A unique collaboration between the Constanța State Theatre and the Constanța Bar Association to promote legal education through art

The Constanța State Theatre joins the Constanța Bar Association in the national project "Be a Lawyer in Your School!" with the aim of bringing legal education closer to young people through an impactful artistic and educational initiative. Initiated by the National Union of Romanian Bar Associations (UNBR), the project involves volunteer lawyers in educational activities for school and high school students, designed to develop critical thinking, foster healthy legal reflexes, and promote civic responsibility through innovative and engaging methods.

The collaboration between the Constanța Bar Association and the Constanța State Theatre is a natural continuation of the efforts made by the National Union of Romanian Bar Associations to promote legal education among young people and of the theatre's mission to contribute to education. Now in its fourth edition, the FAST project has already demonstrated that non-formal education can be a powerful tool for shaping responsible and informed citizens and that the partnership between the legal and cultural sectors is essential in this regard.

This collaboration represents a new opportunity to bring legal education closer to young people by combining theatrical art with discussions on rights, responsibilities, and the consequences of our actions. Through theatre, legal themes gain an emotional dimension and become more accessible to young audiences. (Lawyer Teodora Calipetre, FAST Constanța Coordinator)

In this context, the two institutions are organizing the first event of this project on February 2 at 7:00 PM at the Studio-BCR Hall. It will feature a special performance of Games in the Backyard, directed by Diana Mititelu, attended by high school students from Constanța.

Games in the Backyard, a production of the Constanța State Theatre, is inspired by a real case and sensitively explores the theme of consent in the context of crimes against freedom and sexual integrity, offering a profound and practical perspective on the legal and social consequences of such situations.

Following the tradition of previous years, when the play sparked numerous debates moderated by various lawyers and psychologists, this performance will also be followed by an interactive discussion. Volunteer lawyers from the FAST project will lead the debate, analyzing the implications of the theme and answering audience questions.

The chosen play is one of the most significant productions of the Constanța State Theatre, not only because of the subject it brings into public discussion but also due to its remarkable trajectory. A testament to its recognition is the UNITER Award for Best Debut, won by Diana Mititelu for directing this play in 2021. Since then, the Constanța State Theatre has become a constant presence at Romania’s most prestigious theatre award ceremonies. Moreover, in the five years since its premiere on February 29, 2020, Games in the Backyard has become one of the theatre’s longest-running productions and has received numerous invitations to some of the most important theatre festivals in the country.