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Raluca Aprodu nominated at the Radio Romania Cultural Awards Gala

16 April 2025

Radio Romania Cultural Awards Gala - 2025 edition, on April 16, at Sala Radio Hall! Raluca Aprodu, actress of the National Theater “I.L. Caragiale” in Bucharest, is one of the nominees in the “Performing Arts” category.

Radio Romania Cultural, announces the 24th edition of the Radio Romania Cultural Awards Gala, a landmark event dedicated to recognizing exceptional performances in the Romanian cultural field. The ceremony will take place on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, from 19:00, for the first time at Sala Radio and will be broadcast live on Radio Romania Cultural.

The event will be presented by actor Denis Hanganu and will bring to the forefront outstanding personalities and projects from the Romanian cultural landscape. During the gala, the audience will enjoy a special artistic moment - the concert "A Bucharest Story of yesteryear", a tribute to Romanian inter-war music, performed by the Radio Big Band and the Radio Chamber Orchestra, under the baton of Simona Strungaru, together with Taraf de Oras, conducted by Valentin Albesteanu, and actress Miruna Ionescu. Tickets will be available soon on www.bilete.ro, in the Bilete.ro network and at the ticket office of the Radio Hall.

Awards will be presented in eight categories.

The nominees in the Education category are: the Progress Foundation for the CODE Kids Clubs community; the Association "Cu Alte Cuvinte" for the Bare Rroma project; the Association of Teachers and Mentors in Tourism "Edu4Tourism" for the WorldSkills competition.

In the Performing Arts category: the director Catinca Draganescu - interim manager of the Masca Theatre in Bucharest, for the season "Here one dreams of change"; the actress Raluca Aprodu for the parts of Mary Stuart / Elizabeth I in the performance "Mary Stuart", adaptation by Robert Icke after Friedrich Schiller, directed by Andrei Serban, production of the National Theatre "I. L. Caragiale" in Bucharest and Mrs. Hedda Tesman, the wife in "Hedda Gabler" by Henrik Ibsen, directed by Thomas Ostermeier, 2024, production of the same theater; director Radu Afrim, for the performance "Zi de bucurie" by Arne Lygre, at the National Theater "Vasile Alecsandri" in Iasi.

In the Film category the following productions have been nominated: "The Big Week", directed by Andrei Cohn; "The Death of Iosif Zagor", directed by Adrian Dohotaru; "The New Year That Never Was", directed by Bogdan Muresanu.

In the Film category the following productions have been nominated: "The Big Week", directed by Andrei Cohn; "The Death of Iosif Zagor", directed by Adrian Dohotaru; "The New Year That Never Came", directed by Bogdan Muresanu.

The nominees in the Science category are: the "Coalition of Organizations of Patients with Chronic Diseases (COPAC)" for the launch in 2024 of the SHIFT HUB (Smart Health Innovation & Future Technologies Hub) project; "Volens Association" for the CleanAir@School project, an innovative science-based climate education method; "Save the Children Romania Association" for projects to reduce infant mortality.

In the Poetry category: Stefania Mihalache for the volume "Sunt linistita, mi-e frica", Paralela 45 Publishing House, 2024; Andrei Dósa for "Ultima familie traditionala", OMG Publishing House, 2024; Rita Chirian for "Medusa", Max Blecher Publishing House, 2024.

In the Prose category: George Cornila for "Silex", Polirom Publishing House, 2024; Bogdan-Alexandru Stanescu for "Soarele negru", TREI Publishing House, 2024; Cristina Hermeziu for "Nickel", Cartier Publishing House, 2024.

In the Music category: Amphitrio for the album "Timelines"; Alina Manole for the album "Umbra inimii"; Eduard Antal manager of the "Cantus Ecclessiae" Festival.

The nominations in the Visual Arts category are: the group exhibition "Tara de Foc / Land of Fire" (curator: Cosmin Costinas; co-curators: Mona Vatamanu and Florin Tudor), Kunsthalle Bega, Timisoara, 18.10.2024 - 01.02. 2025; Elena Scutaru, "Reconstituirea unui parcurs", retrospective exhibition (curator: Adriana Oprea), Simeza Gallery, Bucharest, 20.11-04.12.2024; Adrian Ghenie, "Shadow Paintings" (a concept by Ciprian Adrian Barsan), Albertina Museum, Vienna, 11.10.2024-02.03.2025.

Poveste din Bucureștiul de Odinioară

The Radio Romania Cultural Awards Gala, which will take place on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, at 19:00, at the Radio Hall, will be accompanied by an exceptional artistic moment: the concert "A Bucharest Story of yesteryear", a musical journey in the interwar period. Under the baton of conductor Simona Strungaru, the Radio Big Band and the Radio Chamber Orchestra will recreate the charm of the inter-war sounds, together with Taraful de Oras, conducted by Valentin Albesteanu, and actress and soloist Miruna Ionescu. This concert brings together different orchestral styles, from big band and taraf to chamber orchestra, in a captivating mix that highlights the musical diversity of the era. Tickets are available on the Bilete.ro network and at the box office of Sala Radio.

We look forward to welcoming you to the Radio Romania Cultural Awards Gala to celebrate cultural excellence together!

The Romanian Broadcasting Society is an institutional partner of the I.L. Caragiale National Theatre in Bucharest.

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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