Breaking the Silence – Janus Festival – Autobiographical Theatre

by Angela Cotoară – Fundația Professional

The JANUS International Autobiographical Theatre Festival featured several performances and events, held at the Studio Theatre from the 2nd to the 5th June. Monday was the start of the festival, and the young Romanian people from Fundatia Professional started with their Autobiographical Theatre example “Breaking the Silence”. The people involved were the six young actors, the Artistic Director, Erika Domokos, as well as Angela Cotoară, the initiator of the entire Autobiographical Theatre performance at the Studio Hall of University of Arts.

What started as an experiment in the art of storytelling turned into an emotional and deeply creative experience for everyone involved. The play "Breaking the Silence" is the result of the lived stories of these six young people, later enriched with the particularities of theatre. Sharing personal stories in such a vulnerable way was something entirely new. In this phase, we used simple but effective activities to relax their minds and bodies. Exercises such as mindful breathing, group movement games, and even silent eye contact taught them to feel safe. Step by step, we observed how their initial hesitations began to fade.

By the end of this stage, they were smiling, laughing and, most importantly, starting to trust in this process and one another.

After the storytelling sessions, we moved on to transcribing their narratives. We carefully documented each story as it was told, faithfully preserving their exact words, just as they expressed them. This stage was more than a practical one; it had profound symbolism. Another step was “Investigations” – an exploration process allowed them to discover the deeper layers of their own lives and the connections between their individual experiences and those of the others in the group. It was a delicate but necessary process, which helped to weave their stories together, preparing them for the next stage.

Narration started by transforming Reality into Theatre. In this stage, their shared themes—such as the search for identity, struggles with self-image, and regaining their inner voice—took on a universal resonance, ready to be shared with an audience. Designing the visual and sensory aspects, such as lighting, music, video art, and body movement, was natural.

Watching them embrace their stories on the "stage" was truly an unforgettable experience —for both the participants and for us. We wanted the play to be as authentic as the participants themselves. With the help of their contributions, we created an atmosphere that mirrored the personal and authentic nature of their narratives.

Connecting with the audience is, for the participants, the validation of their stories, while members of the audience shared how deeply they were moved or how they found themselves in certain moments.

The six young people from the Papiu Theatre Club reminded everyone that stories have the power to inspire beyond the boundaries of any stage. They create ripples, connecting people in ways we cannot always predict. The dissemination and success with the audience are entirely due to these six young people, aged between 16 and 17 years old.

Let us not forget to mention the predominant role of Mrs. Artistic Director, Erika Domokos, artist at the National Theatre, the contribution of the Professional Foundation, a partner in the JANUS project represented by Mrs. Angela Cotoară who organised this event that impressed the audience, as was evident from the questions and answers after the show, which lasted more than an hour.