News

The National Theatre "I.L Caragiale" ends 2013 on a note of celebration with a premiere, which has enjoyed an excellent audience and was very well received by the public. For one day and one night the theatre opened its doors to those who wanted to visit and participate with the famous actors and their guests to the "arc over time" celebration - the anniversary of 40 years since institution functions in the building at kilometer 0 of the capital, opened in December 1973. There is an uninteresting but enlightening balance presented below, summarized in a spectator‘s words of appreciation: "Congratulations on your organization! The words are not enough to thank you for welcoming us into "your home" and for giving us a glimpse beyond the stage! Good luck!» Over 2,000 people visited Saturday, December 14th between 10 am to 4 pm, the newly restored halls and foyers of the theatre (Studio Hall, The Black Box, Painting Hall, Small Hall and Media Hall) during guided tours. 226 spectators watched for free the Little Hell play from NTB repertory.  All seats have been booked in the first 50 minutes from opening the phone line and the email reservations. At the end of the ‘Little Hell' show, those who were present there had the opportunity to photograph themselves with the cast in the stage scenery (the project in premiere was done in partnership with Theatre. Pro). Autograph sessions with the NTB actors on their books - nine autograph sessions with famous actors of the theatre received a huge success; the public was standing in line to get the autographs. Ten publishers exhibited their books on theatre and achieved record sales in this context. In the Media Hall there were projected continuously films and images about the extensive work and functional optimization of the National Theatre "IL Caragiale" building in Bucharest, which are still ongoing. On the touch screens from the foyers and on the theatre building, a documentary of the 40 seasons was presented, evoking memorable performances and performers of the theatre golden generation. From 23.00 until ... the first subways train, the show moved to the foyer of the Studio Hall for "the theatre at night" for which a team of over 70 people has worked. The artistic moments have been held by 50 artists, NTB actors and their guests. The foyer was crowded with people of all ages (over 1000 people at the beginning of the night and about 300 "fans" who remained there until 5 am!). "Maria Tanase's songs were heard from NTB in the most extravagant and modern approach.  A lot of bass, a lot of smoke, club flashes and couple dance, hugs and kisses. The whole caboodle of a Saturday evening in the club moved to the foyer of the Studio Hall", "... you did something clever and wonderful .... I really admired you! Congratulations! ... " ( From Facebook posts and SMS). The whole project of Open Doors has been possible due to the generous support of Raiffeisen Bank and MasterCard sponsors to which we give thanks in this way and invite them to join our future events! Last but not least, the National Theatre Celebration included two moments of peak held, this time, on the stage. On the evening of December 14th, the preview performance of much awaited comedy  Rumors was played, directed by Ion Caramitru; it's a show that we recommend as a Christmas gift to your loved ones! And Sunday, December 15th, the National Theatre celebrated on stage the maestro Radu Beligan who, at 95 years of age, performed The Navel for the 337th time, entering the Guinness Book of Records as the longest - living actor still on stage.   We wish all our spectators a holiday season filled with good cheer! May we all meet at the theatre in the coming year!   Translated by: Andreiu Liliana MTTLC, The University of Bucharest

On December 14th , 2013, starting at 11.00 p.m., at the Sala Studio's foyer - free entrance   11:00 p.m. hours Ion Caramitru & Lucian Maxim 11.15 p.m. Hai iu iu NU Hey you you - Maria Tanase remixes concert, music by Vlaicu Golcea, staging Radu Afrim, with the collaboration of the Gala HOP 2013's actors and Marius Manole. UNITER production. 0:20 a.m. Monica Davidescu, Florentina Tilea & Ilinca Goia - excerpt from Molto gran`impressione 0:45 a.m. Medeea Marinescu, Marius Manole, Lucian Maxim & friends: music and poetry ad-libbing 1:15 a.m. Rodica Ionescu & Vitalie Bichir - Pocket of bread by Matei Vișniec (excerpt) 1:45 a.m. Marius Bodochi & friends: music and puppets improvisations 2:15 a.m. Eugen Cristea: folk music 2:40 a.m. "Variatiuni la Inventiuni op. 2", performance by Petre Ancuța and Emilian Mârnea: musical and theatrical excerpt 3:10 a.m. Dorin Andone: concert inspired by Miron Radu Paraschivescu's lyrics 3:30 a.m. Tania Popa: russian musical performance 4:00 a.m. Maria Buză: fiddler musical performance   Translated by: Coșoianu Mircea MTTLC, The University of Bucharest   

