The Broken Archive
A performance about family archives and acceptance by Jana Romanova
In the spring of 2018, Jana's grand-aunt Lucia made the conscious decision to stop taking her medications and passed away several days later. For reasons that initially seemed random, Jana's grandmother tore apart every photograph in Lucia's family archive and was about to throw them away until Jana stopped her. Ever since that moment, Romanova went on and on for years with attempts to repair what was left of those images. This work is ongoing research on the societal pressure to define one's identity and worth through fitting into family expectations centered around work, level of income, successful marriages, and certain types of behaviors, exploring the emotional toll of feeling inadequate in a culture that prioritizes productivity and obedience above all.
In this performance, Jana attempts to repair the destroyed archive, using various techniques and objects. As she works, she narrates the story centered on her aunt Lucia's relentless attempts to find her place in the world, often through questionable jobs that invariably ended in failure.
If you enjoyed the performance, you are very welcome to join the live-action role-playing game on 22/02/25 !
