ABOUT THE FESTIVAL

In 2007, when the idea of the Interferences was born, we thought that the festival could create the opening for an encounter in Cluj-Napoca, thanks to which the audience might become acquainted with the local Hungarian theatre within the much broader context of the trends revamping the contemporary global theatre. Within the bounds of the intercultural environment in Cluj-Napoca, yet amidst the still flagrant instances of segregation, we would have liked to convey the message that the Interferences were to be the festival of each and every theatregoer in Cluj-Napoca. It was meant to be a platform of opportunities to meet theatre companies coming mostly from the world’s best, to transcend the usual perspectives and to establish new connections among the different cultures.

Over the years, we have been seeking to bring over to the festival productions that have in some way been related to our suggested topics but that do not advance biased perspectives, thus making way for reflections and discussions.

I feel that hard times keep bringing the audience back. The need for the shared space of the theatre, the kind of community experience that makes it possible for the least homogeneous groups of people to react collectively to whatever they see on the stage might be as old as mankind, holding onto us until this very day.

We can no longer view the world as an entity isolated from ourselves because whatever is going on in the world, it, actually, happens to us. I think that the range of topics capacitated to touch people’s souls anywhere on earth is growing ever wider. Essentially, this edition is a retrospective – a pause in the course of the Festival; however, as far as the possible directions of its legacy are concerned, it may be regarded as a pivotal moment. 

Tompa Gábor
Festival Director