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NTB Review: 12 Weeks of Online Broadcasts, 7 Days out of 7!

22 June 2020

With the resumption of the performances on the real stage, at the TNB Amphitheatre, within the program Summer Nights UP on the theater, the IL Caragiale National Theater ceases - temporarily (!) - the activity of online broadcasts that took place uninterruptedly starting with March 23rd, 2020, following the decree of the state of emergency and, subsequently, of the state of alert.

Between March 23rd and June 21st, 2020, 69 conferences from the series NTB Conferences were broadcast online, as well as 9 shows, as of April 24th (in the 3 days of the weekend, with 3 broadcasts for each show, so in total 27 online broadcasts).

Both shows from NTB's current repertoire were broadcast online, titles that will be repeated in theatres as soon as the situation allows (The Tempest, Allegro, ma non troppo, Lottery Tickets, God Dresses from the Thrift, Light, at the End of the Tunnel), as well as older shows from the archive (Scourge, Breaking News, Take, Ianke and Cadir, A Midsummer Night’s Dream). The quality of the recordings was different and not always perfect: the filming of older shows, performed with a single camera, from a fixed point, with sound taken directly from the camera - were only intended to archive those shows, without the intention of a public broadcast. The recent shows benefited from the material and logistical infrastructure of NTB's Media Studio (which has only been operational for a few years) and were filmed professionally, which translated into a visibly better quality of the recordings. In the context in which the online activity seems to gain more and more ground, NTB will make efforts to offer to the interested public filmed materials at the highest possible standards. We intend to continue recording, with priority, the shows from the current repertoire, in conditions of maximum professionalism, in order to ensure a quality portfolio for the next period, which will "resist" in the international competitive environment!

The conferences that were broadcast online (live streaming) on NTB's YouTube channel are archived, and can still be accessed by those interested. The shows could be watched only on the announced days and times, no longer being available online after the end of the live broadcast. I found, with joy, that there is no risk of decreasing interest in the shows of the current repertoire, but, on the contrary, many spectators said they cannot wait to see those shows live, with the reopening of the halls!

Here is a statistical balance of the 90 days of online activity, activity fully provided by the team within the NTB Communication and International Relations Department *:

The broadcasts of conferences and shows on the NTB YouTube channel amounted from March 23rd - June 21st, 2020 to:

182,875 views (views)

49,200 hours (watch time)

Compared to the initial 8,500 subscribers, further 9,000 (subscribers) were gained.

Apart from the Romanian viewers (60% in April, 82.9% in May), NTB's online broadcasts were also watched by viewers from various other countries (we take May as a reference)

- England 1387
- Germany 1313
- Canada 1116
- USA 993
- France 461
- Israel 455
- Italy 372
- Spain 255
- Belgium 232
- Colombia (!) - 81

Thanks for the interest shown and for the loyalty of the almost 200,000 virtual spectators that we felt close in these crisis conditions and we hope to see each other healthy again in the lush foyers and hospitable halls of the I.L. Caragiale National Theatre!

*NTB's Communication and International Relations Department: Adriana Popescu, Director, Anca Constantin, Head of Marketing and Public Relations, Olivia Chirvasiu, Gabriela Hamzescu, Laura Grosu, Florin Ghioca, Andreea Nae, Mihaela Cazan, Ionel Nicolaev, Gabriel Stănciuc, as well as Marius Donici, Mihai Rădinoiu and Cornel Ionescu - external collaborators of the Media Studio.

Translated by Simona Nichiteanu

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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