The Actor Between Art and Resilience: Practices of Self-Management in Contemporary Theatre

Authors

  • George Lepădatu “Acting up” Cultural Association, Romania & I.L. Caragiale National University of Theatre and Film, Bucharest, Romania Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37130/z0epv898

Keywords:

theatre, actor, self-management, artistic resilience, Applied theatre, cultural management, interdisciplinary pedagogy, post-1989 Romanian theatre, autonomy, performance studies

Abstract

This article examines theatre as a means of personal development and artistic resilience, focusing on the transformation of the acting profession in post- 1989 Romania. Drawing on cultural sociology, performance studies and psychology, it analyses the actor’s evolution from institutional dependency to professional autonomy within a fragile cultural ecosystem.

Two case studies – BRAINSTORM (2020) and WOUNDED – The contrast between generations (2023) – serve as applied models of artistic research and participatory pedagogy, combining creative practice with social reflection. Through self- management, emotional intelligence and applied theatre methods, actors emerge as cultural mediators, transforming vulnerability into creative resource and fostering intergenerational dialogue.

Methodologically, the study employs art-based and practice-led research, positioning artistic creation as both a cognitive and educational process. The findings show that self-management in theatre extends beyond career planning to encompass emotional regulation, ethical agency and community engagement. Ultimately, the article argues that contemporary Romanian theatre functions as a space of reflexive formation, where artistic and civic roles converge, shaping a sustainable model of creative autonomy and social responsibility.

Author Biography

  • George Lepădatu, “Acting up” Cultural Association, Romania & I.L. Caragiale National University of Theatre and Film, Bucharest, Romania

    George Lepădatu is a stage director, actor, and PhD candidate in Theatre and Performing Arts at the I.L. Caragiale National University of Theatre and Film in Bucharest. He holds a Certified Entrepreneur diploma, which complements his artistic training with advanced competences in cultural management and organizational development. His research focuses on artistic self-management, the professional resilience of actors, and sustainable models of theatrical practice within the broader transformations of the Romanian cultural system after 1989. He is the founder and president of the “Acting up” Cultural Association, where he coordinates interdisciplinary projects integrating artistic creation, performative education, and social reflection. Among these, BRAINSTORM (2020) and WOUNDED (2023), co-funded by the Administration of the National Cultural Fund (AFCN), stand out as innovative models of artistic training and social intervention. His theatre productions are included in the repertoire of the Luceafărul Independent Theatre in Bucharest, as part of collaborative co-productions. Through his work, George Lepădatu contributes to redefining theatre as a space of dialogue between art, education, and community, promoting a vision of the actor as an autonomous and reflexive cultural agent.

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Published

2025-12-26

Issue

Vol. 31 No. 2 (2025): Puppetry. Histories that shaped us / TabThePasT / Film and Theatre Pedagogy

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Lepădatu, G. . (2025). The Actor Between Art and Resilience: Practices of Self-Management in Contemporary Theatre. CONCEPT, 31(2), 314-329. https://doi.org/10.37130/z0epv898