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The show of the „I.L. Caragiale” National Theatre of Bucharest, „The Tempest” by William Shakespeare, directed by Alexander Morfov, has conquered the audience ever since the first international edition of the Open-Air Theatre Festival of Thessaloniki, Forest Festival NTNG. The two representations by NTB (5th and 6th July 2017), which were hosted by the Dassous Theatre (Forest Theatre), an impressive amphitheatre, located at the top of a hill and in the vicinity of the sea, were welcomed with applause and ovations by the Greek, many of them declaring that the show directed by Alexander Morfov has exceeded their expectations. The participation in this festival took place in an exquisite company, the poster of the event featuring alongside the Romanian troupe successful shows from Poland, Slovakia, Spain, Israel.

„I believe it was one of the most significant tours of the National Theatre throughout the recent history of this theatre. They were two magical evenings, two major theatrical triumphs, under utterly remarkable conditions. I think we returned from there crowned by the joy of an outstanding public recognition, but also with a totally special moral satisfaction”, declared Ion Caramitru, manager of the „I.L.Caragiale” National Theatre, upon his return to Romania.

The first reviews did not fail to appear after the representations from Thessaloniki: „I must say that the show has been performed under a certain thrill, under the stars of Greece, in an ancient amphitheatre with thousands of seats, where I believe the actors were marked by the continuity of their creative act over millennia. The scenery brought from home was amplified thanks to the natural environment, the amphitheatre meant unsuspected entrances and exits, the enactment stretched over more levels than initially planned, the actors strolled among the audience, the vault over the heads collapsed and the lights of Thessaloniki stretched beneath their feet. There was a certain magic of the evening and the place, which made one finally say: yes, of course, Prospero has also invented theatre, with his laughter mingled with tears, with his power to figure and disfigure, with his immense joy of communication, beyond the podium and proscenium, beyond the thousands of stone benches, over the valley revealing the lights of the city of Thessaloniki, over centuries. Yes, Caramitru, that melancholy man with baggy pants and large sweater has certainly created on the evening of the show in Greece theatre, as well", writes Monica Săvulescu – Voudouris. 

 „The game of imagination, with visual discoveries and performance techniques, has unfolded as an exotic story, stressing the magic of dreams, the dark plots and the force of imagination, talking about power and art, exaggeration and falsity, illusion and conviction, about universal measures and natural laws. The directorial view has unveiled the dark complex of energy, the power of art and of bold fantasy, the illusory appearance, as well as the world of human beings and spirits, in a story about revenge, knowledge and poetic passion”, notices also Angela Mantziou in a review published in City Culture.

Currently, even if it officially entered the summer holiday, the National Theatre does not cease its activity. Over less than a month, the show „Magic National” shall participate at Ohrid, in Macedonia, in the 57th edition of the International Summer Festival. Founded in 1961, Ohrid Summer Festival takes place in a special cultural and historical area. The town, the Ohrid lake and the above-mentioned church are included in the UNESCO World Heritage. On the festival stages, famous voices echoed over time. Since 1994, the International Summer Festival of Ohrid belongs to the European Festivals Association (EFA).

Translated by Simona Nichiteanu