The position of executive director encompasses several levels - building, developing, and strengthening partnerships at the local, regional, and national levels. It requires many meetings, the ability to listen, and to seek solutions for both parties. During the festival, I move around on my bike from one place to another, so over those few festival days, I build up the stamina of a racehorse, become sun-kissed, smiling, and full of endorphins. For me, it's always about movement. I've been dancing since I was little, moving, learning new things, and teaching. My initial encounter with theatre was at the Žilina Puppet Theatre, not only as a spectator but also as a teenager with friends from the Makovice ensemble, which worked during our "puppetry" sessions, and where "my" Alternative Dance Theatre still operates. I got a taste of balletizol and my fascination with the floor, space, and touch has never left me. 

I hold the position of artistic director, yet I am still unsure whether I control art or if art controls me. Sometimes, my work resembles my first acting experience from childhood: I participated in a school play "The Story from the Penholder" as a character of a rag, who perpetually had to save the situation by absorbing ink blots to make all words beautiful and understandable. During the times when I was still referred to as youth, I founded a theatre group called "Jednosmerka" with my friends, and although we eventually went our separate ways, I think theatre was significant for all of us. 

As the festival's production manager, I am completely immersed in planning and executing every single detail. I coordinate, connect, manage, communicate... From author contracts to the shortage of sweets at the reception. I am fascinated by theatre for youth because of its innovativeness and themes that often provoke and provide important stimuli. My first encounter with theatre was purely accidental - instead of a dance class at the art school, I accidentally ended up in an acting class. Since then, I can't leave art alone... 

As the festival's dramaturg, I ensure that you are amazed, unsettled, outraged, satisfied, and intellectually and emotionally satiated. In short, I help compose both the main and accompanying programs in a way that makes sense. My attitude toward theatre for youth could be classified as that of an older sibling to a younger one: I love it even when it spills orange juice on my new computer. Raised by amateur groups in various art schools, I constantly strive to fiercely defend my inner child. 

The often-overlooked hero of every festival is the technical director. They hold a piece of magic and technology in one hand and a cup of coffee for survival in the other. My first encounter with theatre took place in a deep pit, more precisely in the orchestra pit, where I performed as a trumpet player with a youth orchestra. I consider theatre for youth to be a magical portal to the world of fantasy and adventure. 

During the festival, I'll be your eyes for a moment, sharing the most interesting moments on social media. And to ensure you don't miss out on all the fantastic things you can experience and try during the festival days; I'll take care of adding fresh updates to the website and social networks. You're not following us yet? Don't even admit it! Reading has been my passion since childhood. From there, it's just a small step to wanting to see those stories come to life on stage. However, my love for theatre only began during college. But the theatre world found me, nonetheless. In the stories of characters, I seek answers and solutions to the problems and situations I encounter myself. 

I’m an express creator of assignments of various scopes in the department of space and textile for the festival. Apart from that, I’m the head of the Manufacturing Workshops of Ján Palárik’s Theatre, set and costume designer with an open mind for creating anything theatrical from inception to realization. Most often, I find myself answering the question: ,,Zuzi, can we make this or that?”. Theatre should belong to the young. Without them, it simply won’t work. Theatre has captivated me fatefully three times – when I was six, fourteen and eighteen years old. I grew up at Theatrical Nitra festival, where I – as a proud teenage volunteer – saw everything that was different, new, European, global to me. Since then, I’m hopelessly charmed by the world of theatre

My team role is to convert all the extraordinary things that are born behind the walls of the theatre onto a normal sheet of paper, which can attract your attention and awaken your interest. I focus on offline marketing, so my work won’t jump at you while scrolling social media, it will inconspicuously keep waiting for you at the most usual of places. I find theatre for youth quite fascinating, it reminds me of paper I work with at the beginning – clean, blank, malleable, fragile and valuable, yet despite its fragility being able to carry the burden of words, it’s unable to withstand the surrounding environment and its effects. I consider the chance to create a space for young people as a rare opportunity, because I myself have acted in a children theatre ensemble, which sparked my enthusiasm for theatre so much, I carry it to this day.