Bridging the Stage and the Classroom: The Educational Impact of the National Theatre Festival (2022-2024)

Abstract

The National Theatre Festival (FNT) in Bucharest has recently expanded its curatorial practices by integrating an educational module, reinforcing the festival’s role as a platform for artistic learning and audience development. This article examines the newly developed FNT Educational Module, emphasizing the educational opportunities it has created for students, young audiences, and emerging theatre professionals. By analysing these last three festival editions – Fragile Borders. Fluid Histories (2022), Laboratories of Sensitivity (2023), and Dramaturgies of the Possible (2024) – this paper explores how FNT functions as a pedagogical space, fostering interdisciplinary exchanges and facilitating access to contemporary theatrical practices. The essay highlights the deep connections between theatre festivals and education, showing how such initiatives enhance cultural participation, encourage artistic exploration, and contribute to the sustainability of the performing arts. The FNT Educational Module demonstrates how theatre can be integrated into school curricula, inspire critical engagement, and cultivate new generations of theatre-goers and professionals. By embedding educational initiatives within festival frameworks, FNT plays a crucial role in bridging the gap between artistic production and learning, ensuring that theatre remains both accessible and relevant to young audiences.