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Mary Stuart on Tour in Budapest

28 April 2026

The play “Mary Stuart” – an official guest of the 13th edition of MITEM (Madach International Theatre Meeting) in Budapest.

On April 28, 2026, the “I.L. Caragiale” National Theater will present Robert Icke’s Mary Stuart, directed by Andrei Șerban, in the main hall of the National Theater in Budapest, as an official guest of the 13th edition of MITEM (Madach International Theatre Meeting), which takes place in Budapest from April 10 to May 10, 2026. The event, organized by the National Theater of Budapest (Nemzeti Színház), brings 26 productions from 15 countries to the stage in this edition, presented by 21 companies.

The TNB’s participation in this international theater gathering is part of a long-standing and excellent collaborative relationship with the National Theater of Budapest, where the TNB presented the productions Two Lots, The Tempest, and Gertrude during the 2014, 2015, and 2025 editions of the MITEM Festival, respectively.

“MITEM’s principles have remained unchanged since its inception: we organize an open theater festival where genuine dialogue takes place, connections are formed, and open and courageous debates unfold. European festivals are becoming increasingly exclusive and one-sided, while diversity is the defining feature of our event,” emphasized Attila Vidnyánszky, founder of MITEM and general director of the Hungarian National Theater, during a recent press conference in Budapest. According to Vidnyánszky, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find theater productions in Western Europe because “theaters are gradually turning into political battlegrounds.”

The festival opens with William Shakespeare’s “Richard III,” a landmark production by the “Harag György” Company of the Northern Theater in Satu Mare (directed by István Albu), and will close with the same play, in a version by the Gesher Theater from Israel. Also appearing at MITEM 13, among others, will be the La Colline Theater from France (“The Thought Characters,” directed by Valère Novarina), the Plovdiv Drama Theater (with the play “Oedipus and the Prophets” by Diana Dobreva), the Serbian National Theater in Belgrade (with “The Imaginary Invalid”), the Tatar State Theater “Galiaskar Kamal” in Kazan, and others. A special section features performances by Tatar, Scottish, Catalan, Frisian, and North Macedonian Turkish companies.

Robert Icke’s* production of Mary Stuart (an adaptation of Schiller’s famous historical play), which the National Theater of Bucharest will present as part of MITEM, offers an intense exploration of major historical and personal conflicts, under the direction of a director who has always been drawn to contemporary reinterpretations of the great classical texts, a master who continues to fascinate and challenge new generations of audiences: Andrei Șerban. “Mary Stuart” is the drama of two powerful women, Mary and Elizabeth—two queens, of Scotland and England, respectively. Both come to a confrontation with the most extreme consequences of power. Centered around the concept of duality, the plot of this historical thriller seems drawn from the reality of our present: manipulation and behind-the-scenes maneuvering for political and religious supremacy have shaped history.

The production "Mary Stuart" received seven nominations for the 2025 UNITER Awards (for Best Production, Best Direction, Best Set Design, Best Actress in a Leading Role, Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Best Music, and Best Video Design); Raluca Aprodu won the Theater Award at the 2025 Radio România Cultural Awards Gala. The production opened the Kielce International Theater Festival (Poland) as part of the Romanian edition of the “Gra z Kantorem” program in October 2025 and participated in the 10th edition of the National Theaters’ Meeting in Chișinău (September 2025).

The specialized press and the immense public success rightly established this production as “the great historical and topical production of the season (…). Andrei Șerban is, quite simply, regal, writing, with universally recognized venerable talent, yet another important page in the history of the National Theater in Bucharest.”

Here is the cast that will perform “Mary Stuart” in Budapest on the evening of April 28, 2026: Raluca Aprodu, Ofelia Popii, Mihai Călin, Florin Aioane, Conrad Mericoffer, Marius Bodochi, Emilian Oprea, Mihai Calotă, Ciprian Nicula, Florin Călbăjos.

The performance, presented in Romanian, will be subtitled in Hungarian and English.

Tickets can be purchased on the website of the National Theater in Budapest.

*Directed by: Andrei Şerban; Associate director: Dana Dima; Set design: Helmut Stürmer; Costumes: Corina Grămoșteanu; Music: Alexei Ţurcan; Video: Andrei Cozlac; Lighting design: Cristi Niculescu; Sound design: Liviu Stoica.

Directing assistant: Corina Mihaela Predescu; Set design assistant: Șteff Chelaru; Lighting design assistant: Daniel Mateescu. Artistic consultant: Ilinca Radulian; Executive producer: Mădălina Ciupitu.

