class="">Great artists invite to the performances of the NTF 2015

Why should you go to see the performances presented within the National Theatre Festival, from October 23^rd to November 1^st?

Because it’s only at the theatre that we can find „walking fridges, souvenirs made of animated shadows”, mirrors set in front of the past and the present Romanian society or some sort of a Disneyland, where an adult can become a child. Because some of these shows were created out of “respect for the experiment”. One is based on John Lennon’s music, the other makes people walk out of the theatre in tears, but happy. Or because a performance can be a statement of love.

And for many other reasons. You will hear them at the theatre, told by the actors and directors who will present their shows at the festival in Bucharest.

an article by Maria Sârbu

Radu Afrim, director:

„I am happy to present to the audiences in Bucharest two aesthetically completely different shows, none of them based on a theatre play. „Tranquility“(„A nyugalom“) is a stage adaptation of a fantastic novel with an equally fantastic cast, the ensemble of the Hungarian Theatre in Târgu-Mureş. „ Buffalos. Urban Fable #2 “ is a poem- monolog, that has been adapted as physical theatre together with Andrea Gavriliu and the young ensemble of the theatre in Sibiu. Both were real challenges to us, intense work and respect for the idea of experiment”.

“.

(Radu Afrim  is the director of „Tranquility “,adaptation of Attila Bartis’ writings, decor Adrian Damian, costumes Erika Márton, National Theatre Târgu-Mureş, The „Tompa Miklós“ Company, and „The Buffalos / Urban Fable #2“, after Pau Miró, set design Dragoş Buhagiar, „Radu Stanca“ National Theatre Sibiu)

Gigi Căciuleanu, choreographer, dancer:

„I’m really happy that I can “put” the festival audience “to work”, by inviting to an encounter where we could be and “imagine” together for the duration of a show. A performance that I have dreamed of and that I made together with the dancers of the members of the National Opera Iaşi ballet (manager Beatrice Rancea), a group of young, beautiful, interesting, talented, special dancers. John Lennon’s music was our starting point and it’s dedicated to “All the People”, to our world, all the same, wherever, whenever.

 (Gigi Căciuleanu staged the theatrical- choreographical performance „Imagine All the People“, after John Lennon, a production of the Romanian National Opera Iaşi)

Teodor Corban, actor:

„The reaction of the audience at the end of this play is really unusual and very moving: people get out in tears, greeting each other and their eyes shining with…joy! When you see this you really understand what acting brings to this world.“

(Teodor Corban is the protagonist of „The Visit “ by Friedrich Dürrenmatt,  directed by Claudiu Goga, set design Ştefan Caragiu, costumes Lia Dogaru,  National Theatre „Vasile Alecsandri,  Iaşi)

Victor Ioan Frunză, stage director:

„«A Midsummer’s Night Dream» is a performance about another world. A world of the 21^st century, agitated, thriving to find a meaning, haunted by phantasms of a non-repressed, bold sexuality, in which poetry cannot any longer be interpreted by means of the same clichés. As of these times, the mood for poetry can be presented in humorous, tragic, or grotesque ways, and this is what this staging does. The moon that lights the Shakespearian night is no longer the poetical one, but the moon on which the cosmonauts set foot. “The Star without a Name” is the fifth performance within the repertoire of the   «Nicolae Bălcescu» Cultural Centre, of the ensemble without a name, just likeMihail Sebastian «star». There is absolutely no cut in the original text. An essential element is the homogenous acting- fresh, vigorous, with great attention to detail.  (…). Adriana Grand’s set design transforms the slight technical disadvantage of the venue into an advantage, by articulating two beautiful and functional spaces: the dusty, anonymous railway station and the professor’s house, a real island of books, a confined space, but with an attic that looks over infinity. «Furniture and Pain » is a happy encounter, the one between the meticulosity of the team of actors (their total artistic expression: approach of their parts, execution, speech) and that of the author, as both have a highly legitimate devotion to the word. Mazilu said once: «Just the thought that there might be a superficial phrase somewhere makes me lose sleep». The actors manage to create strong characters, animated by a vital spark that adds, in moments of lowest abjection, candor and impetus to the banal human pettiness and thus creates a Shakespearian dramatic touch. A vigorous theatre, still not deprived of subtlety. A mirror set in front of the Romanian society of yesterday and of today.

(Victor Ioan Frunză is the stage director of three performances selected for the NTF: „A Midsummer’s Night Dream “ by  Shakespeare, set and costumes Adriana Grand, Metropolis Theatre, Bucharest; „The Star without a Name “ by Mihail Sebastian and „Furniture and Pain “  by Teodor Mazilu / both productions of the Cultural Centre for UNESCO „Nicolae Bălcescu“, Bucharest, set design Adriana Grand).

