3.-7.5.2025
3.-7.5.2025
ABOUT US
Istropolitana Project, the international festival of performing arts universities, brings a unique opportunity for young theatre artists to be involved in an international confrontation of their work, opinion and production. It creates space for future theatre professionals to meet with professional Jury, their audience and their colleagues. The festival's target is to hold a creative meeting of the youngest generation of theatre artists from national and international schools and to present various approaches and poetics towards theater staging and interpretation. With its youthful energy, the festival promotes theatre culture among young people through non-traditional forms, presenting theatre in a way that resonates with them and encourages their continued interest beyond the event.
In 2025, the Istropolitana Project festival will celebrate its 25th edition, which will take place from May 3 to May 7, themed “Revolt.” The 24th edition took place in the 2022/2023 academic year, continuing a tradition that began in 1977. The festival jury consists of renowned theater professionals. In recent years, festival have been attended by Patrice Pavis, Sylvia Huszár, John Ginman, Petr Christov, Fernando Gomez Grande, Jozef Vlk, Armando Rotondi, Anton Korenči. The 25th edition will feature confirmed jurors Gianina Carbunariu, Tomasz Kireńczuk, András Sereglei, Sylvia Hroncová and Michal Lošonský.
ABOUT US
The Istropolitana Project, with its ambitions and scope, is a significant event in the context of theatre education and culture in Central Europe, and it remains the only project of its kind in Slovakia. Istropolitana Project offers theatre students a unique opportunity to engage in an international exchange, showcasing their works, ideas, and creative processes to the public. The festival attracts theatre schools from around the world, with a particular emphasis on European institutions.
For the past eight years, the festival has held the prestigious EFFE Label (Europe for Festivals – Festivals for Europe), awarded by the European Festivals Association in Brussels. This recognition is given to leading European festivals that demonstrate a commitment to the arts, community development, and openness to the international scene.
ABOUT THE JURY
Silvia Hroncová, Slovak theatrologist and cultural manager. She graduated fromtheatre science and aesthetics at the Faculty of Philology, Comenius University in Bratislava. During her career, she has held leading positions in major cultural institutions, including Director of the Theatre Institute in Bratislava and director General of the Slovak National Theatre. Later she worked as a director of the National Theatre Opera and the State Opera in Prague. In 2023, she was appointed by President Zuzana Čaputová as the Minister of Culture during her administration.
Michal Lošonský is a Slovak scenographer, architect and pedagogue at the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava. He received the DOSKY 2023 award for scenography in the play Kocúrkovo . His work stands out for its authenticity and connection with the place, which he used in the filming of the movie Ťapákovci. He runs the Scenography Studio, where he collaborates on projects for theatre and film.
Tomasz Kireńczuk, Polish dramaturge, theatre critic and curator. In 2008 he co-founded Teatr Nowy in Krakow, an independent theatre center, where he later worked as a project director, focusing on artistic, educational and social projects. In 2018, he initiated the New Theatre Lab programme, which supports young artists in production and provides them with creative freedom. He was also a co-organizer of the important Dialog - Wrocław Festival (2011-2019), where he advocated for the independence of artistic creation. Since 2023, he has been the director of the Santarcangelo Festival in Italy.
Gianina Cărbunariu, renowned Romanian director and playwright. Her work often deals with social and political themes such as human rights or issues of justice and power. She has written plays where she explores the problems of modern society through original productions and a documentary approach, often based on research and interviews. Since 2017, she has been leading Teatrul Tineretului in Piatra Neamț, Romania, where she also curates a local international theatre festival. Her plays have been performed at major European festivals and translated into more than 15 languages.
András Sereglei is a Hungarian actor, director, teacher and expert in argumentative theatre, which he uses as a tool to develop critical thinking and active participation of the audience. In addition to his work at Budapest's Káva Kulturális Műhely theatre, where he works on participatory forms of theatre, he also teaches at the independent school FreeSZFE. Sereglei's work invites the audience to become active participants in the analysis and solution of social problems. He uses these techniques not only in theatre, but also in educational programs where he emphasizes discussion and reflection on social issues.
PRIVICY POLICY
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
ABOUT OUR JURY:
SILVIA HRONCOVÁ
Silvia Hroncová, Slovak theatrologist and cultural manager. She graduated fromtheatre science and aesthetics at the Faculty of Philology, Comenius University in Bratislava. During her career, she has held leading positions in major cultural institutions, including Director of the Theatre Institute in Bratislava and director General of the Slovak National Theatre. Later
she worked as a director of the National Theatre Opera and the State Opera in Prague. In
2023, she was appointed by President Zuzana Čaputová as the Minister of Culture during
her administration.
