NTB Reconstruction

An interview given by Adriana Popescu, from the Department of Cultural Strategies, Communication and PR for the Adevărul newspaper

Statement of principle:

Regarding the institutions under the ferule of the Ministry of Culture, that have shared the same working space with the Bucharest National Theatre until recently – NCDB (The National Centre of Dance Bucharest) The Ion Dacian National Operetta Theatre, NMCA(The National Museum of Contemporary Art) – the main interlocutor who can give authorised answers to your questions is, actually, the ministry in question. These institutions will not function - after the building's renovation – in the space that will be exclusively owned by The I.L.Caragiale National Theatre. The relocation of these institutions is within the exclusive attributions of the tutelary ministry.

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Adevărul: When will the renovation work of the National Theatre start?

A.P. The first delivery of the necessary emplacement for the organization of a work-site has been carried into effect on March 16th 2011.

Adevărul: We know that "Lăptăria lui Enache" and the terrace "La Motoare" were closed this week.

A.P. At the end of the project, the Lăptăria lui Enache Pub will receive a much more adequate space for its recent activity. The outdoors arena on top of the NTB building will host 300 viewers and will allow the prolongation of the season even during summer time.

Adevărul: Will any other spaces within the National Theatre's building be closed?

A.P. It is possible that in the renewal stage of the public space (lobby), the Great Hall (but not the stage!) will be temporarily closed. We take into account the fact that in that stage of things, we should only allow the performances that can fit the scene, with the public being sat on the side seats.

During the deployment of work, the access to the parking lot in front of the theatre will not be possible. The viewers may use, as they have until now, the Intercontinental underground parking space which has a direct access to the Great Hall and the Black Box.

Adevărul: When will the concrete bell, the "candy bowl" and the National Museum of Contemporary Art's deposits be demolished?

A.P. The first stage of works consists in the consolidation of Corpus B and the unloading of Corpus A's weights which were added in 1983, by eliminating the stonework with its arcades and the executed stacking (to avoid unloading on the underground parking’s floor of the weights coming from these constructive elements). This implies the closing of NMCA, NCDB spaces and the Lăptăria lui Enache Pub.

At the same time, behind the theatre, the works start for the creation of a new hall of spectacles, the future Scene Hall. The Great Hall, the Black Box and the Amphitheatre Hall will function normally until the end of the season 2011 – 2012. 

Viewers' access in the Great Hall will be possible through a maximum security tunnel built next to Căruţei cu Paiaţe monument with direct access from the boulevard, through the esplanade park in front of the theatre.

In the last stage, interventions inside Corpus A will be carried out.

Adevărul: Where will the NCDB shows take place?

A.P. NCDB is under the ferule of the MCNP (the Ministry of Culture and National Patrimony) and as far as we know, it has been given, for now, a repetitions room and offices in the building of the Pallace Hall. Starting March 1st, the National Theatre has given the NCDB the Black Box for use every Tuesday.

Adevărul: The parlours, deposits, offices, the Black Box and Studio halls in which, presently, the Operetta is running, all of them will change their appearance. Where will the shows from the Black Box, Amphitheatre Hall and Great Hall be played? Is there a schedule on that respect?

A.P. The parlours, deposits and offices will be temporary relocated, without the impiety of the current shows deployment.

The Great Hall, the Black Box and the Amphitheatre Hall will normally function until the end of the season 2011 – 2012.

As for the Operetta, there is a GD (government decision nr.1294/2006) in which the Operetta is given as a social centre, the Omnia Hall. Until the enforcing of this solution, the Operetta will function in a temporary construction, a special tent, which will be ready in September.

Adevărul: Can you tell us until when will shows be performed in the actual spacing?

A.P. We hope we will be playing all this time, during the deployment of works: the constructor will have to respect our conditions from the tasks' notebook, including the 28 months deadline and the staging of works imposed by technical reasons and to do so that, during the execution, three halls would be available for performances.

Adevărul: The new halls in which performances will be scheduled are adequate for the grand shows such as those staged by NTB?

A.P. The present scene of the Great Hall with its exceptional endowment will not suffer any changes, a fact which ensures the fulfilment, and in future, of "grand" shows. Together with the consolidation of the Great Hall corpus, not only will the hall be restricted, it will get back to an optimal format of 850 seats (instead of the 1156 that it has now) and which will be brought to the optimal visibility, acoustics and ambiance parameters.

Adevărul: What will happen to the decors, the costumes and the actors' rooms?

A.P. They will be temporary relocated in proper spaces.

Adevărul: Will you please specify the delayed shows (if this should be imposed) and how the NTB shows' schedule will look during the works.

A.P. For the moment, there are no delayed shows, and the NTB shows' schedule will be communicated to the viewers, as before, through the usual means of communication.