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Did you know that King George III of the United Kingdom suffered from paroxysms of madness, so that, during his reign, between 1810 and 1820, all shows with King Lear have been forbidden, due to the main character’s madness? Allan Bennett has written a play about the mental decline of this king, The Madness of George III, enacted in Romania at the „Bulandra” Theatre, with Mircea Albulescu and Rodica Tapalagă.   The premiere of the show King Lear, directed by David Doiashvili shall be hosted by the Grand Hall of the National Theatre of Bucharest on 11 December 2016, as of 7.00 p.m. !   Details       Translated by Simona Nichiteanu  

Did you know that Laurence Olivier performed King Lear once at the age of 39 and again at the age of 76? The first time, in 1946, Olivier acted in a very successful show produced by himself, at the Old Vic Theatre of London, with a young Alec Guinness in the Fool’s role. In 1983, Olivier, restored after a serious illness, has performed Lear in a TV production, directed by Michael Elliott. The premiere of the show King Lear directed by David Doiashvili shall be hosted by the Grand Hall of the National Theatre of Bucharest on the days of 10th and 11th December 2016 from 7.00 p.m. !   Details      Translated by Simona Nichiteanu 

Did you know that, for two centuries, King Lear in the version written by Shakespeare has been replaced, on stage, with the much cu more cheerful version of Nahum Tate? As of 1660, the English audience during the Restoration period did no longer wish to see bleak plays, so the majority of Shakespeare’s plays have been completely rewritten to please the public. Because King Lear was too grim a play, N. Tate, who became later a Poet Laureate, has completely rewritten the play in 1681, discarding the character of the Fool and granting Cordelia a love story, and a happy ending to the play. Since then, only Tate’s King Lear has been enacted, until 1838, when the Victorian Age spectators decided that they preferred Shakespeare’s play. The premiere of the show King Lear, directed by David Doiashvili shall be hosted by the Grand Hall of the National Theatre of Bucharest on 11 December 2016, as of 7.00 p.m. ! Details       Translated by Simona Nichiteanu 

Internationally acclaimed director, Bulgarian Alexander Morfov comes back to the stage of the National Theatre of Bucharest with a new challenge: No Man’s Land after the script of Bosnian Danis Tanović, with the scenery by his exceptional collaborator, fellow-countryman Nikola Toromanov, with costumes by Andradei Chiriac and light design by British Chris Jaeger. The cast comprises famous NTB actors: Mihai Călin, Ciprian Nicula, Marcelo-S. Cobzariu, Aylin Cadîr / Alexandra Sălceanu, Fulvia Folosea, Eduard Adam, Vitalie Bichir, George Piștereanu, Ionuț Toader and countless collaborators, young and very young performers of the Romanian stage, Richard Bovnoczki, Rareș Florin Stoica, Mihai Munteniţă, Mădălin Mandin, Adrian Iosif Pop, Ionuț Niculae etc. The first representations shall take place on 12 November 2016, 8.00 p.m. and 13 November 2016, 7.00 p.m. and the premiere on 16 and 17 November 2016, as of 7.00 p.m., on the stage of the Studio Hall. This is the fifth show, introduced by the artist to the Romanian audience, after The Exiled and Don Juan (productions of the „Ivan Vazov" National Theatre of Sofia) and the previous NTB enactments: The Visit by Friedrich Dürrenmatt (UNITER prize for best scenography) and The Tempest after William Shakespeare (UNITER Prize for best supporting actor, Mihai Călin in Caliban). Creator of theatrical events on prestigious stages of the world, artist with an unconventional vision, the artistic path of Alexander Morfov, as well as the countless national and international awards recommend him as one of the major directors of contemporary theatre. He received over 20 awards, comprising „Askeer” and „Icarus” in Bulgaria, and in Russia: the „Golden Muse”, the „Golden Soffit”, the „Golden Mask”, the „Crystal Turandot” and the „Seagull”. His record includes titles such as: "Don Quixote", "A Midsummer Night’s Dream", "The Exiled", "Don Juan", "The Night Asylum", "On the Edge", "One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest", "The Suicide" ("Life is Beautiful"). The play he has chosen for a new enactment on the stage of the National Theatre of Bucharest represents a personal adaption for the stage after the film No Man’s Land (script and direction by Danis Tanović), winner of the Oscar Award for Best Foreign Film, in 2001. Satire against war, the international community and the press chasing the sensational and the rating, No Man’s Land blends dark humour and tragedy in an exciting story, tackling highly contemporary subjects, at the border between life and death somewhere, in the middle of nowhere; No Man’s Land - starting 12 November 2016, on the NTB stage!   Translated by Simona Nichiteanu 