In Decembre 2013, we are celebrating 40 years since the "I.L. Caragiale" National Theatre has its current location in the University Square. This building was inaugurated in Decembre 1973 and it is located in the centre of the capital city. An extensive process of restoration has begun in 2011, in order to repair the deteriorated spaces, to organize the entire area and to build the original facade from 1973. Today, at the end of the year 2013 the transformation is spectacular, the building is slowly coming to its original shape. The "I.L. Caragiale" National Theatre wants to make from this "Bridge across the years" a holiday destined to everybody, so, on the 14th and 15th of Decembre 2013 they will organize the "National Theatre Days". On this occasion, there will be organized a variety of activities: guided tours around the theatre - Open Day at the National Theatre Bucharest, sessions for autographs and photography, a small theatre book fair, visits at the lobbies where the works of a few known contemporary Romanian artists will be presented, visits at the National Exhibition of Naive Art (the Small Hall) etc., as well as "A Long night of NTB" (the night of 14th Decembre 2013, since 11 o'clock P.M. till 4 o'clock A.M.) when the hospitable lobbies of the Studio Hall are open to the public, who is invited to watch an artistic marathon, held by some of the theatre's actors and their guests. The well-known caricaturist, Mihai Stănescu created a caricature representing the event inspired by the Shakespearian line "To be or Not to Be" (from the Romanian name Teatrul Național București or TNB) Translated by: Pavel Evelina Andreea MTTLC, The University of Bucharest

Sunday, December 8th 2013, at 11 a.m., at the National Theatre, Small Hall, PhD Irinel Popescu will hold a conference on Organ transplantation - an adventure of the human spirit. "Although it may seem unusual to use the term "adventure" when referring to a medical procedure, this term is very suitable when talking about the history of organ transplantation." Brave surgeons, who were ahead of their time, tried to rescue their patients. Sick people, who had no other chance and had lost all their hope, put their lives into the hands of the doctors, hoping they would be saved. However, most of these surgeries were performed before the surgeons had acquired enough knowledge for the surgeries to be successful. This is why the history of organ transplantation is filled with failure and tragedies. Nevertheless, it is due to these surgeries that, nowadays, over 150,000 lives are saved every year with the help of transplantation procedures. If it hadn't been for those brave doctors who wanted to be ahead of their time, today we wouldn't know so much about transplantation and we couldn't save so many lives." PhD Irinel Popescu   Translated by: Diaconescu Alina MTTLC, The University of Bucharest  

The inauguration of The retrospective of paintings Emil Ciocoiu (curator Marius Tița) took place on Thursday evening, in the presence of over 200 guests. Present at the inauguration, Augusto Medici, editorial director of the well-known Italian art history magazine, ContemporArt, who specially came to this event in Bucharest, was deeply impressed by the spectacular building of the theatre and considered Emil Ciocoiu's exhibition as "overwhelming". This is what he said in that evening: "I confess that I underestimated Romania: I don't think in Italy such a wide-spreading event would have any chances of succeeding today... What you have done at the National Theatre is worth congratulating and is absolutely remarkable". In the next issue of the magazine a full report on the restoration of the National Theatre will be published. Translated by: Dumitrescu Ioana-Alexandra MTTLC, The University of Bucharest

A conference about a remarkable historic figure. The conference takes place on Tuesday, November 12, 2013, at 5 p.m., in the foyer of the Small Hall, beside the Carolus Magnus painting of the Emil Ciocoiu Painting Retrospective. Special guests:          Historian Adrian Pop, Professor at the National School of Political Studies and Public Administration of Bucharest Art critic Marius Tița, Senior-editor in chief at Radio Romania International Admission is free.   Translated by: Apetroaei Diana MTTLC, The University of Bucharest

