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Robert Icke’s production of “Mary Stuart,” directed by Andrei Șerban, captivated the Budapest audience on the evening of April 28 at the National Theater (Nemzeti Színház) as part of the 13th edition of MITEM (Madach International Theatre Meeting). The main hall was packed to capacity, and at the end of the performance, the audience rewarded the artists of the Bucharest National Theater with minutes of applause and a standing ovation, in an atmosphere of rare enthusiasm that confirmed the powerful impact of the production on international audiences. The official invitation to MITEM and the success achieved on the stage of the Nemzeti Színház reaffirm the solid collaborative relationship between the two institutions, as well as the Bucharest National Theatre’s consistent presence in the circuit of major international theater festivals. Andrei Șerban’s production impresses with the power of its contemporary reinterpretation of the classic text, its dramatic tension, and the refinement of its stage design, offering the audience a highly intense theatrical experience. The duel between the two queens, Mary and Elizabeth, takes on contemporary significance in this production, and the director’s interpretation, marked by remarkable precision and depth, was met in Budapest with unanimous enthusiasm. The cast, featuring Raluca Aprodu, Ofelia Popii, Mihai Călin, Marius Bodochi, Conrad Mericoffer, Emilian Oprea, Mihai Calotă, Florin Aioane, Ciprian Nicula, and Florin Călbăjos, was praised for the coherence, energy, and expressiveness of their performances, which played a decisive role in the evening’s success. With this success in Budapest, the “I.L. Caragiale” National Theater in Bucharest reaffirms its mission to promote Romanian artistic excellence on international stages and to strengthen European cultural dialogue through high-quality performances.   Translated by Andreea Codrea-Boeriu

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 

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 

The 34th edition of the UNITER Awards Gala will take place on Monday, May 25, 2026, at the Majestic Hall of the Odeon Theater in Bucharest. For the 34th edition of the UNITER Awards Gala, the nomination jury was composed of theater critics Oana Bors, Mihai Brezeanu, and Iulia Popovici. The performances that caught the jury's attention were those that premiered between January 1 and December 31, 2025. According to the statutes of the Romanian Theatre Union, the UNITER Senate – Board of Directors awards the "Ion Caramitru" Excellence Award, Lifetime Achievement Awards and Special Awards at the UNITER Awards Gala. The I.L. Caragiale National Theater in Bucharest stands out this year with the following awards and nominations: Lifetime Achievement Award: Marius Bodochi Victor Rebengiuc: UNITER tribute for his brilliant and long-lasting career Nomination Irina Moscu for the set design of the play Prophet Ilya by Tadeusz Słobodzianek, directed by Botond Nagy Nominations for the category "Best Original Music and Sound Design": Cristina Juncu for the music of the performance Waiting for Ulysses, a concert-performance by Cristina Juncu, based on Homer's Odyssey, the Par Coeur Association in partnership with NTB Claudiu Urse for the music for the play Prophet Ilya by Tadeusz Słobodzianek, directed by Botond Nagy, set design by Irina Moscu More details here    Translated by Andreea Codrea-Boeriu