class="">Oana Pellea: „Naum opens a door to self knowledge …”

„N(AUM)” is part of the National Theatre Festival. It’s based on works of Gellu Naum, directed by Mariana Cămărăşan, designed by Vladimir Turturică / a project initiated by UNTEATRU, and continued by the Metropolis Theatre, Bucharest, with the support of the „Gellu Naum” foundation. Cast:  Oana Pellea and Cristina Casian. About „N(AUM)” and not only, here, with  Oana Pellea.

An interview by Maria Sârbu

Maria Sârbu: „N(AUM)” is a performance „like the edge of a knife”, as you said. What thought should be the audience left with after seeing „N(AUM)”?

Oana Pellea: With desire to read or reread the work of Gellu Naum.

„N(AUM)” travels and is impatiently expected in Romania and abroad. It’s obvious that there is an interest for Gellu Naum’s poetry: that the superb universe of the poet, brought on stage, with the contribution of a great actress, you, can dominate the audiences. What overwhelmed you in Gellu Naum’s poetry?

Mr. Naum’s genius…it also charmed me.

Naum opens a door to self-knowledge, to the labyrinth of thoughts and emotions contained in each of us…

What was the reaction of the audiences in Stockholm, where you performed at the end of August, or in other cities outside Romania?

In Stockholm we were supported by the Romanian government and of the Romanian Culture Institute; I wish to thank them.

When we played abroad, we had surtitles projected. The impact of the performance is identical to when we play for Romanian audiences. There is a general theme; it’s about finding yourself again…we had wonderful reactions. I remember a gentleman coming to me at the end of the performance in Brussels, he was an old friend of Gellu Naum’s. With tears in his eyes he told me: „Gellu would have adored the performance”. The next moment, my eyes were filled with tears of joy. This is better than any prize I could get…Then there are people who became fans of Gellu Naum after seeing the show…

It’s a performance, again a quotation from what you said: „in between reality and dream”. How much is real and how much is dream?

It’s real and dream in meanings, images, emotions…it’s also a very visual performance, thanks to Ştefan Vasilescu’s light design. It’s a world created by Mariana Cămărăşan, served by the actors and underlined by Ştefan Vasilescu’s superb lighting, set in a suggested décor by Vladimir Turturică, based on Gellu Naum’s texts, a world indeed in between dream and reality.

How did this performance, that can be also considered „an initiating labyrinth”, come to life?

It came to life out of Mariana Cămărăşan’s love and admiration for Gellu Naum. So Mariana came with this proposal to Cristina Casian and myself, and we entered a miraculous vortex of dream and poetry, guided by „the favorable ones”…

What is „N(AUM)” in actress Oana Pellea’s universe?

Richness. Great joy. I have enormous appetite to exist inside this performance. Any actor is honored when asked to serve such a wonderful text.

What does „N(AUM)” mean to the team?

It was more than a performance to all of us. Indeed a initiating  journey, a theatrical laboratory. We worked together on the script of the show. It was teamwork.

We are looking forward to the 25^th edition of the National Theatre Festival. You’ve participated with many performances, along the years. Which were the most important performances you played in, presented at the NTF?

„Three Sisters”, „Caligula”, „Richard II”, „The Human Voice” etc, etc. Many… I can’t count them (laughs).

What are your performances in the freshly started season, where can the audiences see you?

In „The Chairs”, at the Bulandra Theatre/we’ve been playing this for 11 years; in „I Keep Going” / 20 years;  „Oscar and the Lady in Pink”, at the  „Bulandra” – 5 years; in „N(AUM), at the Metropolis Theatre… And maybe I’ll do „The Human Voice” again.

Are you in preparation with something new?

Yes.

You are very much supporting the young. New generations, living new times, with dazzling speed. How should these young actors be? How would you want them to be?

I don’t believe in advice. I only believe in the power of the example.There is talent. There was and there is. There is room for everyone. I don’t give them advice. I wish them big parts, I wish them to be loved by the stage and by the audience, I wish them to be lucky, to be blessed with encounters that can enrich them spiritually.

Will you reveal us something about you, beyond theatre? What is Oana Pellea doing when she’s not busy doing theatre?

Busy with theatre (laughs) and the rest of the time is filled with my life.

Your book „Jurnal 2003-2009” was a great success. I think there is a high expectation for another one. When do you think this will happen?

God knows.

September 25^th 2015