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Beginning of the Year 2022 at NTB!

10 January 2022

The beginning of a year, be it an atypical one, with restrictions imposed by the pandemic, is still a moment of balance but also one open to the projects that need to be started, continued, or completed.

10 years after the premiere of "The Letter", one of the most personal visions that made the Caragiale 2012 programme unique at NTB, Horațiu Mălăele proposes for 2022 (when we celebrate the 170th anniversary since the author's birth) a spectacular version, "revised and improved" : if in 2012, the director Mălăele had opted to give up the entire act 3 of Caragiale's comedy, on January 12th, 2022, A Lost Letter returns to the stage of NTB's "Ion Caramitru" Hall in its entirety, with all the ingredients added by the last act of this delicious love story and political intrigue.

"A Lost Letter" is a show built on the profile of the old Letter, in a new formula, added and enriching, towards the peace of conservatives and the passion of theatre lovers, says Horaţiu Mălăele.

A brilliant cast will give life to the world so colourful on the stage and behind the scenes of Romanian politics. Along with: Horațiu Mălăele (Dandanache), Mircea Rusu (Tipătescu), Virgil Ogăşanu (Trahanache), Mihai Constantin (Caţavencu), Marian Râlea (The drunk citizen), Raluca Petra (Zoe), Marius Rizea (Farfuridi), Mihai Calotă / Eduard Adam (Brânzovenescu), Marcelo S. Cobzariu (Pristanda), many “citizens” and “policemen” will enter the stage, as well as a fabulous orchestra conducted by the accordion master, Emy Drăgoi. The first performances in 2022 will take place on January 12th, 13th, 14th, 19th and 20th.

On the Day of National Culture, on January 15th, 2022, the "IL Caragiale" National Theatre offers to those interested free guided tours at 10.00, 12.00, 14.00 and 16.00 (within the available seats, in order of registration).

The maximum number of visitors for 1 tour is 15 people.

Registrations can be made starting with January 12th, 2022 between 10.00 - 16.00 at 021.314.71.71 (NTB Box Office). The meeting point with Ionuț Corpaci for the guided tours: in front of the Box Office from the foyer of the NTB “Ion Caramitru” Hall. Access only based on a green certificate. Wearing a mask is mandatory throughout the visit.

The plays from the traditional repertoire are complemented by a new title, starting with January 13th, 2022, in the programme of NTB's Studio Hall: The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds. Paul Zindel's play marks an extraordinary new encounter with a grand actress, Oana Pellea, seconded by Alexandrina Halic, Florina Gleznea, Cristina Casian. A text whose expressiveness, blending moments of drama, poetry, humour, sarcasm, self-irony, earned its author a Pulitzer Prize in 1971.

The show talks about the tense relationship between generations, about making fun of a miserable life, about despair to a mother who lives with the care of tomorrow, but also about hope. Mariana Cămărășan's show extracts poetry from the prose of a hard life, lending the text rhythm, frenzy, sensitivity, and humour. A play-metaphor about three "marigolds" exposed to the strongest radiation, those of life: when the radiation is well dosed, the marigolds come to life; when the radiation is too strong, the delicate flowers wither.

The Romanian Theatre Tour in Bucharest, Iasi and Kishinev continues this year as well! On the evening of January 16th, on the stage of the Studio Hall, the „Mihai Eminescu National Theatre of Kishinev opens the tour - 2022 edition, being also the 8th - with the show Hamlet in Spicy Sauce by Aldo Nicolaj, directed by Alexandru Cozub, with a single representation.

Along with this programme news, a manifold repertoire awaits you in the theatre halls! We remind you of the premieres of 2021, which we warmly invite you not to miss. These were: Incognito - Open Doors for Everybody programme, Let's talk about life! - Play of the Year 2020, UNITER contest, Carnival Stuff, Stupid Fucking Bird - Open Doors for Everybody programme, Kiritza, of the Game of… - show produced by NTB in co-production with the Art Production Foundation and Gigi Căciuleanu Romania Dance Company with the support of JTI (200th anniversary of Alecsandri's birth), Extraordinary Life - NTB's 9G Programme, Helver's Night - Open Doors for Everybody programme.