In a world tormented by terrorism and wars, led by global organisations and dependent on mass media, the National Theatre of Bucharest stages, with a daunting team of creators, one of the most awarded stories of contemporary cinema, No Man’s Land by Danis Tanović,. Director, script writer, producer and professor, Bosnian Danis Tanović was launching, in 2001, on the world’s screens, a heartrending outcry of pain and loneliness, born from an absurd and ruthless civil war, the one between Bosnia and Herzegovina, 1992-1993. People who until yesterday were sitting at the same table, as in a true family, sharing joys, sorrows and holidays, became enemies, engaged in a fierce and bloody ethnic conflict. Himself a witness of these heartrending episodes, with still unfinished studies, Danis Tanović has immortalised on film shattering images, joined by a team of documentary makers. A few years later, his debut as a director shall emerge from the crater of this glowing experience. And that was No Man’s Land! One of the most awarded films, with 42 national and international acknowledgements, among which we mention, in the time frame 2001 and 2002: Cannes – Award for Best Script, Oscar Award for Best Foreign Film, Golden Globe for Best Foreign Film and Cesar Award for Best Debut Film. Based on a clever plot and a realistic description, spiced up with dark humour and irony, Tanović’ story refuses to point out the parties guilty for the Balkan conflict. As in a game of cat and mouse between brothers, extremely tough however, the author renders justice now to some, now to others. The play which you shall witness on the stage of the National Theatre of Bucharest represents an adaption for the stage of the film No Man’s Land produced by the director of the show, Alexander Morfov. No Man’s Land is a story about life and death, a painful clash between Serbians and Bosnians, assisted by peacekeeping forces, whose reaction is too detached, when it is not useless. You can witness very impressive scenes, in which a man’s life is hanging by a … thread. More precisely, by the wire igniting the bomb. Tensions are extreme. Cruelty is limitless, and violent effusions have gotten out of control, wreaking havoc. The tension of the moment is reflected by the confrontation between two Bosnians (Ciki and Cera) and a young Serbian recruit (Nino), all three trapped in a cave, somewhere at the border between the two armies. A bomb could explode any minute, with unpredictable consequences. The show is not recommended for children under 16. Based on a script written by a Bosnian, with a Bulgarian director and Romanian cast, No Man’s Land from NTB is not only a parable about war, but also about the vanity of life and human nature. The first representations: 12 November (8.00 p.m.) and 13 November, 7.00 p.m. The premiere shall take place on 16 and 17 November, 7.00 p.m., in the Studio Hall of the National Theatre of Bucharest.   Translated by Simona Nichiteanu

On Friday, 21 October 2016, the „I.L. Caragiale” National Theatre of Bucharest shall host the official opening of the 26th edition of the National Theatre Festival. In the foyer of the NTB Grand Hall, as of 6 p.m., introducing the show in the festival opening, the varnishing of the exhibition-document dedicated to the great dancer and choreographer Gigi Căciuleanu shall be held. As of 9.00 p.m., the audience is expected in the Painting Hall, where it shall watch The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, one of the three NTB shows shortlisted in the NTF. Each show shall have two representations within the festival. Thus, also on Saturday 22 October 2016, as of 5.00 p.m., you may witness this wonderful NTB show, inspired by a novel of Mark Haddon, directed by young Bobi Pricop and with the remarkable scenography of Adrian Damian, complemented by Liliana Cenean’s costumes. The show has been very successful, both at the headquarters and on tour, whereas the gifted performers - Ciprian Nicula, Emilian Oprea, Ana Ciontea, Carmen Ungureanu, Rodica Ionescu – were rewarded with prizes, nominations and applause. Recently, the show has received not less than three awards at the Short Theatre Festival of Oradea (FITO 2016), bestowed for Best Show, for Best Direction and upon Ciprian Nicula for Best Actor. On Sunday 23 October, 7.00 p.m. and Monday 24 October (a premiere in its own way, because never before has the show been performed on a Monday!), as of 9.00 p.m., you can watch the exceptional show No Matter How Hard We Tried by Dorota Masłowska, directed by Radu Afrim, the fourth show of the director at NTB, after "The Avalanche", “Thieves" and "Scourge". The remarkable stage set of the show is courtesy of Irina Moscu. The cast features well-known actors, harder to recognise at first sight, in surprising creations: Dorina Chiriac, Marius Manole (UNITER 2016 Gala Award for Best Supporting Actor!), Liliana Ghiţă, Natalia Călin, Istvan Teglas, Cezar Antal, Florentina Ţilea. A memento, but also a serious alert, woven into the texture of a dark comedy of the highest quality, scenically spiced up through music-hall moments, travesties, compositions and reversals, aptly coordinated by the director. On Saturday 29 October, as of 7.00 p.m. and on Sunday 30 October, as of 8.00 p.m., at the Black Box Hall, the programme of the festival gives you the opportunity to meet L'Om DAdA, the second choreographic show signed by renowned artist Gigi Căciuleanu at NTB, after Caragiale’s "Our Kind of Stuff". Two outstanding performers, actors and dancers, in a string of revelations and surprises; this time, the great artist and choreographer is on stage, an actor in the true sense of the word. The show is produced under the auspices of the „Ion Sava” Centre for Research and Theatrical Creation, in collaboration with the "Gigi Căciuleanu Romania Dance Company" and the "Art Production" Foundation, with the support of the Romanian Cultural Institute, representing a free and challenging artistic interpretation of the Dadaist spirit on the occasion of the centenary. And, because almost all roads to NTB lead through the University passage, it is useful to know that starting with Monday, the University passage has become again, for two weeks, the NTF Passage. From here, you can get informed about everything happening at the Festival: performances, casts, producers, where tickets can be found and how they can be purchased, exhibition varnishings and book launches, addresses of theatres, as the organisers estimate, as well as other information to facilitate the spectator’s participation in the National Theatre Festival.   Translated by Simona Nichiteanu  