Ada Milea, artist:

„It will be a concert with characters, incidents, walking fridges and memories made of animated shadows. The songs of the previous concert are metamorphosed due to the new additions of instruments, dramatic situations. And the Transylvanian penguin talks quite a lot to the audience. I guess spending this hour with us is no waste of time.”

 (Ada Milea created „Apolodor“, based on the work of  Gellu Naum, set design Cristian Rusu, National Theatre Cluj-Napoca)

Alexandru Papadopol, actor:

„People should come to see «Aliens with Extraordinary Skills », first all because it’s a coherent, articulate story about the lives of some people who dwell unprotected in a system that is considered to be the most  «democratic» in the world…In reality, life in the American society seems to be a continuous battle, that most people don’t manage to win, because there’s no room for naivety or idealism there”.

 (Alexandru Papadopol plays in «Aliens with Extraordinary Skills », by Saviana Stănescu, directed by Alexandru Mihail, set design Vladimir Turturică, Odeon Theatre, Bucharest)

Oana Pellea, actress:

„A performance like the edge of a knife. A performance inbetween reality and dream. A superb universe of and exceptional Poet. A performance like a statement of love to Gellu Naum”.

 (Oana Pellea is the protagonist of „N(AUM)“, after Gellu Naum, directed by Mariana Cămărăşan, set design Vladimir Turturică, a project of UNTEATRU, in partnership with Metropolis Theatre, Bucharest,  supported by the „Gellu Naum“ Foundation)

Official selection

Click on the image to see all performances selected for the NTF 2015

Tania Popa, actress:

„Theatre can change the world for the better…At least this is what I hope for! A theatre festival is, in fact a compression of my wish. We will fill ourselves with art and so we will become BETTER people! «Terrorism» / contemporary text, actors… in a class of their own… I think everyone of us will recognize himself, more or less, in one of the characters. A new, short, poignant show”.

 (Tania Popa plays one of the parts in  „Terrorism“ by the Presniakov brothers, directed by Felix Alexa, set design Andrada Chiriac, „I.L. Caragiale“ National Theatre, Bucharest)

Ofelia Popii, actress:

„Both shows are worth seeing, both classical texts in very modern interpretations. «Nathan the Wise» speaks about actual topics (like terrorism) and is performed in several languages- mainly in Romanian, German, English- and has a Romanian- German cast. It’s an intelligent and moving performance.  «The Lesson» is one of Eugène Ionesco’s most important plays, and Mr. Mihai Măniuţiu approach/an absolutely exceptional one/ is touching the political field. It’s a surprise!“

(Ofelia Popii is part of the cast of „Nathan the Wise“,after Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, directed by Armin Petras, set design Dragoş Buhagiar,  co-production of the  „Radu Stanca“ National Theatre  Sibiu and the National Theatre in Stuttgart, and „The Lesson“by Eugène Ionesco, directed by Mihai Măniuţiu, set design Adrian Damian, costumes Irina Moscu, „Radu Stanca“ National Theatre, Sibiu)

Silviu Purcărete, director:

„Coffee and theatre are both absolute and indispensible gratuitousness- of no use at all, used by all. Coffee is the extreme gratuitousness“.

(Silviu Purcărete staged the improvisation show „Moliendo Café“,set and costumes Dragoş Buhagiar, co-production of the German State Timişoara and the „Csiky Gergely“ Hungarian State Theatre Timişoara)

Crina Semciuc, actress:

„I invite you to see the comedy «The Powder Keg», a modern performance, with rapid, carousel- like successions of scenes, where the characters look for a way out in a world where you finally do not know who the victim and who the aggressor is “.

(Crina Semciuc is part of the cast of „The Powder Keg “ by Dejan Dukovski, directed by Felix Alexa, set design by Andrada Chiriac, „I.L. Caragiale“ National Theatre Bucharest)

Florin Piersic jr. and Andi Vasluianu, actors:

For the past 15 years, I was labeled as “independent”. This year I turned “dependent”. I have developed and addiction to the “The Lonesome West”. We haven’t been performing for about a month. And I already feel a huge craving. I miss my colleagues, Juncu’s electronic cigarette, my cowboy boots I had left in my mother’s attic some twenty years ago- I could not decide to just throw them away, hoping some day I’ll be able to use them. I miss it. I miss Coleman, whom I invented together with these people so dear to me, who know that theatre is just a put- off for an adult to become a child again, even if just for a few hours. And “The Lonesome West” is, to some extent, my own private Disneyland”.

 (Florin Piersic jr. plays Coleman in „The Lonesome West“ by Martin McDonagh, directed by Cristi Juncu, set design Carmencita Brojboiu, Nottara Theatre, Bucharest)

„I’d like this performance to be seen because it’s so free of prejudice and it just doesn’t leave you alone, not for a second. It will equally annoy, amuse and move you!”

 (Andi Vasluianu plays Welsh din „The Lonesome West “)

August 17^th 2015