In a bold attempt to bring theater closer to the community and delve into the mysterious darkness of the night, director Cătălin Mardale and playwright Andreea Tănase have collaborated on creating a unique play about nighttime safety in Timișoara.

We asked them how they hope “Night Theater” will influence the public discourse on this topic, especially for women. Andreea says she chose to have the discussion theme subtly represented in the script, manifesting in various forms across different scenes and stories. She believes that the best way to initiate a conversation on a certain topic is through a story with which one can ideally empathize, even if just partially. Moreover, she believes in depicting certain characters, behaviors, or situations you might not typically expect to see, aiming to catch you off guard to some extent.

“I don’t like being didactic or passing judgments. If, after this performance, we become a moment more attentive to the needs of those around us, that’s a win for me,” adds Cătălin.

The play invites the audience on an introspective journey, prompting them to reflect on their own experiences and how they view and interpret the world around them. Ultimately, theater, in its purest essence, is about confrontation, empathy, and transformation. “Night Theater” promises to be not just a theater piece but also a starting point for a vital discussion in the community.

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This project is part of the national cultural program “Timișoara – European Capital of Culture in 2023” and is financed through the Grow Timișoara 2023 program, carried out by the Project Center of Timișoara Municipality, with funds allocated from the state budget, through the budget of the Ministry of Culture.

The Night-Art Festival is presented by George, the first smart banking.

Sponsors: Fan Courier, Iulius Town, ATP Motors, Pepsi

Project partners: Leeds City Council, In-Edu Association Timișoara, German Cultural Center Timișoara, Cluj Cultural Center, West University Timișoara, University of Art and Design Cluj-Napoca, Polytechnic University of Timișoara

Communication partners: Getica OOH, Aushopping galleries, Kiss Fm, Euromedia, Pressone.ro, G4Media.ro, World Wide Print, Daisler Print House, Știri din România, Tion, Express de Banat, IQOOL, Zile și Nopți, Știri de Timișoara, NewsVest, Adevărul, TVR, Radio Timișoara, România Pozitivă, Best of Timișoara