  On Tuesday, 20 December 2016, from 5:00 p.m., the Studio Hall of the I.L. Caragiale National Theatre of Bucharest shall host the Gala and contest of the project 5 High Schools - 5 Theatres, celebrating this year its 6th edition. Five theatre troupes from five high schools of the capital shall take the NTB stage in order to perform the plays prepared throughout the project in the time frame October – December 2016. The ECDL Foundation Romania, joined by its partners, UNITER, the Mayor’s Office of the Bucharest Municipality and the School Inspectorate of the Bucharest Municipality, invite you to encourage the young artists. 5 High Schools - 5 Theatres is an educational project supporting the involvement of teenagers in cultural activities, through their access to institutions and plays, at the same time challenging them to a show contest. Five theatres have opened their season to further 150 pupils from five high schools of the capital, including members of the school theatre troupes. These have witnessed free of charge plays from each of the partner theatres of the project 5 High Schools – 5 Theatres: the I.L. Caragiale National Theatre of Bucharest, the Jewish State Theatre, the Ion Creangă Theatre, the Metropolis Youth Theatre and the Small Theatre. The new schools participating in this edition of 5 High Schools - 5 Theatres are: the Iulia Haşdeu National College, the Nichita Stănescu Theoretical High School, the Jean Monnet Theoretical High School, the Ion Creangă National College and the Virgil Madgearu School of Economics. This time as well, the teenager troupes have been coordinated by the theatres in staging a short play on the topic of Human Rights. Their endeavour shall be completed on Tuesday, 20 December 2016, with the representations, jury decision and award ceremony of the five theatre plays created by the teenagers, within the Gala 5 High Schools – 5 Theatres. The youngsters shall have the opportunity to climb on the stage of a major Romanian theatre and perform in front of a jury of professionals, including Diana Dumbravă – NTB actress, Roxana Guttman – actress of the Jewish State Theatre, Aura Corbeanu – UNITER Vice-President, Lucian Ghimişi - manager of the Ion Creangă Theatre, Cristian Moţiu - actor at the Metropolis Theatre or Viorel Cojanu - actor at the Small Theatre.                                                            Since the first edition which started in 2011 at the initiative of the ECDL Foundation of Romania, 900 pupils from 25 different Bucharest high schools have taken part in 5 High Schools – 5 Theatres. The alternative education plays a vital role in the development of young people, who must further be directed towards real and correct values, including cultural values. The ECDL initiatives promote the balanced development of youngsters, pursuing international careers and certifications, but also understanding the act of culture, as a completion of their knowledge and competences gathered in school.                                       We expect you on Tuesday, 20 December 2016, from 5:00 p.m., to the Studio Hall of the I.L. Caragiale National Theatre of Bucharest!   Translated by Simona Nichiteanu 

Starting from 16 October 2016, on each Sunday morning, the Magician of Stories, joined by his assistants, make a date with you in the magic world of Our Stories. On the first of these Sundays from the 2016-2017 season, namely on 16 October, Tufted Prince Charming shall go on stage. The Magician of Stories kindly asks the children to be prepared to climb on stage alongside great actors, because one of them shall be chosen by Tufted Prince Charming and one of the girls shall be the Princess casting a spell on him. "In this season, we shall try to present as many shows with adaptations for the stage after Our Stories, of the Romanians, says the Magician of Stories. Do not miss in the next months the events for Halloween, Wolf Day, the Christmas Stories... The small ones shall encounter fascinating worlds and fantastic characters from folk mythology, with Dragons, Witches, Griffins, Magic Horses and many other fictional characters. Dear Children, every Sunday, as of 11.00 a.m., in the Media Hall of the National Theatre of Bucharest, the Magician of Stories is expecting you to discover Our Stories and become Fairytale Heroes!   Translated by Simona Nichiteanu 

