The FEMMINICITY project's successful runs of ”12a Happiness Street”.
The FEMMINICITY project's successful runs of ”12a Happiness Street”.
First stage of the FEMMINICITY project was finalized with successful runs of ”12a Happiness Street”. Our production tackles with the theme of domestic violence, which was identified as one of the most ardent in the wake of over 50 femicides in Romania last year.
The theatre’s research team, led by Carmen Tarniceru, conducted a series of interviews with 8 victims of domestic violence, based on a partnership with the Municipality Directorate for Social Assistance and the social workers of the services provided by the Catholic Church. The partners eased our access to safe houses and support groups in Timisoara and suggested women who are willing to share their stories anonymously to include them in the performance. This research activity also included discussions with therapists who are working with abused women, as well as women victims of trafficking or substance abusers struggling to be single moms with small children. Because they are still in vulnerable positions, their identity needs to be protected, so all the materials collected are dealt with confidentiality.
As preparation for the residency, on Nov 25th the Theatre co-organised a march and roundtable event on the Day of Fight Against Violence against Women, connecting with representatives of Police, NGOs, Municipality officials, members of Parliament and state-provided services dealing with violence against women. They were informed about the project and offered to contribute with statistical data and professionals who can provide information on the topic. This event was a good opportunity for networking with professionals in Timisoara who can spread knowledge about the project and give input to stakeholders about policy changes to be made.
Based on the testimonies gathered by interviewing, the dramaturg Orban Eniko came with a first draft of the text which benefited from a public reading on Nov 15th, in order to receive feedback. The first draft of the text focused very much on the testimonies of the interviewed women which were the primary focus group, and the topic revolves around abuse by their partners, inability to leave an abuse relationship, economic dependency that prevents them from feeling an abusive relationship, the impact of alcohol and gambling on the deteriorating relationship, impact on children growing in an abusive relationship.
The text was later adapted for a staging together with French director Laurent Berger, from our project partner the University of Montpellier. His residency started in December with a workshop about feminist theatre and stage representation of violence against women. The call for participation was made by the Theatre online, free of charge and 22 women applied – from Romania, Hungary and Serbia. The group discussed personal experiences, as most of the applicants has a personal background of abuse by their partner or is currently working on artistic and social projects about abused women. They also worked on theatre exercises and improvisations on the topic. After the 4-day workshop in Timisoara, the director selected 4 performers from the participants in the workshop as non-professional actresses in the performance: Péntek-Domschy Mercédesz, Szabó Abigél, Tamás Adél and Varga Ildikó. Apart from them, the theatre organized an internal casting for selecting 3 actresses from our ensemble (Balló Helga, Éder Enikő, Magyari Etelka) who joined the final cast of the performance.
The rehearsals took place in January, with a premiere on January 30th. The following shows took place on Feb 6th (during an international theatre showcase organized by the Theatre, therefore benefiting from international exposure) and Feb 24th. The performance is played in Hungarian, with surtitles in Romanian and English and translated live by Ema Mate, Romanian Sign Language interpreter for all the three shows scheduled so far.
It benefits from original music and set design created by the Theatre’s professionals: Albert Alpár, scenographer, and Cári Tibor, composer. An official jingle played before the performance informs the public about the hotline that can be called free of charge in Romania for reporting violence or seeking help. Every show was followed by a discussion that the performers have with the audience about violence against women. Because the audience is multicultural in Timisoara, translation of the discussion is also provided in Hungarian, Romanian and English, depending on the moderator. The first one was moderated by Makkai Barbara, a therapist who contributed to the research process and text elaboration, and who worked closely during the rehearsals with the Director , the second one was moderated by Luana Pleșea, a theatre critic and radio moderator, and the third one by Bilibok Apollonia, a theatre theoretician, so that every time the topics are discusses in a slightly different approach. We continue to invite the professionals and stakeholders to every performance. The intention is to keep the performance as part of the Theatre’s repertoire even after the project ends and have at least one performance every month.
During the interviews, the women were asked whether they would agree to be contacted and invited to attend the performance once staged. All of them expressed interest in seeing the show, while also sharing concerns about childcare during the event. In response, we are planning a dedicated performance to which they will be invited under strict confidentiality. At the same time, we intend to organize a separate one-hour programme for their children, ensuring they are cared for in a safe environment, so that the mothers can attend the performance with peace of mind.
The Timisoara edition of the festival organized within the project framework will take place in 25-29 May 2026. The other festivals, organized by project partners in 2026, will take place in Maribor (4-8 March), Montpellier (3-5 June), Krakow (2-4 October), Novi Sad (22-25 October).
FEMMINICITY - Cities that Support Women’s Participation in Policy-Making is co-funded by the European Union, by means of the program Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV).
