News

NTB ends season with 18 premieres and announces another five performances this autumn

27 June 2023

Bucharest, June 27, 2023

The "I.L. Caragiale" National Theatre in Bucharest ended the current season with 18 premieres, several tours and international participations, and for this autumn it is preparing another five performances, with directors such as Silviu Purcarete, Tompa Gabor or Gelu Colceag.

Among the premieres of the closed season are performances such as Exile (directed by Alexandra Badea), The Just Assassins (directed by Mihai Maniutiu), Histrionics (directed by Alexandru Dabija) or Rehearsal for a better world (directed by Radu Afrim). In a varied repertoire there are also comedies, dramatic plays sparkling with intelligent humor, a mixture of reality and fiction, and in this chapter the audience appreciated performances such as The Magistrate (directed by Dan Tudor), The Clean House (directed by Felix Alexa), The Journey (directed by Dan Puric), Perplex (directed by Stefan Iordanescu) or Offending the Audience (directed by Andreea Ciocarlan, a 9G project at TNB).

Texts by Romanian authors have been successfully staged this year at TNB. Gallants of the Old Court by Mateiu Caragiale (directed by Dragos Galgotiu), The Word Progress On My Mother's Lips Doesn't Ring True by Matei Visniec (directed by Botond Nagy) and The Silent Escape by Lena Constante (directed by and performed by Oana Pellea) are three titles that have already been very well received, both by the public and the critics.

This year, on March 27, World Theatre Day, the NTB Museum inaugurated the exhibition Queen Mary at the Theatre, part of the project "Innovative exhibition with restored cultural goods from the NTB Museum collection", funded by EEA Grants 2014-2021 under the RO-CULTURE Program. Thirty-eight cultural goods from the NTB Museum collection were restored, including a dress that belonged to Queen Maria of Romania.

In the 2022 - 2023 season, 16 new exhibitions were opened in the theatre's foyers as part of the NTB Parateatral-Visual Arts program and the broadcasting of the National Theatre of Bucharest's own production series Podcasts began, broadcast in video format and on TNB-TV.

In the 2022 - 2023 season, 16 new exhibitions were opened in the theatre's foyers as part of the TNB Parateatral-Visual Arts program and the broadcasting of the own production series of the Podcasts of the National Theatre from Bucharest began, broadcast in video format and on TNB-TV.

Three workshops were held this season by the Centre for Theatre Research and Creation "Ion Sava" (CCCT), one on dramatic writing, coordinated by screenwriter Mimi Branescu, one on acting, held by director Alexander Hausvater (who also staged the musical "Machinal. The Musical" at the Studio Hall) and one on "New media in the context of performing arts, held by visual artist Andrei Cozlac. Also during this period, a CCCT podcast was launched, the first guest being playwright Matei Visniec.

The tnb.edu program has brought this season collaborations in both the educational and social areas. The performance A different Caragiale aimed to bring young people closer to the drama of Nenea Iancu, while Komorebi. The light filtering through the trees aimed to raise awareness of appearances among the current generation. In a partnership with the Ministry of Culture, with the support of the Ministry of Education and the National Anti-Drug Agency, the performance This is Your Youth was a drug awareness campaign.

In the year in which the NTB building celebrates its 50th anniversary, more than 5,000 people took part in the Guided Tours of the Theatre, with no less than 1,500 such tours having been conducted since December 2013.

The 9th edition (January - March 2023) of the Romanian Theatre Tour to Bucharest, Iasi and Chisinau, as well as the 7th edition of the "Reunion of Romanian National Theatres" brought to the capital of the Republic of Moldova several performances from the NTB repertoire: "Carnival Stuff", " The Country House", "Helver's Night", "Titanic Waltz" and "The Just Assassins".

