Legacies of Enslavement: Theatre Review of The Great Shame

In this article, I review The Great Shame, a play by Alina Șerban, a Romanian Romani playwright and actor. My analysis focuses on the central theme of the play, namely the enslavement of Romani people in the historical Romanian Principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia. While telling a contemporary story about academic engagement with the theme of enslavement, the play sheds light on reminiscences of the past in society, particularly institutionalised and interpersonal racist behaviour, censorship, and the perpetuation of stereotypes.