It should be noted that 3 of these awards are due to the Open Doors for Everybody programme, which means that NTB actors have managed to compensate through their initiatives the unwanted stagnation of activities, imposed by both epidemiological measures and some budgetary constraints.

We hope to return soon with news about the first performances in preparation at the National Theatreof Bucharest.

Translated by Simona Nichiteanu

YEN by Anna Jordan, 9G premiere at NTB 19 April 2026

The “I.L. Caragiale” National Theater in Bucharest announces a new premiere as part of the 9G Program at NTB, dedicated to young independent artists: “Yen” by Anna Jordan, directed by Ciprian Chiricheș, with set design by Maria Constantin, and starring Teodora Antal, Diana Pomparău, Sevi Stan, and Mario Monțescu. The premiere will take place on Sunday, April 19, 2026, at 7:00 p.m., in the Sala Mică Hall The play Yen tells the story—at times brutal, at times deeply tender—of two brothers surviving almost entirely on their own in a suburb, with a mother unable to provide them with the care a child needs. Together, amid arguments and violence, the two teenagers try to discover what affection—and first love—feels like and how to express it, in the absence of a parental role model. Thus, first love becomes a tough test, full of innocence and missteps. How much of our social skills are innate, and how much are acquired through our environment and the education we receive? It is a long-debated dilemma that remains relevant today, which author Anna Jordan explores with harshness and directness, yet with care and sensitivity toward her characters. Yen is about growing up, about family, and, above all, about the fundamental human need to love and be loved. „What won me over from the very first reading was the sincerity with which life—and, in particular, hope—is portrayed. In real life, things aren’t like in fairy tales, where Prince Charming appears out of nowhere and sets everything right. In reality, we often long for something we cannot have, and then that feeling becomes even stronger; this sentiment is very well conveyed by the author. The production that we put together with the team is based on desire and hope. I hope it’s contagious and that the audience leaves, just as I like to leave the theater—changed, pensive, with my thoughts on my loved ones.” Ciprian Chiricheș, the director of the production Anna Jordan is a renowned British playwright, director, and screenwriter. She graduated from the London Academy of Music & Dramatic Arts (LAMDA) with a degree in acting and is a professor of acting. For her play “Yen,” she won the prestigious Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting (2013) Cast: Sevastian Stan, Mario Monțescu, Teodora Antal, Diana Pomparău. Regie Ciprian Chiricheș, set design Maria Constantin, sound design Teodor Zamfir and llighting design Cristian Ciopată. This performance is not recommended for children under 14. Translated by Andreea Codrea-Boeriu

Magda Catone is the Mother-in-law in Little Hell 04 April 2026

Starting on April 4, 2026, renowned National Theater actress Magda Catone will play the role of the Mother-in-Law in Mircea Stefanescu's comedy Little Hell, taking over from Rodica Popescu-Bitanescu, the actress who has brought this delightful role in Romanian drama to life in recent seasons, continuing the series of anthological performances, from Natasa Alexandra, Silvia Dumitrescu-Timica to Ileana Stana Ionescu. At the "I.L. Caragiale" National Theater, the play Little Hell has had over 300 performances since its premiere in 2013! The next performances will take place on April 4, 8, and May 2, 2026! Translated by Andreea Codrea-Boeriu

A new premiere at the National Theater of Bucharest: “The Bride's Time and Her Gown” – a continuation of the world of Oltenia created by Gavril Pătru 02 April 2026

