At a time when Europe is at risk of drifting into neo-fascism, a group of actors is calling for a Roma army for the purpose of self-defence. A rapid intervention force to fight structural discrimination, racism and antiziganism, but also as emancipation from an internalized role of victims. The actors are Romnija, Roma and Romani Travellers from Austria, Serbia, Germany, Kosovo, Romania, England and Sweden. They are also Israeli-German-Turkish-Berlin Gadjé – that means that the Roma Army is supranational, diverse, feminist, and queer. Initiated by the sisters Simonida and Sandra Selimović, they enter the stage at the Gorki in a collective act of self-empowering artistic action with resident director Yael Ronen. A joint research process, personal experiences, historical contaminations and contemporary incidents are all used to explore and develop the play. Together with visual artists Delaine and Damian Le Bas from England, they sketch out a vision for a Safe European Home in Gypsyland Europe, as the Le Bas call it. 

An idea by: Sandra Selimović, Simonida Selimović

By: Yael Ronen & Ensemble

Directed by: Yael Ronen

With: Mehmet Ateşçi, Hamze Bytyçi, Mihaela Drăgan, Riah Knight, Lindy Larsson Forss, Orit Nahmias, Sandra Selimović, Simonida Selimović

To the stream: https://dringeblieben.de/videos/roma-armee

With the solidarity and friendly support of the Maxim Gorki Theater.