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The Irish writer Christian O'Reilly comes to Bucharest on July 1 for the premiere of “No Magic Pill”

01 July 2025

The production directed by Laurentiu Rusescu has in the cast 5 amateur actors with motor disabilities, being a premiere for Romania.

The production of No Magic Pill is part of the first local theater project dedicated to people with motor disabilities, The Price of Life, and will have its premiere on July 1, 2025, at 6:30 pm, at the Media Hall of the National Theatre “I.L. Caragiale” in Bucharest, in the presence of Irish playwright Christian O'Reilly.

Inspired by the true story of Martin Naughton, known in Ireland for his tireless work for social inclusion, the play brings to the stage the moving story of people with motor disabilities who courageously fight to preserve their dignity and independence. O'Reilly's script is a tribute to love, friendship and the relentless pursuit of freedom and is being staged outside Ireland for the first time.

"I am delighted, honored and grateful that No Magic Pill will be staged in Romania. When I wrote the script, I had no idea it could be staged anywhere other than Ireland. So I was amazed when director Laurentiu Rusescu contacted me to express his interest in staging my play in Romania. I was instantly impressed by his vision to include this production in a larger project that would facilitate access to the creative process of staging for people with reduced mobility and advocate for genuine and meaningful change in the Romanian theatrical landscape", said Christian O'Reilly.

The performance features in the cast Mihaela Velicu and Florin Aioane, along with 5 amateur actors with motor impairments, chosen after a thorough casting organized in April and May: Alex Tache, Ariana Mihaela Dumitru, Paul Lucian Teodorescu, Arian Cristian Notretu and Alexandru Calitoiu. The story is staged with the special participation of actors Bianca Babasa and Emil Hostina and will have 5 more performances on July 2, 3, 8, 9 and 10, 2025.

The music is composed by Calin Topa (this year's winner of the UNITER award for best original music and sound design), and the scenography is created by Andreea Koch (who is collaborating with Laurentiu Rusescu for the second time, after having completed the creative team of the Callas show, on the stage of the Bucharest National Opera).

"It struck me to discover the same desire we had when we staged the production in 2022 in Ireland, to bring visibility to people with mobility disabilities and to help their inclusion. We presented it in a way that showed the humanity, humor and richness of the lives of people with disabilities, and the audience responded enthusiastically. I am sure the same will happen in Romania and the audience will love Laurentiu's production. I look forward to coming to Bucharest, with my family, to see the final result and to meet the team that made it all possible," added O'Reilly.

Laurentiu Rusescu, initiator of the project “The Price of Life” and director of the performance “No Magic Pill”, has a diversified career in television, film and theater, being recognized for his courageous approaches and involvement in projects with deep social themes. He is known for his theater performances and innovative projects, such as “Callas” - Oana Pellea - a project at the intersection of opera and theater, and “Exit” - a show that tackles gender violence. Other productions in which he has been involved are the action series “Baieti buni/Good Guys” (2005, director), aired on PRO TV and a landmark of an important stage in Romanian television, as well as the miniseries “Hackerville” (2018, screenwriter), produced by HBO Romania.

The performance on July 10 will be streamed live on the ‘PediorDePlay’ platform and will be available for 48 hours afterwards for audiences across the country. Full details will be announced soon.

The Price of Life is a cultural project of Zodiac Film SRL, co-financed by the National Cultural Fund Administration (AFCN).

The project does not necessarily represent the position of the Administration of the National Cultural Fund. AFCN is not responsible for the content of the project or how the results of the project may be used. These are entirely the responsibility of the grant beneficiary.

Sponsor: Hidroelectrica

Partners: Artplex Association, “I.L. Caragiale” National Theatre of Bucharest, National Council on Disability in Romania (CNDR), The National Paralympic Committee

Recommended by: TVR Cultural

Main media partner: Rock FM

Media partners: Radio Romania Cultural, Adevarul de Weekend, Zile si Nopti, Observator Cultural, Haute Culture, BIZ Magazine, AGERPRES, IQAds, LiterNet, Azi Theatre, HAPP.ro, AndreeaVerde.com, MunteanuRecomanda, Jurnal Social

Monitoring partner: mediaTRUST

You can find us on Facebook, Instagram and https://zodiacfilm.ro/

For more information: asociatiaartplex@gmail.com

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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The Irish writer Christian O'Reilly comes to Bucharest on July 1 for the premiere of “No Magic Pill”

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