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Official Opening of the National Theatre Festival 2019

18 October 2019

The 29th edition of the National Theatre Festival will take place in Bucharest, from October 18th to 27th, 2019.

For the fifth consecutive year, the National Theatre Festival is being held under the High Patronage of the President of Romania. It is an event funded by the Ministry of Culture and National Identity and the City Hall of Bucharest.

This year's edition of the NTF is dedicated to the 30 years we have celebrated since the events of December 1989, which put Romania back on the world’s democratic map.

„The theatre, the magical instant of History - is this year's motto of the National Theatre Festival. Because theatre, like a compass in the midst of social disorder, has always had the quality to put distance and lucidity between it and dehumanization. Through its shows, it recorded periods of wanderings, but also of fertile searches. It had the power to - magically - stop the moment, for those people who have not yet lost their morality. It has punished the kitsch, applauded hope, encouraged meritocracy - even in this brief historical time which has elapsed since the Revolution.

The theatrebears within it the power to always start from scratch. To be a witness, to record times, but also the force, through the intercession of its creators, to take attitude when everything seems to get worse, " says Marina Constantinescu, manager of the National Theatre Festival.

A true cultural effervescence will encompass the capital in the ten days of the festival. To the 41 national productions created in the 2018-2019 season will be added four foreign high-class theatre and dance performances that will be played on the stages of the most important partner theatres in Bucharest. Also, unique events, of great diversity - conferences, debates, exhibitions, film screenings, special events, workshops - concentrated in the NTF HUB (at ARCUB Gabroveni), will enrich the festival days.

The official opening of NTF 2019 will take place on Friday, October 18th, 2019, from 9.30 pm, in the central foyer of the "IL Caragiale" National Theatre of Bucharest.

This occasion will mark the opening of the exhibition Doina Levintza - a Theatrical Experiment, which will accompany the Festival - being open to the public throughout its duration - in the "Marble" and "Tapestry" Hall of NTB. Selected creations, conceived by the incomparable Doina Levintza, propose a new formula of the theatre costume in an artistic manifesto of its own accord: an approach meant to recalibrate its significance. The costume thus acquires nobility, becoming a symbol for the perenniality of the most ephemeral of the arts: theatre.

Event Alexandru Darie (1959 - 2019), starting with the last two editorial editions of Nemira Publishing House dedicated to him: "Alexandru Darie - fairytale shows" by Doina Papp and the photo album "Coriolanus - a Show by Alexandru Darie" signed by Mihaela Marin.

The theatre world is still in mourning after the passing awayof director Alexandru Darie.

This event proposed by the National Theatre Festival has been conceived since during his lifetime. October 25th marks one year since the premiere of the show "Coriolanus" by William Shakespeare, production of the Bulandra Theatre, hosted by NTF 2018.

The National Theatre Festival awaits on Sunday, October 20th, 2019, from 12.00 to the Grand Hall of the NTF HUB (ARCUB - The Gabroveni Inn), those who have cherished Alexandru Darie to reunite, in the spirit of the artist. Thus, we want to recall the complex personality of a great creator. Let us remember the joy shared by the act of culture, by the intellectual emotion triggered by means of the stage, by naming the representative moments of a life lived to the fullestby the one who, in one of his thoughts about the art he served, stated:

"I like to create emotional theatre and truth on stage. I made theatre out of love, not out of fear. Theatre is the only art invented by man, which shows what cannot be seen. What can be more tremendous for the audience? You cannot be selfish in a professionwhere the purpose is to reveal to the public things unknown." Metropolis newspaper

More details here

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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