Y.L.O.S

Young Leaders on Stage

A bootcamp for authentic leadership

16 DEC 2025 - 20 DEC 2025

09:30 - 20:00, daily

Bucharest, @ Teatru de Arta

Str. Sf Stefan 21

A 5 full-day program in Bucharest where participants create a performance together, writing and staging a play on a real stage -in front of a guest audience.

What we work with:

The power of storytelling: How stories build community and strengthen leadership

Performance as ritual: Theatre as a powerful ceremony where participants encounter themselves in new roles and perspectives.

The role of the body: Rhythm, breath and movement as keys to presence and impact.

What is the outcome:

Breaking old patterns - awareness and discovering a new you.

Connect with your instincts, body language and emotional intelligence.

Approach tension and conflict from a place of calm and authenticity.

Speak your voice like never before, holding the truth with dignity.

The challenges in life are strong and as a young leader you need to stand firm – hold the space for the new world to emerge. Growing up into the adult role and taking over life with all it offers is a lot sometimes. Integrating your roots into your individuality is a gift, when done properly.

This is not your typical young leadership training program. It's a unique experience where theatre and ritual come together to help you understand your power. Leading, sometimes following, many times connecting.

Your life and leadership become the script, you are on stage - there transformation happens - body, mind and spirit. By performing on stage, you tap into everything you are and share with other participants. Each is a hero and a support role in one play, one life, one universe.

Participants say….

“It changed my DNA, I feel energized, happier and full of life after this group program.”

“I found my voice, It is not just a program for public speaking, it is a program that changes you deeply, giving you the ability to empathize, to feel, to be real in all circumstances”.

“I calibrate now much better my feelings in relationships, I gain trust in myself, and the ability to accept my past with dignity”.

“I discovered life through other people stories, it is so touching and it brought so many emotions, making me open up about my own story and I felt held by the group with care.”

“Being on stage was very difficult, but I found the courage and the experience made me a new person”.

The facilitators

  • Junior Mthombeni

    Belgium Director, theatre maker

    “Drawing on my years of experience as a theatre maker, director and storyteller, I will lead an intensive week-long workshop in Bucharest: Together with my team we bring a rich mix of disciplines to offer participants a powerful and transformative experience”.

  • Ria Verlinden

    Trainer & supervisor in systemic work.

    Trained in Gestalt and initiated in ritual work and old wisdom from South Africa.“This week will dust off your roots and make your wings fly and open up to live fully – with all it brings and asks of you. In the past, the future is growing…”

  • Gerardo Salinas

    City dramaturge atKVS

    Gerardo Salinas was born inBuenos Aires, Argentina, where hestudied literature at the University ofBuenos Aires. Since 2002 he has beenactive in the artistic field in Belgium,where he studied socio-cultural work(KHL).

  • Cesar Janssens

    Musician and instrumentalist

    He is session musician and liveaccompanist and has played withnumerous other artists (Roland, HelmutLotti, Bart Peeters, Kommil Foo, RonnyMosuse etc.). He joined forces withJunior Mthombeni and Fikry ElAzzouzito form the collective Jr.cE.sA.r.

  • Nina Plantefève-Castryck

    Dancer and choreographer.

    Nina is active as a dancer and is associated with companies such as Jr.cE.sA.r in KVS and Hetpaleis. She participated in productions that explore the boundaries of contemporary dance and theater, such as 'R.I.S.A.' (2023)and 'Burning City' (2024).

  • Elke Gijsemans

    Visual Artist and Designer

    Elke Gijsemans is a visual artist who works both in the studio and live on stage. Her paintings emerge from the raw energy of performers, while her installations confront injustice with bold acts of resistance. She has been featured in performances such as Hannibal and Burning City, where her live painting became an integral part of the work.

FROM THE ORGANISERS……….

“This program was born from an inspirational moment - seeing the play R.I.S.A, in Bruxelles, where Junior and his team performed magically on stage about family traumas, about social unfair decisions, and above all, about the power of healing together. I thought - wow, this could be a way for mature leaders to step out of the shadow of perfectionism and control, and show that life is unfair, but we must not hide it anymore, but make it part of our leadership, our life, our identity.”

Ilinca Paun

Coach, Systemio Partner
Leaders on Stage Manager

Location

BUCHAREST - ROMANIA

TEATRUL DE ARTA - Str. Sf Stefan 21.

Time

Program schedule:

16-20 December

9:30-20:00 (lunch and dinner are included)

The performance:

20 December, 16:00.

TEATRUL DE ARTA - Str. Sf Stefan 21.

You invite friends, families, colleagues, at your choice.

Prices

1750€ / young leader

750 / young leader applying for support

Young Leaders (20-30y) participation form:

Kind request for financial support for Young Leaders who want to participate, but don’t have the financial means.

We kindly invite you to contribute and support the Youngster (20y-30y) edition of Leaders on Stage - happening 16-20 Dec ‘25. If we all contribute a little, we can offer a transformative week to young leaders with financial difficulties but willing to transform their lives and make it on stage! As organizers, we will work with no profit for this edition, and the artists will donate 25% of their earnings. Are you willing to contribute as well?

Let us know if you are willing to:

  1. Pay for 1000 Euro to cover the ticket for ONE Young participant, as a donation and report a tax deduction.

  2. Pay 500 Euro as a payment to the program to support costs for Young L.O.S

Leading means seeing the future and making sure all lives are invited to have a chance.

Please fill out the form below for your support of the young leaders who need financial help to participate in this transformative event.

Leaders support young leaders