Multiplied illusions

Abstract

"Drug use – a personal and social challenge; a form of manifestation of the level of awareness. Often described – in the media, specialist works or in popular culture – as a special, exotic experience, that can tempt, through its illusory effects, becoming a dangerous and destructive way through which people try to escape stress, anxiety or other emotional problems. These roots, however, also allow the use of art in preventing the consumption of narcotics and psychotropic substances (through awareness of the risks), but also in therapy. Theater can be (and is) used as a method to raise public awareness of drug use issues and educate/warn them in a variety of ways – presenting performances (centred on this topic), organizing debates, and after performances, workshops. Even if we have the impression that everything started now, in reality, even in Romanian society, this theme has been present for more than a century. Sorana Țopa has been sending such signals since 1928, in a subtle way, by means of a little-known dramatic text, Merchants of Illusions, which invites reflection on what (in a standard formula) we call today the risk of drug consumption. The history of Romanian theater still has many lessons to offer."