Juliana Berezhnaya is an experienced stage director and educator with extensive expertise in opera, drama, television, and film. Born in 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 Roman Viktyuk, graduating with G. Puccini’s “Il Tabarro.” She also holds credentials in Feature Film Directing from the Film Academy of Miroslav Ondříček in Písek, Czech Republic.
Since 2016, Juliana has been the founder and head of the International Creative Centre ArT Platforma and the independent theatre company TEATR FORMA in Prague. She works in a multidisciplinary manner, creating artistic forms at the intersection of drama, movement, and emotion. Her productions are sharp in form and profound in content, combining symbolism with psychological theatre to develop her distinctive language. She is particularly interested in non-canonical, non-realistic genres that emphasize artistic form, visual aesthetics, and depth of substance. Juliana’s approach to physical theatre integrates movement and bodywork, making physicality a central element of her creative process.
Her recent directorial credits include Eugene Ionesco’s “Exit the King,” François Ozon’s “8 Women” adaptation “Love, Lies & Family Ties,” Anton Chekhov’s “Seagull,” and W. Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” She has also directed the interactive live performance “Eugene Onegin” and worked on the film “Clarimonda” by Hanns Ewers. Her collaborations in opera led her to the Berlin Opera Festival 2022, where she assisted in productions of G. Puccini’s “Suor Angelica” and “Gianni Schicchi,” and has directing credits for W. Mozart’s “Die Zauberflöte,” conducted by Matthew Toogood.E
At the Vienna Opera Festival 2023, Juliana collaborated with Jesus Leon on productions such as “Hansel und Gretel” by E.Humperdinck and “Don Giovanni” by Mozart. This year, she will take on the role of stage director for W. Mozart’s “Don Giovanni.” As a faculty member at the Vienna Opera Academy, she teaches acting and movement, guiding artists with a holistic approach that integrates mindfulness and the connection between body and voice. She incorporates diverse techniques to help students unlock their artistic potential.
Juliana is recognized for her ability to lead and inspire large creative teams, translating her passion for the performing arts into well-coordinated programs that fulfil each project’s mission. She is dedicated to fostering a vibrant, inclusive environment that nurtures artistic talent and promotes growth and exploration at all levels of development.