Translated by Andreea Codrea-Boeriu

Staged Readings at the National Theater of Bucharest – Playwriting Workshop with Mimi Brănescu 02 June 2026

The fourth edition of the Playwriting Workshop led by actor and writer Mimi Brănescu will conclude with a series of staged readings presented between June 2 and 6, 2026, at the Media Hall of the National Theater of Bucharest. Conceived by Mimi Brănescu with the support of the National Theater of Bucharest (TNB), the project reflects, with each edition, the Bucharest National Theater’s ongoing commitment to supporting the new generation of playwrights and fostering their artistic debuts on a professional theater stage. Mimi Brănescu is the author of several plays that have been staged and well-received on numerous stages across Romania, including “Acasă la tata,” “Dumnezeul de a doua zi,” “Genul acuzativ,” “Ultimii,” and “Family.exe.” Her artistic experience provided workshop participants with access to an authentic and professional perspective on playwriting and the relationship between text and stage. NTB offers young, emerging playwrights the opportunity to have their first direct encounter with professional actors and the audience. The plays to be presented are: “No Signal” by Diana Amitroaie, “Under Review…” by Ana Avram, “We’ll Talk Later” by Andrei Barbu, “Fame and Other Addictions” by Anamaria Codiță, “Blood of Your Blood” by Valeriu Ilisie, “By the Sea” by Denis Imbrescu, “In the Lead Role, Nora” by Serin Jemaa, “Black-Hearted Ace” by Laurențiu Lungu, “Semolina with Milk” by Alexia Matei, “The Taxi Cab Theory” by Ioana Niculae, “Hooked” by Aurora Păunescu. Admission to this series of reading performances is free and requires registration via bilet.ro The project coordinator, Mimi Brănescu, shared a few words with us about the fourth edition of the workshop, the texts produced as a result, and the meeting with the young authors: “These texts fall somewhere between ‘I’ve never written anything’ and ‘this is my first important piece.’ They should be viewed as bold attempts. If writing, let’s say, were a four-year course, here you have access to the exam at the end of the first year. My big request would be to try to see not only what is missing—there is a lot missing for these to be great texts—but also what they and their authors might become. Because, in my opinion, you can glimpse a potential author in enough of these fragments.” You will witness the outcome of an amateur playwright’s pro bono endeavor—an honest attempt to share with others the few things he has discovered about writing, through the act of writing itself. For those among them who choose to take it further, however, meeting with me will not be enough. I hereby invite those who can do more not to sit idly by. They need encouragement, money, any kind of support. Stand by them, and perhaps in this way, your children and grandchildren will add to the high school curriculum authors whom you yourselves have nurtured. The criteria by which I selected them were: that they had never written for the theater before and had never participated in another writing workshop. And whatever else I asked them there, as far as my mind and good faith would take me. Because I’m no Garabet Ibrăileanu or Titu Maiorescu myself. It’s common knowledge what I’m like, or it’s easy to find out, since I haven’t kept it a secret. I thank the National Theater for the generosity with which it hosted us again this year. Finally, I’d like to note here, in small print, that this group, the fourth, was the last one I mentored. I invite others to do the same.” The National Theatre of Bucharest will publish the 11 plays resulting from the fourth edition of the workshop coordinated by Mimi Brănescu, offering both theatre professionals and the general public access to dramatic works that emphasize authenticity, direct observation, and the desire of emerging playwrights to transform personal experiences and current themes into theatrical material. Schedule of the reading performances, NTB Media Hall, June 2–6, 2026: June 2nd 11 am: Under review... by Ana Avram 1 pm: Black Heart Ace by Laurențiu Lungu June 3rd 11 am: Fame and Other Addictions by Anamaria Codiță 1 pm: Milk semolina by Alexia Matei June 4th 11 am: Blood of your blood by Valeriu Ilisie 1 pm: Hooked by Aurora Păunescu June 5th 11 am: Out of range by Diana Amitroaie 1 mm: We'll talk after by Andrei Barbu June 6th 11 am: In the lead role, Nora by Serin Jemaa 1 mm: By the Sea by Denis Imbrescu 3 pm: The Taxi Cab Theory by Ioana Niculae Translated by Andreea Codrea-Boeriu

The National Theater of Bucharest is TNB Activ on WhatsApp 25 May 2026

Starting May 25, 2026, the “I.L. Caragiale” National Theater in Bucharest is launching TNB Activ, its official WhatsApp channel for theatergoers. TNB Activ is a direct information channel through which the public receives quick updates on premieres, performances, and tours; stays up to date in real time on tickets going on sale and special events; and learns everything about upcoming projects and meet-and-greets with their favorite artists. This makes communication simpler, more personal, and more efficient—only relevant information, delivered directly to the audience’s phones. By launching this channel, TNB aims to be closer to its community and provide quick access to everything happening on the theater’s stages. Subscription is free, and viewers can unsubscribe at any time. TNB Activ – information reaches viewers directly from the stage. Subscription link: TNB Activ Or QR code below Translated by Andreea Codrea-Boeriu

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

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

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