Performances followed by discussions, book clubs and workshops where young people work alongside artists: Bucharest offers teenagers several opportunities to spend their free time exploring shared interests. This autumn, projects run by theatres and cultural associations open up conversations about family, independence, relationships and the challenges of growing up.

If you are looking for activities like these, the selection below includes both meetings you can sign up for individually and programmes organised through high schools or with established groups. You will find details about the format, venues and participation requirements to help you choose what suits you.

“Tema de la ora cinci” at EXCELSIOR: five meetings exploring the questions of adolescence

The second edition of “Tema de la ora cinci” runs from 12 November to 10 December 2026, in the Studio Hall of EXCELSIOR Theatre, at 28 Academiei Street. Meetings take place every Thursday at 17:00: on 12, 19 and 26 November, followed by 3 and 10 December.

Each staged reading explores one of the five announced themes: truth, independence, failure, family and loneliness. Excerpts from dramatic texts spanning different periods and artistic worlds are brought together to offer several perspectives on the same subject. The focus is on the actors and the words, without elaborate sets.

The discussions begin with familiar situations: what do you do when telling the truth could cost you an important relationship, how do you negotiate independence, and how do you handle failure when others expect you to succeed? Family relationships and feelings of loneliness complete this edition’s programme.

After the reading, the conversation continues with the audience. Teenagers and young adults can ask questions, challenge an idea and share their own understanding of the theme. The first edition explored love, relationships with power, friendship, identity crises and the future.

“Because sometimes the most important things we take away from the theatre are not the answers, but the questions we begin to ask ourselves,” the organisers say.

 TEMA DE LA ORA CINCI – Second edition

Schedule: Every Thursday at 17:00

Venue: Studio Hall, EXCELSIOR Theatre, Bucharest

Admission is free, subject to availability, with advance reservations required.

For organised groups of students, reservations can be made by emailing organizare@teatrul-excelsior.ro.

English Hour: reading and conversation in English at Cărturești Verona

For young people aged 16–21, the 7 ARTE Association organises English Hour, a club combining reading with discussions in English. Meetings take place at Cărturești Verona, in the Hall of Mirrors, at 13–15 Arthur Verona Street, and are moderated by Andrei Roșca, a student at “Iulia Hașdeu” National College.

Each session lasts one hour: 30 minutes of individual reading and 30 minutes of conversation. Participants do not need to read the book beforehand, and the organisers ask for conversational English rather than an advanced level. For 28 November at 15:00, the announced book is “The Beggar Student” by Osamu Dazai.

Participation is free, with registration required for each meeting, subject to availability. You can reserve a place by emailing asociatia7arte@gmail.com, giving the participant’s name and the selected book, as explained in the project announcement.

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OUR HOUR!: bringing performances into classrooms

Another project run by the Tangent Association and EXCELSIOR Theatre, OUR HOUR! #2, brings theatre into high schools. The programme announced for November–December 2026 involves presenting three productions at 21 partner high schools in Bucharest, with discussions after the performances.

The shows are developed through a process that includes meetings with teenagers. Their experiences and concerns help shape the scripts, while the productions are designed to make the most of the close interaction between actors and audiences that a classroom allows. Each performance is planned to last no more than 40 minutes.

Participation is organised through the partner high schools. The project does not operate like a regular theatre performance for which you buy an individual ticket. Interested students can ask their school whether it is involved in the programme described in the OUR HOUR! #2 presentation.

Grivița “Altfel”: teenagers help create a performance

At Grivița 53 Theatre, 53 Calea Griviței, the ImpACT – Grivița “Altfel” project brings young people and professionals together to create a performance for the community. The initiative, organised by the Grivița 53 Cultural Association, appears in the Sector 1 City Hall calendar for 6 October–15 November 2026, with free participation.

The ImpACT programme includes a workshop laboratory covering areas such as sound, lighting, performance installations and creative writing. The Grivița “Altfel” component aims to use this experience in a collective creation presented by young people from Sector 1 for the community around Grivița.

The project is already underway, and the listed dates do not confirm that new participants are still being accepted. To ask about joining or to find out about the performance presentation, contact the organiser at teatru@grivita53.ro, as listed in the official Sector 1 calendar.

Replika: a permanent space for educational theatre

Beyond programmes with a limited run, the Replika Educational Theatre Center is a destination for those interested in performances about school, family and human relationships. The independent venue is located at 93–95 Lânăriei Street, and its online repertoire includes “Amintiri din epoca de școală” (“Memories from the school years”), “Familia offline” (“The offline family”) and “Copii răi” (“Bad children”).

According to the centre’s website, admission to all events organised by Replika is free. Before visiting, check the current programme: a title’s inclusion in the repertoire does not mean it is performed every week. Check the date, recommended age and booking instructions in the announcement for your chosen performance. For reservations, the centre lists rezervari.replika@gmail.com.

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