Barbara
Barbara Herucová
Manager of Community Partnerships
in Slovakia & Czechia
Meet Barbara, a Slovakian-born artist and educator whose journey in theatre and teaching has taken her from Bratislava to Brno, Czech Republic. Her academic pursuits in Theory of New Media and Experiential Reflective Learning kindled her passion for applied drama and improvisational theatre. Barbara's artistic endeavors include participation in theatre groups like TAMTi and involvement in diverse projects that blend improv with activism. She shares her expertise through teaching, directing workshops, and managing educational activities at BuranTeatr in Brno.
Inspired by influential figures in theatre and education, she weaves elements of clowning, storytelling, physical theatre, and socially engaged theatre into her work.
Barbara’s Story
Barbara was born in Bratislava, Slovakia and lived there until she moved to Brno, Czech republic to study. In Brno, she came upon theatre and teaching and it grew on her, so she decided to stay.
Barbara studied Theory of New Media and Experiential Reflective Learning, where she discovered methods of applied drama. Since then she picked up improvisational theatre and she never wants to put it down.
She is a part of the theatre group TAMTi playing shortforms (theatre sports) and longforms (Armando, The Living Room, Dogville, ...). She is also part of other theatre projects and performances (Roots, AmaTeatr, Improv without borders, Climate Change Theatre Action, ...). She loves to experiment with improv and to find connections between theatre and activism and pressing society issues. Theatre (especially improvisational theatre) is also the main focus of her teaching in an NGO Proraptor where she leads workshops, open classes, and courses for the general public as well as for companies and schools (teambuildings and other educational projects). She works at BuranTeatr – an independent professional theatre in Brno – where she is the executive manager of educational activities (workshops, courses, summer schools, and other educational projects). The main influence of her work and teaching is based on Keith Johnstone, Lee White, Katy Shutte, Inbal Lori, Rod Ben Zeev and others. She’s also highly influenced by clowning, storytelling, physical theatre, the theatre of the oppressed (which she learned from Bárbara Santos and Christoph Leucht in Kuringa, Berlin) and socially engaged theatre (which she learned from Jessica Litwak).
In her free time she loves to take long walks with her partner, read, practice yoga and cook. She also loves to do volunteer work. Barbara is a part of Hejbej Summer Academy – 8 days intensive experiental summer course for high-schoolers and youth focused on the civic education (topics like media, climate change and conflicts).
Her experience with Dramatic Adventure Theatre began in 2015 as a Road Manager for ACTion: Heart of Europe.