The “I.L. Caragiale” National Theater in Bucharest will present, starting April 3, 2026, the premiere of “The Bride's Time and Her Gown″ (The Wedding) by Gavril Pătru, a new chapter in the theatrical universeinaugurated by the success of “Ghosts and Dandelions.” The second part of the upcoming “Oltenia trilogy,” the play continues the story of the characters from a contemporary Oltenian village, in a recognizable blend of humor, drama, and authenticity. Created by Gavril Pătru—who serves as writer, director, and actor—the new play offers a glimpse into a world where tradition and inner conflict coexist, and laughter and tension intertwine naturally. This time, the action revolves around a wedding—a seemingly festive setting that becomes the backdrop for an avalanche of tragicomic events. Amidst the musicians, stuffed cabbage rolls, and zaibăr, uncomfortable truths surface, appearances crumble, and hidden dramas are revealed. Nothing is what it seems, and the masks fall one by one, in a universe where even those who do not speak end up saying it all. Dynamic “like the rush of a sârba” and, at the same time, profound “like a doina,” the new play by Gavril Pătru offers an intense theatrical experience, where laughter and emotion converge in a story about family, identity, and truth. “The Bride’s Watch and Shirt” preserves the distinctive language and atmosphere of the Oltenia region that established Gavril Pătru’s reputation, shaping a vivid world, full of color and expressive power. The play can be viewed independently, yet it stands in direct dialogue with “Ghosts and Dandelions” developing the same destinies and delving deeper into the themes already explored. The cast features actors from the National Theater of Bucharest, in a lineup that supports the show’s brisk pace and energy: Costina Cheyrouze, Raluca Petra, Ileana Olteanu, Petre Ancuța / Ciprian Nicula, Gavril Pătru, Alexandra Sălceanu / Teodora Calagiu, Maia Morgenstern / Victoria Dicu, Silviu Biriș. On April 2 and 3, 2026, at 8:30 p.m., in the lobby of the Pictura Hall, immediately following the preview performances of the play, there will be a book launch for “Ceasu’ și cămașa miresii” (The Bride's Time and Her Gown) by Gavril Pătru, a special event that complements the theatrical universe of the play of the same name. The book brings to life the same recognizable world created by Gavril Pătru: a vibrant Oltenian village, full of humor, tension, and poetry, where the characters’ destinies intertwine between tradition and contemporary reality. The audience will have the opportunity to meet the author, discover the behind-the-scenes of the creative process, and get autographs. The official premiere of the production will take place on April 18 and 19, 2026, at the Pictura Hall; the production is already scheduled in the NTB’s current repertoire for April 8 and 9 and May 9, 2026. Translated by Andreea Codrea-Boeriu

Premiere at NTB: A play about the hypocrisy of today's world 13 March 2026

Starting March 13, 2026, you are invited to a new production, Of People, Doctors, and Rhinoceroses by Claudiu Goga after Arthur Schnitzler, at the Studio Hall of the I.L. Caragiale National Theater in Bucharest. A hot topic, even though the author, considered one of the most important representatives of Austrian modernism, imagined it in 1912, a time when many of the issues addressed in the play were more than sensitive, if not taboo. At Dr. Bernhardi's clinic, a teenager is fighting sepsis following a botched abortion. The priest is denied access to the dying girl's room for her last rites. The inevitable death occurs. The incident quickly becomes a topic of national debate: can a Jewish doctor forbid a Catholic priest from comforting a Christian on her deathbed? Based on Arthur Schnitzler's idea, director Claudiu Goga invites you to discover the astonishing story in which Dr. Bernhardi is drawn. A roller coaster of absurd situations, tensions, and contradictions in a world of political intrigue and careerism, where truth becomes a derisory fact amid obscure games of power and personal interests. Both a political play and a love story, written in the style of a detective novel, "Of People, Doctors, and Rhinoceroses" speaks with lucidity and humor about the hypocrisy of today's world. A world in which people claim to fight in the name of principles and values, in the name of political ideologies and religious beliefs, in the name of truth and in the name of humanity. In reality, these are all pretexts. People fight only for their personal interests. Why? The answer is simple: people are people. In the role of Dr. Elias Bernhardi: Mihai Calin, joined by actors George Ivascu, Mirela Oprisor, Medeea Marinescu, Ofelia Popii, Alexandru Potocean, Ioan Andrei Ionescu, Richard Bovnoczki, Dana Dogaru, Ada Gales, Ionut Toader, and Tomi Cristin. Director Claudiu Goga had allies in bringing his vision to life: Corina Gramosteanu for set design and Nina Brumuasila for costumes. Video design was by Andrei Cozlac and Silviu Apostol. Music and stage movement were by Florin Fieroiu. The following performances will take place on: March 14, March 15, March 18, March 19 (official premiere), April 1, at 7 p.m. Translated by Andreea Codrea-Boeriu

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