Also in terms of touring, in May this year, NTB presented in Hungary, at the Moricz Zsigmond Theatre in Nyiregyhaza, the performance "Histrionics" by Thomas Bernhard, at the invitation of the International Festival "Theatre Olympics". The same show was successfully performed by the "I.L. Caragiale" National Theatre from Bucharest at the opening of the 30th edition of the Sibiu International Theatre Festival (FITS 2023).

From September, the "I.L. Caragiale" National Theatre from Bucharest aims to start a new season with premieres and top directors. Among the shows that TNB is currently announcing are: The Threepenny Opera by Bertolt Brecht, directed by Gelu Colceag, scenography Liliana Cenean and Stefan Caragiu, Tango by Slawomir Mrozek, directed by Tompa Gabor, set design Andrei Both, costumes Angela Balogh, Nora by Henrik Ibsen, directed by Chris Simion-Mercurian, scenography Maria Miu (in partnership with "Grivita 53" Association) and Gertrude by Radu F. Alexandru, directed by Silviu Purcarete, scenography Dragos Buhagiar.

More details about the casts of these shows will be released at the beginning of next season, both on social media and on the institution's website, tnb.ro.

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

Magda Catone is the Mother-in-law in Little Hell 04 April 2026

Starting on April 4, 2026, renowned National Theater actress Magda Catone will play the role of the Mother-in-Law in Mircea Stefanescu's comedy Little Hell, taking over from Rodica Popescu-Bitanescu, the actress who has brought this delightful role in Romanian drama to life in recent seasons, continuing the series of anthological performances, from Natasa Alexandra, Silvia Dumitrescu-Timica to Ileana Stana Ionescu. At the "I.L. Caragiale" National Theater, the play Little Hell has had over 300 performances since its premiere in 2013! The next performances will take place on April 4, 8, and May 2, 2026! 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

Premiere at NTB: A play about the hypocrisy of today's world 13 March 2026

Starting March 13, 2026, you are invited to a new production, Of People, Doctors, and Rhinoceroses by Claudiu Goga after Arthur Schnitzler, at the Studio Hall of the I.L. Caragiale National Theater in Bucharest. A hot topic, even though the author, considered one of the most important representatives of Austrian modernism, imagined it in 1912, a time when many of the issues addressed in the play were more than sensitive, if not taboo. At Dr. Bernhardi's clinic, a teenager is fighting sepsis following a botched abortion. The priest is denied access to the dying girl's room for her last rites. The inevitable death occurs. The incident quickly becomes a topic of national debate: can a Jewish doctor forbid a Catholic priest from comforting a Christian on her deathbed? Based on Arthur Schnitzler's idea, director Claudiu Goga invites you to discover the astonishing story in which Dr. Bernhardi is drawn. A roller coaster of absurd situations, tensions, and contradictions in a world of political intrigue and careerism, where truth becomes a derisory fact amid obscure games of power and personal interests. Both a political play and a love story, written in the style of a detective novel, "Of People, Doctors, and Rhinoceroses" speaks with lucidity and humor about the hypocrisy of today's world. A world in which people claim to fight in the name of principles and values, in the name of political ideologies and religious beliefs, in the name of truth and in the name of humanity. In reality, these are all pretexts. People fight only for their personal interests. Why? The answer is simple: people are people. In the role of Dr. Elias Bernhardi: Mihai Calin, joined by actors George Ivascu, Mirela Oprisor, Medeea Marinescu, Ofelia Popii, Alexandru Potocean, Ioan Andrei Ionescu, Richard Bovnoczki, Dana Dogaru, Ada Gales, Ionut Toader, and Tomi Cristin. Director Claudiu Goga had allies in bringing his vision to life: Corina Gramosteanu for set design and Nina Brumuasila for costumes. Video design was by Andrei Cozlac and Silviu Apostol. Music and stage movement were by Florin Fieroiu. The following performances will take place on: March 14, March 15, March 18, March 19 (official premiere), April 1, at 7 p.m. Translated by Andreea Codrea-Boeriu

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