art PLATFORMA & TEATR FORMA in Prague

About Us

Founded in 2012, an independent international centre in Prague began with the mission to bridge connections between people from diverse cultures across Europe. Its goal was to foster live dialogue between native citizens and expatriates, facilitating an understanding of Czech cultural traits, language, and history while celebrating and preserving the unique cultural identities of all participants. Through a variety of multicultural art events, concerts, creative meetings, workshops, and more, the centre aimed to expand and exchange creativity beyond national borders.

In 2016, Juliana Berezhnaya took ownership and reimagined the centre as ArT Platforma & TEATR FORMA, infusing it with her creative vision. It has since become a vibrant and dynamic space, offering professional performing arts education for all ages and serving as a multidisciplinary artistic residency that fosters intercultural collaboration and creative exchange.

The guiding principle of ArT Platforma is: “Each creativity matters…”

Juliana Berezhnaya is an experienced stage director and educator with extensive expertise in opera, drama, television, physical theatre, and film. Originally from Tashkent, Uzbekistan, and based in Prague since 2013, she holds a Master of Arts in Musical Theatre Directing from the Russian Institute of Theatre Arts (RATI – GITIS) in Moscow, where she studied under the esteemed theatre director Roman Viktyuk. She also earned credentials in Feature Film Directing from the Film Academy of Miroslav Ondříček in Písek, Czech Republic.

Juliana collaborates extensively with artists and creatives both locally and internationally, enhancing her professional expertise across multidisciplinary fields. Her passion for theatre began over two decades ago when, at the age of 13, she first appeared on the professional stage at the Youth Theatre of Uzbekistan. It was there that she began her acting education and launched her career in the theatre.

Since 2014, she has been dedicated to educating a diverse range of students, from children to professionals, integrating mindfulness and the holistic connection between body and mind into her unique program.

Since 2016, Juliana has been the head of the International Creative Centre ArT Platforma and the independent theatre company TEATR FORMA in Prague. Her work is known for its multidisciplinary approach, combining drama, movement, and expressive emotional depth. She creates productions that are both visually striking and emotionally profound, often exploring non-canonical and non-realistic genres. Her distinctive style merges symbolism with psychological depth, and she integrates physicality as a central element of her creative process.

Her recent directorial credits include Eugene Ionesco’s "Exit the King", François Ozon’s adaptation of "Love, Lies & Family Ties" of "8 Women", Anton Chekhov’s "The Seagull", and William Shakespeare’s "A Midsummer Night’s Dream". She has also directed the interactive live performance of "Eugene Onegin" and worked on the film "Clarimonda" by Hanns Ewers.

Opera theatre holds a special place in Juliana’s heart. This year, she is directing W.A. Mozart’s "Don Giovanni" at the iconic Musikverein in Vienna. At the Vienna Opera Festival 2023 and 2024, Juliana collaborated with world-renowned tenor Jesús León and conductor Toby Purser on the production of Engelbert Humperdinck’s "Hansel und Gretel". At the Berlin Opera Festival 2022, she assisted with productions of Giacomo Puccini’s "Suor Angelica" and "Gianni Schicchi" and directed W. A. Mozart’s "Die Zauberflöte", conducted by Matthew Toogood.
As a faculty member at the Vienna Opera Academy, she teaches acting and movement, using a holistic approach that integrates mindfulness and the connection between body and voice to help opera singers unlock their artistic potential.

Juliana is renowned for her ability to lead and inspire large creative teams, translating her passion for the performing arts into well-coordinated programs that achieve each project’s mission. She is committed to fostering a vibrant, inclusive environment that nurtures artistic talent and encourages growth and exploration at all levels.