Three awards and two nominations have been attributed to one of the most beloved shows of the National Theatre of Bucharest, The Curious Incident with a Dog in the Night-Time, directed by Bobi Pricop, at its first participation in a festival, namely the twelfth edition of the Oradea Short Theatre Festival (FITO 2016). The show, which conquered both the most demanding critics and the Bucharest audience, has received on the stage of the "Queen Mary" Theatre of Oradea the same double appreciation and an enthusiastic welcome. Produced after a novel by Mark Haddon, with the adaption for the stage by Simon Stephens and the translation by Andrei Marinescu, The Curious Incident with a Dog in the Night-Time has been perceived by the media of Oradea as a “show-phenomenon”, and the jury of the festival (consisting of critics Mircea Morariu – president and Ion Parhon, alongside director Alexa Visarion) have appraised virtues, such as its depth and originality. The Curious Incident with a Dog in the Night-Time was declared Best Show at the Oradea Short Theatre Festival. Young and gifted director Bobi Pricop received the Award for Best Direction, for the shows The Curious Incident with a Dog in the Night-Time and Illusions by Ivan Vyrypaev, produced at the “Marin Sorescu” National Theatre of Craiova. The protagonist of the show, Ciprian Nicula, one of the youngest actors of the NTB troupe, the sensitive, persuasive and charismatic interpreter of the teenager suffering from the Asperger syndrome, received the Best Actor Award. The show received further two nominations, Ana Ciontea – at the Best Actress Award and Adrian Damian at the Best Scenography Award. The show The Curious Incident with a Dog in the Night-Time shall have its next representation in the context of the Iași International Theatre Festival for Young Audience, on 11 October 2016 as of 8.00 p.m., at the Students’ Cultural Centre. The third participation in a festival this year, with two representations, shall be hosted on Friday 21 October, 9.00 p.m. and Saturday 22 October, 5.00 p.m., by the Painting Hall of the “I.L. Caragiale” National Theatre of Bucharest, in the context of the National Theatre Festival.   Translated by Simona Nichiteanu

One of the most enacted contemporary Romanian playwrights, Radu F. Alexandru together with Mircea Cornişteanu, daunting director, make a date with you, on the stage of the Black Box Hall of the National Theatre of Bucharest, and the premiere of Light, at the End of the Tunnel, o satire which seems to be taken from a documentary film. They are personified by five well-known actors: Constantin Cotimanis, Monica Davidescu / Iuliana Moise, Dragoş Stemate and … Alexandra Poiană (Luminiţa!), cast in the roles of two couples (in which order is done-undone on dizzying rhythms). As the author is a fine observer, script-writer and playwright familiar with the strings of parliamentary backrooms, with ideologies before and after, with the games of the political actor, but especially with the sluggishness ... of the monster across the road, beyond which there is no passage, from the phrase of yore, which became a cliché, only a comma … was missing! The writer has placed it, for your delight, with sarcasm and humour, on the frontispiece of a writing surmounting old dilemmas. „I know well all those bathing in the cachalot belly in which we live, admits the author. The ones from today and the ones from yesterday: presidents, prime-ministers, high-ranking officials – the leadership, as they say now. They have done and keep doing everything in their power for things to stay as they were since Adam. It was not easy for them, most of the time there were attempts of some to destabilize and colonize us. They did not succeed and shall never succeed. Because time and time again, a „new wave” rises, pursuing the resistance battle”. Nevertheless, Luminița is stubbornly opposing it. With what force? Will she be able to do what many others before her have failed? And, with what outcome? Written in 2008, the play was published under the title „Little Romania" („Tsunami”), in the volume Teatru7, published at the Cartea Românească publishing house, and this enactment at NTB represents her first encounter with the stage. On the stages of theatres in Bucharest and in Romania, many other plays of the author have been enacted: Dilemma, Dinu, Hopscotch, The Attic, Loves, A Chance for Everybody, The Man Who Works Wonders, Looking around with Blind Eyes, Nothing about Hamlet, Mr. Sisyphus, Love Stories (Labyrinth), Story about My Father, La vita e bella. „Addressing moreover the mind than the heart, as prestigious director Silviu Purcărete was noticing, RFA’s plays enchant paradoxically due to the sarcastic jubilation accompanying each situation, each retort". Come to the theatre, a story seemingly detached from the melting pot of our colourful days, agitated and unpredictable awaits you with many surprises,… from one end to the other! The previews: 1,2,7 and 9 October 2016, 8.00 p.m.; press preview: 11-12 October 2016, 8.00 p.m., Black Box Hall. Tickets are available at the NTB box office and online, on Mystage.ro.   Translated by Simona Nichiteanu