CIS News

M from Murphy or production number 16 under 9G atNTB, the programme exclusively dedicated to young people not employed in entertainment institutions, launched by the Bucharest National Theatre in 2014, premieres on September 15th, 2020, up on the theatre, at the NTB Amphitheatre.

The concept, direction and choreography are signed by Andrea Gavriliu, an artist whose name is known to theatre and dance people, as she signed collaborations with some of the most popular directors of the moment: Radu Afrim, Mihai Măniuțiu, Andrei Șerban. She is not at her first encounter with the National Theatreof Bucharest, the choreography of some important shows from NTB being her creation: Thieves by Dea Loher and Forest of the Hanged after Liviu Rebreanu (both directed by Radu Afrim).

Actress, choreographer, dancer and director (as and when needed), Andrea Gavriliu has signed a clever show, full of humour, both theatreand dance, where she plays with Ștefan Lupu since 2013, awarded at many festivals and distinguished with the Special Prize for Dance Theatre at the UNITER Gala in 2014:Zig Zag.

M from Murphy launches her in a different zone from what Andrea Gavriliu has worked so far, but it carries the same personal imprint of obsession with perfect movements, clear structure, controlled improvisation, slipping into comics when you least expect it. And the chosen theme, Murphy's Law, is tender, universally applied and verified (by all of us). The proposed language becomes accessible through the 8 actors -performers - Alexandru Chindriș, Eva Danciu, Roxana Fânață, Mariana Gavriciuc, Pedro Aurelian Gâfei, Flavia Giurgiu, Ciprian Valea, Tavi Voina -, who support with an overflowing energy the ideas, the shapes, the playfulness and the fatality of Murphy's famous sayings. This circle of ironic gaze is closed by symbolic objects or visual-theatrical signs created by scenographer Alexandru Petre and controlled through mysterious lights by Cristian Șimon.

A physical theatre show, with a lot of dance and a lot of humour, where the body and voice of the performers - actors and dancers - become comic language, supported by a comforting, varied and captivating musical playlist. Dance and movement are manifested in a huge dynamic puzzle.

And, as life is what happens to us while we make other plans and making mistakes is human, but even more human is to blame others and because, ultimately, if something can go wrong, it will go wrong, the show "M from Murphy" plays ironically with everyday fatality and makes the best of a bad bargain.

“Considering Andreea Gavriliu’s artistic resume, her presence in the 9G Programme seems somewhat atypical. And it really is, if we consider that many of the artists included in 9G during the six editions were young creators less known and without much stage experience at the time. Many of the young directors who nowadays have popular performances in theatres have switched to 9G, having the opportunity to propose bold ideas at the Small Hall. Perhaps what is now the presence of Catinca Drăgănescu, Andrei Măjeri, Horia Suru, Ștefan Lupu, Radu Iacoban, Elena Morar or Iris Spiridon is also due to the debate, the controversy, the breaking of some institutional barriers that the 9G Programme has assumed, ever since its launch. In Andreea Gavriliu's situation, the story is different. Her show is part of another 9G perspective. Knowing that other theatres offer her authorial performances and she no longer needs confirmation, after the project was chosen for 9G, the first question was: Why 9G? Her answer: Because I wanted to work with my ideal team, without a given theme, without anything imposed. 9G at NTB is the only programme that offers this freedom.”

Cristiana Gavrilă, coordinator of the 9G Programme at NTB

The following performances: September 15th, 22nd, 2020, 8:30 pm, at the NTB Amphitheatre

9G at NTB is a programme of the "Ion Sava" Centre for Theatrical Research and Creation launched in 2014.

Translated by Simona Nichiteanu