MICHAL LOŠONSKÝ
Michal Lošonský is a Slovak scenographer, architect and pedagogue at the Academy of
Performing Arts in Bratislava.
He received the DOSKY 2023 award for scenography in the play Kocúrkovo. His work stands out for its authenticity and connection with the place, which he used in the filming of the movie Ťapákovci. He runs the Scenography Studio, where he collaborates on projects for theatre and film.
TOMASZ KIREŃCZUK
Tomasz Kireńczuk, Polish dramaturge, theatre critic and curator. In 2008 he co-founded
Teatr Nowy in Krakow, an independent theatre center, where he later worked as a project
director, focusing on artistic, educational and social projects. In 2018, he initiated the New
Theatre Lab programme, which supports young artists in production and provides them with
creative freedom. He was also a co-organizer of the important Dialog - Wrocław Festival
(2011-2019), where he advocated for the independence of artistic creation. Since 2023, he
has been the director of the Santarcangelo Festival in Italy.
GIANINA CARBUNARIU
Gianina Cărbunariu, renowned Romanian director and playwright. Her work often deals with
social and political themes such as human rights or issues of justice and power. She has
written plays where she explores the problems of modern society through original
productions and a documentary approach, often based on research and interviews. Since
2017, she has been leading Teatrul Tineretului in Piatra Neamț, Romania, where she also
curates a local international theatre festival. Her plays have been performed at major
European festivals and translated into more than 15 languages.
ANDRÁS SEREGLEI
András Sereglei is a versatile Hungarian artist and educator specializing in argumentative theatre, a unique medium that fosters critical thinking and encourages audience participation in addressing social issues. As a member of Káva Kulturális Műhely, a Budapest-based theatre renowned for its participatory approaches, Sereglei develops interactive performances that engage viewers as active contributors to both the narrative and the exploration of societal challenges.
Beyond his work in theatre, he teaches at FreeSZFE, an independent educational institution. His teaching integrates his theatrical expertise, creating programs where discussions and reflections on contemporary social issues take center stage. Sereglei’s approach aims to transform audiences from passive spectators into active problem-solvers, bridging the gap between art and education.
SILVIA HRONCOVÁ
Silvia Hroncová, Slovak theatrologist and cultural manager. She graduated fromtheatre science and aesthetics at the Faculty of Philology, Comenius University in Bratislava. During her career, she has held leading positions in major cultural institutions, including Director of the Theatre Institute in Bratislava and director General of the Slovak National Theatre. Later she worked as a director of the National Theatre Opera and the State Opera in Prague. In 2023, she was appointed by President Zuzana Čaputová as the Minister of Culture during
her administration.
MICHAL LOŠONSKÝ
Michal Lošonský is a Slovak scenographer, architect and pedagogue at the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava. He received the DOSKY 2023 award for scenography in the play Kocúrkovo. His work stands out for its authenticity and connection with the place, which he used in the filming of the movie Ťapákovci. He runs the Scenography Studio, where he collaborates on projects for theatre and film.
TOMASZ KIREŃCZUK
Tomasz Kireńczuk, Polish dramaturge, theatre critic and curator. In 2008 he co-founded Teatr Nowy in Krakow, an independent theatre center, where he later worked as a project director, focusing on artistic, educational and social projects. In 2018, he initiated the New Theatre Lab programme, which supports young artists in production and provides them with creative freedom. He was also a co-organizer of the important Dialog - Wrocław Festival
(2011-2019), where he advocated for the independence of artistic creation. Since 2023, he has been the director of the Santarcangelo Festival in Italy.
GIANINA CARBUNARIU
Gianina Cărbunariu, renowned Romanian director and playwright. Her work often deals with social and political themes such as human rights or issues of justice and power. She has written plays where she explores the problems of modern society through original
productions and a documentary approach, often based on research and interviews. Since 2017, she has been leading Teatrul Tineretului in Piatra Neamț, Romania, where she also curates a local international theatre festival. Her plays have been performed at major
European festivals and translated into more than 15 languages.
ANDRÁS SEREGLEI
András Sereglei is a versatile Hungarian artist and educator specializing in argumentative theatre, a unique medium that fosters critical thinking and encourages audience participation in addressing social issues. As a member of Káva Kulturális Műhely, a Budapest-based theatre renowned for its participatory approaches, Sereglei develops interactive performances that engage viewers as active contributors to both the narrative and the exploration of societal challenges. Beyond his work in theatre, he teaches at FreeSZFE, an independent educational institution. His teaching integrates his theatrical expertise, creating programs where discussions and reflections on contemporary social issues take center stage. Sereglei’s approach aims to transform audiences from passive spectators into active problem-solvers, bridging the gap between art and education.