A new theatrical season for children, containing up-to-date Romanian Fairytales Starting Sunday 10th November 2013, 11 a.m., at the Media Hall, the project National Theatre for Children will be back in the repertory of the National Theatre of Bucharest (NTB). The attractive and interactive project has enjoyed a constant success for twelve theatrical seasons. The National Theatre for Children is a project initiated by the Abracadabra Foundation, which is run by the actor Marian Râlea in partnership with the National Theatre of Bucharest. Here, children go on stage and become the fairytales' heroes. As in a true magical place, the children, "armed" with only simple elements of costumes and décor, learn how to conquer their fears and bravely fight the evil spirits and dark forces found in old and new Romanian fairytales. The Fairytales Magician and his crew invite the theatre's little spectators to a theatrical season, titled Romanian fairytales, which will be full of events and novelties,. Playing Theatre will once again be the key element of the Sunday get-togethers so loved by the little ones and also by parents and grandparents. Soon, a new project for both young and older children will come to life. It will appear under the title "Theatre as a Game" and will be a Club for initiation in theatre. The National Theatre of Bucharest has changed its appearance. The complex modernisation process includes both the current theatrical season and the ones which are to follow. In this context, the Theatre for Children is challenged to redefine its mission in this new, complex and powerful cultural centre. We invite you to whiteness this transformation. The entrance to the Media Hall is from Batiștei Street, on the newly built avenue linking the Studio Hall to the Great Hall, through NTB's Ticket Agency. All tickets cost 20 lei. Running time: 2 hours.      Translated by: Ivan Diana Ioana MTTLC, The University of Bucharest

The first informal meeting held in Bucharest with a view to the preparations of the future international theatrical NETA Festival 2015 has recently taken place at the National Theatre "I. L. Caragiale." The initiative of the meeting, a first-timer, belonged to Ion Caramitru, TNB's Director and was put forward in September in Ljubljana (occasioned by the NETA General Meeting). The meeting in Bucharest welcomed the presence of the NETA's Secretary General, Damir Domitrovič, who made an introduction to the international network of theatres and their major projects among which the very ambitious one of creating their own network television station, NETA ART TV.        The NETA network (New European Theatre Action) to which it belongs as a charter member (since 2005, when it was founded) The National Theatre "I. L. Caragiale" in Bucharest has as main objective strengthening the ties between the S-E European countries. Their promising cultural potential recommends them as a worthy future partner in relation to other European countries. Promoting a pro-european artistic expression is, by all means, the main NETA message as well.  Currently, NETA integrates a network of 50 theatres and theatrical representations in 19 European countries. The international festival of theatre NETA that would be scheduled to take place in Bucharest in the year when it celebrates its 10th anniversary since the network founding, were meant to bring for the first time, under the same roof that of the future National Theatre (reconstruction works having been finished by then) the most  important theatrical representations selected from the production of the NETA theatre members. "The most outstanding artistic production comes exactly from this area of Balkans, so much historically tried where there are powerful dramaturgy theatres and profoundly humane writings (...). The same post-communist historical experience brings us together, a spirit that strikingly resembles us, a good cultural education and the same drive to travel - at least virtually - to the universal cultures" - thus Ion Caramitru substantiated his initiative to hold the inclusive theatrical festival. Mrs. Jadranka Sturm Kocjan, the Republic of Slovenia ambassador in Bucharest was among the people invited at the TNB meeting, who expressed her support and commitment for the future project of the NETA Festival in Bucharest. The ambassador underlined the fact that the project will strengthen the cultural ties between the Europe S-E countries, in the spirit of "culture off borders." The Romanian Counsellor Ion Matei, deputizing at the meeting for the Ministry of Culture, affirmed in his turn, the support for this project on behalf of the Ministry. In order for the festival to come to life, the support and joint involvement of all the local authorities of the NETA member countries is required. This would be the next step towards the materialization of this challenging theatrical project, which was started by the first meeting occasioned in Bucharest at the National Theatre.   Translated by: Coșoianu Mircea MTTLC, The University of Bucharest