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In December 2023, it will be 50 years since the "I.L. Caragiale" National Theatre in Bucharest has been operating in the building located at the kilometer zero of the capital, inaugurated in December 1973.

After an extensive refurbishment process, started in 2011, which aimed at rehabilitating the dilapidated spaces and systematizing the whole area, the theatre building returned to its façade of 1973.

In the 2015 - 2016 season, the theatre opened its doors and invited - in all 6 auditoriums, an open-air amphitheater (from 2018) and elegant foyers - both regular and young audiences.

The "I.L. Caragiale" National Theatre is currently operating as a unique theatrical and cultural center in Romania and stands out through its diversified repertoire, but also through other points of interest located in the premises at 2 Nicolae Balcescu Boulevard: the National Theatre Museum, the NTB Library and the "Ion Sava" Research and Theatre Creation Centre. NTB brings together audiences from all artistic fields, hosting exhibitions, various performances and cultural and social events.  The National Theatre in Bucharest has not only gained in the public's consciousness the image of a symbolic building in the city center, a Romanian cultural space with high standards, but NTB has become a mark of national culture and an important image generator for Romania.

In December 2023, the National Theatre of Bucharest celebrates half a century of activity in its headquarters in the heart of the capital. But its history began in 1852, when the lights were switched on in the Teatrul cel Mare, the theatre of the Romanian language and nation, which became the National Theatre in 1876, when Alexandru Odobescu put on the front of the building, with letters cast in bronze, "the name that will endure, along with the Academy and the University, as long as the Romanian people will endure" (Ionut Niculescu).

We are celebrating half a century in which dozens of generations of actors, directors and set designers have contributed to the history of Romanian theatre. During this period, remarkable personalities of Romanian culture have been at the helm of the institution and no less than 400 theatrical premieres, 1500 guided tours, 135 exhibitions and dozens of other events have taken place in the welcoming spaces of the institution. The titles of the performances that were presented on the stages of the National Theatre of Bucharest between 1973 and 2023 will be recalled to the public in a video clip that will run until the end of the year on the digital screens in the foyer of the theatre and will be projected on the tower of the stage, visible in the central area of the city.

The "I.L. Caragiale" National Theatre invites you, therefore, during these last remaining days of 2023, to celebrate 50 years in the heart of Romania!

On the Youtube video channel, already known as TNB-TV, the Bucharest National Theatre will broadcast, on the occasion of this important anniversary, a new series of Podcasts of the Bucharest National Theatre - 50 years in the heart of Romania". The guests of Marius Bodochi, host of the NTB podcasts, are veteran actors of the NTB stage, who will share with the audience their memories of the stage of the theatre to which they have dedicated their entire lives.

You will be able to listen to them in audio format - on the main podcast platforms (Redcircle, Buzzprout Spotify, Google Podcasts, Sticher), but you will also be able to see them - in videos that will be broadcast on TNB-TV.

In the series Podcasts of the National Theatre - 50 years in the heart of Romania, Marius Bodochi will have as special guests the actors Cristina Deleanu, Eugen Cristea, Constantin Dinulescu, Rodica Popescu Bitanescu, Olga Delia Mateescu, Tamara Cretulescu, Alexandru Georgescu, Cezara Dafinescu. Unforgettable actors who have signed important roles on the stage of the National Theatre in the last 50 years, have responded to the invitation to be with the audience of the National Theatre Bucharest, at the anniversary!

Details of our events online, on our social media pages, on www.tnb.ro and on our youtube channel -TNB-TV!

Translated by Andreea Codrea-Boeriu