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The ERIAC will present at the IL Caragiale National Theatre of Bucharest (NTB), on Wednesday, June 26th, 2019, the play Roma Armee, produced by the Maxim Gorki Theatreof Berlin. This is the first time that "Roma Armee" will be presented in Romania.

The show directed by the famous Yael Ronen is based on the original idea of Sandra and Simonida Selimovic. The play is the voice of Roma who are subject to multiple and intersected discrimination - Roma women, Roma young people and LGBTIQ Roma, depicting the beauty of multiple faces of diversity, but also the intensity of inner drama.

Producer Yael Ronen, from Israel, promotes a powerful theatre, marked by black humour in the context of contemporary historical conflicts. She is currently working in Berlin at the "Maxim Gorki" Theatre and is considered internationally as one of the most interesting personalities of the theatre of her generation. As a director, as well as a playwright, she earned the Europe for Theatrical Realities Prize at the 16th edition of her prestigious awards, as well as the Austrian Nestroy Award for two of her plays.

The cast of this show features exciting artistic personalities with a rich and varied artistic activity.

Sandra Selimovic (the face of the billboard) is an actress, a director and a singer. Born in 1981 in Serbia, she migrated at the age of five with her family from Serbia to Vienna. Here, she  made her debut in 1994 and was remarked on the independent theatre stages. She performs mainly at the Dschungel Youth Theatre in Vienna and the former Theatre of the Moment. She is also a champion of women's empowerment within the Roma community, determined to combat anti-Roma discrimination. In 2010, along with her sister, Simonida Selimovic, actress and rapper, she founded Romano Svato, the first feminist and professional rhetorical theatre association.

Another interesting figure is Mihaela Dragan, born in 1986, actress and playwright. She works in Bucharest and Berlin, and in 2014 she founded the Giuvlipen theatre company, in collaboration with other Roma, a "revolutionary theatre", according to Reuters. In 2015, she starred in "Aferim," the film by Radu Jude who won the Silver Bear for directing at the Berlin International Film Festival, and in 2017 she was the lead character of the short film "Black Magic" directed by Fanny Ardant. She is currently working in Berlin at the Maxim Gorki Theatre.

Also Mehmet Ateşçi, a graduate of the Zurich Art Academy, is, since 2013, actor of the Gorki Theater, cast by well-known directors in numerous productions.

Hamze Bytyci works mainly in Berlin, being attracted to acting, direction and pedagogy. He manages the online broadcast transmitter Radio Corel and organizes international film summer schools under the label Balkan Onions. In 2012, he developed his own interactive performance format with Hilton Room 437, devoted to social and political issues.

Riah May Knight, singer, songwriter and actress from Sussex, England. She has written and starred in institutions such as The Brighton Dome and Roundhouse in London, Notre Dame and Houses of Parliament for the last ten years.

Lindy Larsson, born in Sweden, studying at Stockholm College of Acting, plays on some of the major theatres in Sweden and together with director Charlotte Engelkes has created some shows. In parallel with theatrical activity, he plays in the orchestra Lindy & Bon Bon Band.

About the last two, Berliner Zeitung writes: "Riah May Knight, the Romanian blonde who lives in England, and Lindy Larsson, a Roma from Sweden, play a duet with which they could easily win the Eurovison contest! And when Mehmet Ateşçi joins them, the hearts of the crowd are melting. "

Orit Nahmias appeared in various theatre productions in Israel, then on Schaubühne, and in 2015 he joins the Gorki ensemble where he plays several parts, most of them in performances by Yael Ronen.

Roma Armee is a powerful story, revealing the impact of stereotypes, but also the struggle to overcome them. The show communicates passionately, genuinely and intensely the realities of the Roma. With stage design and costumes created by the famous Roma artists Delaine and Damian Le Bas, "Roma Armee" is an inspirational example of the utmost artistic quality.

Strategically set in Romania, the country with the largest number of Roma, the event aims at promoting the autonomous voices of the members of the Roma community, especially those who are subject to multiple and intersected discrimination.

At a time when neo-fascism threatens Europe, a group of actors initiates a Roma army for the purpose of self-defense. The actors are Roma, Romnja and travelling Roma from Austria, Serbia, Germany, Kosovo, Romania, England and Sweden. They are also gadjii in Berlin of Israeli-German-Turkish origin - which means that the Roma Army is supranational, diverse and feminist. Explaining the past and present injustices of the Roma throughout Europe, the Roma Army starts the process of self-reflection and self-empowerment, initiating a revolution that provides for a peaceful, inclusive and respectful future for all Europeans.

The Rome Armee show is produced by the Maxim Gorki Theatre, organized by the European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture (ERIAC), and will be presented at the IL Caragiale National Theatreof Bucharest, at the Grand Hall, on June 26th, 2019, at 8.00 p.m. The show will be titled in Romanian.

Public access is allowed from 18.45, because at 19.00 in the hall of the Great Hall, short greetings from organizers (IERAC) and host (TNB) will be announced.

The event takes place with the support of the Open Society Foundations: Arts Exchange, Youth Exchange, Human Rights Initiative, Public Health Programme and the Goethe Institute of Romania.

Tickets are available at the NTB Box Office (in the Grand Hall lobby), as well as online on www.mystage.ro.

Translated by Simona Nichiteanu