STAGEBOX
Interactive theater technology workshop for high school students
Stage Box is an educational programme designed as a mobile theatre technology workshop for high school students. Through a structured, hands-on approach, the programme introduces participants to the technical and creative disciplines involved in bringing a production to the stage: scenography, lighting design, sound design, and video design.
Piloted with the support of Bucharest’s Sector 1 City Hall between September and December 2025, Stage Box was delivered in three high schools: “I. N. Socolescu” Technical College of Architecture and Public Works, “Nicolae Tonitza” High School of Fine Arts, and “Tudor Vianu” National College of Computer Science. The programme comprised nine workshops and directly engaged more than 9 students.
Stage Box aims to raise awareness of backstage professions, develop teamwork and interdisciplinary collaboration skills, and help students explore potential career paths in the performing arts and creative technologies.
Stage Box is built around a mobile stage-technology model and a complete technical system for lighting, sound, and video, temporarily installed within each school. Students work directly with professional equipment in an intensive three-day format structured around complementary modules:
Day 1
Lighting Design: spatial composition, lighting techniques, fundamentals of colour theory, working with moving-head fixtures, and creating a lighting environment for the stage.
Day 2
Sound Design: fundamental parameters of sound (pitch, dynamics, spatialisation, and layering), working with Ableton Live, and live mixing.
Day 3
Video Design: introduction to video mapping, layering, and cue programming in Resolume, as well as integrating video into the dramaturgy of a performance.
The methodology centres on experimentation, collaboration, and the simulation of a real-world production process. Students work in teams, take on specific roles – director, scenographer, lighting designer, performer, and production manager – and create short multimedia performance pieces in which lighting, sound, and video are programmed and synchronised.
The workshops were supported by professionals active in the field:
Adrian Damian - scenographer, project coordinator
Cristian Şimon - lighting designer
Mihai Prejban - sound designer
Miruna Croitoru - video designer
During the final sessions, students had the opportunity to engage with guest directors Vlad Cristache, Radu Nica, and Catinca Drăgănescu, further strengthening the programme’s connection to professional practice.
The programme also included a guided backstage tour of the National Theatre Bucharest, giving participants first-hand insight into the production processes of a professional theatre.
Stage Box reflects OISTAT’s mission to support education, knowledge exchange, and professional development in scenography and theatre technology. The project introduces a working model into secondary education that is aligned with international practices in performance design and stage technology, helping to prepare a new generation familiar with current professional standards.
Thanks to its modular and mobile structure, Stage Box can be replicated and expanded nationwide, providing a strategic means of connecting formal education, professional practice, and OISTAT’s international networks.
Stage Box is a mobile programme designed to be integrated into a wide range of educational and cultural contexts. Its modular structure allows it to be adapted to the specific requirements of events such as:
Theater and performing arts festivals
Educational programmes such as “Săptămâna Altfel” or “Școala Altfel”
Conferences and cultural platforms
Outreach and audience development programs
Corporate initiatives with an educational component
International projects for young people or emerging professionals
Stage Box can operate either as an intensive workshop or as an educational module integrated into a broader programme.
The workshop structure, training team, and subject matter can be adapted according to:
The duration of the event (2–7 days)
The participant profile (high school students, university students, or international participants)
The curatorial concept or festival theme
The characteristics of the venue
The Romanian Centre of OISTAT provides all the infrastructure required to deliver the programme:
A team of mentors specialising in scenography, lighting design, sound design, and video design
Dedicated technical equipment for lighting, sound, and video
A programme concept tailored to the theme of the event
Professional project documentation and communications
For further information and a tailored proposal, please contact us at contact@oistat.ro.
