In the period between February 6 and 15, 2026. Zarika Association took part in a training course dedicated to the “Legislative Theater” method. The training took place in a wooded area in the Carpathians near the town of Busceni, Romania, an area that is well known to have a high population of brown bears that have become accustomed (or not so much) to human presence. This added an additional, albeit informal, element of adventure to the learning process.
The course was organized by A.R.T. Fusion with facilitators Monica Tudorache and Antonia Pîslariu, and brought together over 25 participants from across Europe and neighboring continents with different professional and civic backgrounds, united by an interest in social change, activism and advocacy. From the very beginning, the atmosphere encouraged openness, mutual support and active participation. The training was not limited to theoretical frameworks, but placed a strong emphasis on real examples and practical situations.
What is Legislative Theater?
Legislative theater is a method, a form of the Theater of the Oppressed, that uses theatrical means to present real social problems and situations of oppression. Through active participation, the audience does not just remain an observer, but gets involved with ideas, suggestions and alternative actions. In this way, the lived experience becomes the basis for searching for solutions to social problems and formulating proposals for real change.
One of the most valuable aspects of the training was understanding how personal stories and experiences can be used to better understand social problems and to identify the systemic deficiencies behind them. Through theater scenes, these stories were analyzed in a structured way, which allowed to highlight recurring patterns, gaps and weaknesses in the existing legal framework and institutional practices.
Scenes of oppression
During the training, scenes were developed and commented on various social issues, including discrimination, bullying at school and sexual violence. In one of the scenes dedicated to discrimination, our participant Stefan was transformed into a rude border guard who, during passport checks, showed favoritism to travelers from “wealthy” countries, and selectively singled out citizens from Arab countries for additional checks for no particular reason. Thus was illustrated the problem with the so-called profiling.
Another scene presented a common but rarely discussed situation—an older mentor taking advantage of a younger student through inappropriate behavior. The conversation on the subject of sexual harassment showed how often such situations remain invisible and unpunished due to fear and lack of support. The discussion opened a space for discussing boundaries, power dependencies and the responsibility of institutions in cases of sexual harassment.
Do I need Joker?
Our representative Bistra joined in the role of a Joker – the facilitator figure in the Theater of the Oppressed. This role has a key function as it neutrally guides the process, guides the discussion and serves as a bridge between the actors, the action on stage and the audience, offering space for interventions and alternatives.
Bistra shared the following about her experience: “It was valuable for me to have the chance to practice the process of facilitation in a learning environment, and to receive feedback to apply when facilitating Theater of the Oppressed afterwards. My favorite moment at the Legislative Theater is when the audience formulates proposals for solving the presented problem and votes on them using green, yellow and red cards. There were many interesting discussions around this moment.”
A tool for real change
The course reinforced the understanding that turning ideas into legislative or official measures is a complex process that requires careful assessment and extremely good preparation. Legislative theater does not offer quick fixes, but rather supports a long-term process of analysis, dialogue and advocacy. And all this – held in an area where one involuntarily realizes that sometimes the biggest challenges are not only social, but also… forest, with possible unexpected encounters with large representatives of the fauna.
Instead of a conclusion
Overall, the training helped our participants clarify how the Legislative Theater can support long-term advocacy by:
- transforming lived experience into clearly formulated problems;
- testing possible solutions in a protected and structured environment;
- creating a dialogue with institutions, developing proposals and follow-up actions.
The work of the facilitators was at a very good level. They created a safe and inclusive environment, demonstrated strong practical experience and led the process clearly and consistently. Recommendations for future editions include the need for tighter focus and time management in some discussions, as well as the inclusion of a comprehensive “road map” of the Legislative Theater process with more visual and practical examples.
From a logistical standpoint, the experience exceeded expectations. The food was excellent and the logistical matters clearly communicated. Our participants left extremely satisfied with the experience, with new knowledge and practical skills, some pleased that they managed to find time for snowboarding in the Carpathians, yet with a subtle sense of disappointment that they did not encounter a bear at any point during the stay until the last evening. Next time!
The project is financially supported by the Erasmus+ programme through the Romanian National Agency and is implemented by the Association A.R.T. Fusion.
About the author: Stefan Tashev is a Bulgarian lawyer with a practice in the field of civil and commercial law, as well as regulatory compliance and European policies. His work combines legal analysis, practical experience with institutions and participation in civic initiatives, including in the fields of advocacy and inclusive social processes. His interests focus on the relationship between law, social change and sustainable regulatory solutions in a European context.