Osonó Theatre Group: Behind the Scenes

Over the past few months, this team of journalists has conducted dozens of interviews with former student actors from the Osonó theatre group. They also consulted theatre and mental health professionals to gain a better understanding of the broader context of their findings.

This investigation reveals how Misi Fazakas created a system — first in Romania and later in Hungary — that used theatrical pedagogy to trap underage and young people, causing lasting psychological harm to many of them. Some of the victims later became abusers themselves — further details will be shared in upcoming reports. It is important to note, however, that many former students remain grateful for the acting skills they gained through the group.

This work offers professionals in Hungarian theatre education in Romania an opportunity to confront these issues and help build a more protective and ethical system for children in the arts. It also opens a broader conversation about the prevalence of abuse in theatre and why certain forms of violence continue to be tolerated in many environments.

Illustration: Benedek Levente