On Radicalism and the Future of Theater

We live in a time of wars, genocide, climate collapse, growing geopolitical tensions, and a crisis of democratic institutions. A time when society’s attention—and public resources—are increasingly shifting toward issues of security, defense, and survival. What place does theater have in such a situation? How can we reflect reality, engage in public debate, and create space for critical thinking?

Have we not already exhausted the language of radicalism? Have our experiments, participation, documentary approaches, and performativity simply become new conventions? And have festivals like Kiosk found themselves in a situation where they are constantly testing boundaries that were crossed long ago?

This discussion will explore the possibilities and limitations of contemporary cultural institutions, the relationship between art and politics, the artistic community’s responsibility to engage with the public sphere, and the future of culture in an era of perpetual crisis. Let’s ask ourselves together what forms of life, collaboration, resistance, and imagination are worth creating today.

@ Nová synagóga, Žilina