I No Longer Dream About Them

A Performance About Child Protection, Based on True Stories

"You simply cannot see into these systems. If you're not in them, if there's no insider to speak up, these things will never come to light."

This performance is built on documentary texts, featuring accounts from individuals deeply impacted by the child protection system. Former residents of institutions, young mothers, and professionals have shared their deeply personal and openly subjective stories, offering an unfiltered glimpse into a world still veiled in taboos and secrecy. These stories weave together to reveal how systemic issues perpetuate the same life challenges across generations.

For many, children’s homes are a vital refuge ensuring physical survival, but for the residents, the question remains: "How will I ever leave this place?" The performance delves beyond childhood traumas, presenting complex human relationships and moments of humor in everyday life. It provides a multi-dimensional perspective on Hungary’s child protection system, far removed from media portrayals. Audiences will learn how many points a bottle of Fanta earns at the "Zsé" corner store, what siblings are willing to do for one another, and even if Cristiano Ronaldo has ever been kissed.

"Of course, I’ve thought a lot about why I feel guilty... That is... When you survive things, when you come out of this storm and say, ‘Wow, I survived that,’ it’s so easy to pat yourself on the back, saying, ‘I made it, I broke free, blah blah.’ But everything comes at a cost.
And it's not necessarily worth it. The weight it places on you, how it shapes every emotion and every decision, it makes you question whether it was worth it. If we’d stayed, we might have starved or died physically, but at least there would’ve been an end to the story."

Performed by: Katalin Simkó, Orsolya Török-Illyés, Zsófia Szamosi, Viktor Dénes

Set Design: Nóra Juhász
Dramaturgy: Anna Zsigó, Anna Hárs
Assistant: Adél Gazder
Director: Ádám Farkas

The text was created using verbatim interviews compiled by Anna Zsigó, Anna Hárs, and Ádám Farkas.

Supported by: NKA (National Cultural Foundation), FÜGE (Independent Performing Arts Organization)