Deconfining - Interview with Piri Moga

The DECONFINING project aims to create a sustainable and equitable cultural and artistic exchange between Europe and Africa. As part of the project we invited experts related to the themes - so you can hear their thoughts within the interviews!

This interview was conducted with Piri Móga, a Hungarian actress and drama pedagogy teacher working with marginalized groups, including Roma youth and young people with fewer opportunities. She joined the project due to her professional interest in socially engaged art practices and the opportunity to collaborate with Bare Feet Theatre in Zambia, which works with vulnerable youth in a similar field.

Within the project, she participated as both a performer and a co-creator of the theatre piece. Due to the absence of a director, the small team of artists collaboratively took on additional roles such as organizing, structuring, and partially directing the performance. The creation process was intensive and time-constrained, requiring flexibility and shared responsibility.

A key aspect of her experience was the intercultural collaboration, particularly the differences in working styles, organizational structures, and time management between European and African contexts. She highlighted the need for adaptability when working in Zambia and Tanzania, where schedules were less fixed and required a more flexible approach.

The participant also reflected on differences in audience engagement across countries, noting that performances needed to be adapted through language use, physical expression, and interactive elements to reach diverse audiences. The project’s theme of climate change and environmental awareness was communicated through visual and participatory methods, although she observed challenges in long-term behavioral impact due to structural and systemic factors.

Overall, the experience was described as professionally enriching and personally inspiring, providing insights into different theatrical traditions and social contexts. The participant expressed a strong interest in continuing collaboration with African partners and highlighted the value of direct engagement with local communities and youth groups.

Deconfining project is co-funded by the Creative Europe programme of the EU.