Remember

On Wednesday, March 4th, 2020, from 6:00 pm, the Media foyer (wing from Tudor Arghezi street) will host an event dedicated to commemorating the actor George Motoi. The event continues the series of evocations of personalities of the Romanian theatre, a series started in January, with the one dedicated to master Marin Moraru, under the title "We Are Made from the Matter of Our Memories".
This time, "Under the Actor's Mask", colleagues, admirers, spectators who once applauded George Motoi will meet, dedicating an evening in which the memories will be supported by an exhibition of representative photographs from the actor's career. The event will be moderated by theatre critic Doina Papp.

The exhibition remains open until the end of March. Free entry.

George Motoi was born in the winter of 1936, in Caliacra. Shortly thereafter, the Cadrilater was transferred to Bulgaria, and his father, the gendarmerie chief, was transferred with his family to a village in Bărăgan, very close to Braila. The father would have wanted a military career for his son. His mother was a housewife and very faithful. He often went to church. Little George gets to say prayers and sing in the church choir. Later he would discover the school holidays and turn them into real shows of his little universe. "I have only been guided by the idea to satisfy this witness without which my profession is useless: the public. I, without an audience, do not exist. ''
In 1954, he began his studies at the Institute of Theatre and Film in Bucharest at Prof. Irina Răchiţeanu. He is then assigned to Piatra Neamt where he founded what is now the Youth Theatre. He played at the Theatre of Bacau, at the Cluj National Theatre (which can be seen in his portrayal of Caligula, after the eponymous play by Albert Camus, under the directorial wand of Vlad Murgu). From 1972 to 2007, he could be seen on stage at the "I.L. Caragiale" National Theatre of Bucharest in shows such as Danton (1974), Richard III (1976) , Vlaicu Vodă (1982), One Flew  over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1983), The Dance of the Evil Fairies (1986), The Name of the Rose (1998), My Sweet Lady, My Beloved Eminus - adaptation and direction by himself (2002), The Passions of Saint Thomas Aquinas (2005) or Saturday, Sunday, Monday (2006.)
His film career includes at least 45 main roles. He has starred in dozens of television shows. He wrote Under the Actor's Mask, Orion Publishing House, 2006 and New Stage Versions after Old Plays, Coresi Publishing House, 2010, 2 volumes) and he also directed.
George Motoi, a special personality of the Romanian theatrical and cinematographic culture, was awarded by the authorities with the Labour Medal, the “Cultural Merit” Medal and the “Third Class Cultural Merit” Order. He is also an honorary citizen of Brăila.
He stated about himself that he has an immense quality. That of forgetting all the texts and making room for the new ones. A versatile actor who knew how to pass the test of time and how to survive artistic obsessions. "I do not think it is another natural obsession, truer for an artist than to know yourself useful and to hope or especially to believe that you have the ability and to answer this need for usefulness. At least that is my turmoil and not that of pursuing a certain career, certain places, certain directors."

Translated by Simona Nichiteanu