca, Deva, Miercurea Ciuc, and Borșa, Baia Mare), plus Bucharest! We'll keep the dialogue buzzing with lively audience Q&As after each performance to see how our art touches hearts.
In the final phase, we'll collect all the beautiful memories and insights into a fun, colorful zine made just for teens!

The very first project from the LimonArt company is beautifully titled "Úgy érzem magam mint …/ I feel like …" and it is designed to bring Romanian and Hungarian teens in Transylvania together to explore identity, safety, and language! We are putting a joyful spotlight on bilingualism and the funny, touching things we sometimes lose in translation when speaking another language. This exciting project will spark friendly conversations among youth from different backgrounds, gather and share their experiences, and bring them all to life in a spectacular theater show!
The project will feature five interactive youth workshops, a cozy creative laboratory, a brand-new theater show, and a fabulous tour across five cities in Transylvania and Bucharest!
In the first phase, we will open up the conversation with five lively workshops for 60 partner high school students, both in-person and online. These workshops aim to create warm, guided dialogue between groups of 12 teens from Hungarian and Romanian high schools in Cluj-Napoca, Deva, Miercurea Ciuc, and Borșa-Baia Mare about their personal experiences and shared dreams.
In the second phase, we will gather all these wonderful stories and ideas to run a creative workshop within our company, using collaborative theater-making to craft a delightful show around these themes.
In the third phase, we will take this wonderful show back to the communities, performing in the cities where we met our fantastic teen participants (Cluj-Napoca, Deva, Miercurea Ciuc, and Borșa, Baia Mare), plus Bucharest! We'll keep the dialogue buzzing with lively audience Q&As after each performance to see how our art touches hearts.
In the final phase, we'll collect all the beautiful memories and insights into a fun, colorful zine made just for teens!

PHOTO GALLERY | KÉPGALÉRIA

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This wonderful internship partnership between Reactor of Creation and Experiment and the Faculty of Theatre and Film is part of the exciting project run by Babeș-Bolyai University, "Quality and Interdisciplinarity in the Internship of Babes-Bolyai University Students in Cultural Management (CIP)," proudly funded by the EUROPEAN SOCIAL FUND, Human Capital Operational Programme 2014-2020 (POCU).

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