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The NTB Online Programme, Week 11 - 17 May!

11 May 2020

This weekend, the Romanian play "God Dresses from the Thrift" by Iulian Margu, directed by Ion Caramitru, tops the online bill!

A new week of online conferences at NTB. On the weekend, for the third consecutive week, after "Scourge" by I.L. Caragiale and "Allegro, ma non troppo" by Ion Minulescu, the Romanian play claims a privileged place. This weekend, as well, offers us the chance to meet again some of the actors that we, like you, are eager to meet again in the theatres. Until then, we present the programme that you will be able to watch from Monday to Sunday, on the Youtube channel of the National Theatre of Bucharest. We remind you of the address where, as of March 24th, 2020, we have been inviting you to a daily rendezvous: (http://www.youtube.com/c/TeatrulNaţionalILCaragialeBucureşti).

We also remind you of the new schedule of the NTB Online Conferences. They are broadcast from Monday to Thursday, one title per day, starting with 2.00 p.m. However, the online NTB conferences remain available for viewing on NTB's youtube channel even after the end of the live broadcast.

Conferences you can watch in the week of May 11th-17th:

May 11 - Georgeta Filitti: Royal Romania during La Belle Epoque

May 12 - Adrian Vasilescu - Religion and the Star

May 13 - Radu Beligan - My Professors

May 14 - Basarab Nicolescu - Does the Universe Make Sense? The Contemporary Dialogue Between Science and Religion.

God Dresses from the Thrift this weekend online!

Over the weekend, we invite you to watch the play God Dresses from the Thrift by Iulian Margu, directed by Ion Caramitru.

The show was recorded in the initial cast, in which the female lead role, the character around whom the whole play revolves and in whose house the plot is set, the Shrew - as the fellow citizens nicknamed her, is impersonated by the late actress Florina Cercel. In the cast of the show you will encounter further popular actors, Lari Giorgescu, Dorin Andone, Carmen Ungureanu, Teodora Mareş, Armand Calotă, Fulvia Folosea, Eduard Adam, Ioan Andrei Ionescu.

"The main story is divided in several sections, portrayed in multiple eras and reconstructed only at the end of the play, in order to fully understand the narrative- states the show's director, Ion Caramitru. From a stylistic perspective, it features two types of humour: one brash, the other roundabout. The play’s many references compose a symbolism which transcends the moulds of time and space."

Or, in other words, "a brief history of modern Romania told with the help of an enchanted piano", as the author of the play says.

The playwright Iulian Margu was born in Vâlcea, on January 15th, 1958. He has been writing drama and directing since the 1980s. He built his career between two passions, balancing with artistic sense between theatre and film. Most of his dramatic writings are satirical comedies, the author being constantly attentive to the role of theatre as a mirror of society, a mirror that not only reflects, but also forces one to interact.

The show garnered raving reviews and critical acclaim, arousing interest not only among genre chroniclers.

"The idea that the process of communism can comprise comedies has startled me and made me curious, all the more because I was assuming that the work of a young man, belonging to the generation for whom the memory of communist persecutions is reduced to the fact that they were forced to cut their long hair or beard. On the other hand, Caramitru’s name complicated the equation and rendered it exciting." Ana Blandiana, Observator Cultural.

"It seems like we are dealing with one of the best texts which appeared in Romanian drama in the last two decades." Silvia Kerim, Formula As.

"In an explosive appearance, Florina Cercel for whom the stage is reserved, gives flesh to an image talked about on-goingly, of the local prominent nicknamed the Shrew. Ion Caramitru orchestrates harmoniously, as director, the intricate structure of the text. He proposes beautiful solutions for identifying historical moments and biographic episodes.". Doina Papp, Adevărul.

"The show is gripping: the two lead actors, Dorin Andone (Buza) and Lari Giorgescu (Lae) – two generations, but also two well-shaped talents, the first more comical, the latter more lyrical, - are keeping their spectators on the edge. The show is pleasant, with good music, animated with comic scenes in this sadness of an, actually, tragic history". Nicolae Prelipceanu, Revista Teatrul azi.

Please note that the Show of the Week will be broadcast live on each of the three weekend days: Friday, starting at 4.00 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, at 6.00 p.m. The NTB online shows can only be watched at the announced times, no longer being available online after the end of the live broadcast.

This week as well, we expect you to stay "tuned", to stay connected to the programme and repertoire of the National Theatre of Bucharest. We wish you a pleasant viewing!

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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