With an
average of nine shows a day, 91 performances in 11 days, 7 exhibitions and 25
book launches, this year’s edition of the National Theatre Festival is one of
the richest in the history of this cultural phenomenon, which is widely
acclaimed by both the Romanian and foreign audience. Marina Constantinescu, the
artistic director of the festival, has given the highlights of this year’s
edition of the festival:
I believe the festival really stands out thanks to the
large number of important shows it included in its programme, larger than ever
before, performances that are extremely important with regard to the aesthetic direction followed by some
directors and the artistic pursuits of both directors and actors. The shows are
different, both in terms of writing, themes, trends and directions. There are
many real gems, ranging from very small shows to ample ones. I think this is a
challenge not only for actors and directors, but also for the Romanian audience
in general, which as never before has purchased tickets to many shows staged by
companies from across the country.
Shows
staged by theatre companies from major cities across the country are now
performed in Bucharest, alongside shows from abroad. The event-performance
Hamlet/Collage, an adaptation after William Shakespeare and directed by
Canadian Robert Lepage, a show staged by Moscow’s State Theatre of Nations
opened the festival. Lepage’s staging was totally unusual, as the director cast
only one actor in 12 roles, namely Evgeny Mironov, in a show that boasted
impressive stage effects.
The
performance made a strong impression on actor and director Emil Boroghină,
himself the organiser of a Shakespeare Festival in Craiova, southern Romania.
It is an
unforgettable performance and I’m glad that Marina Constantinescu managed to
bring it over. What shall I tell you,
other than Peter Brook, the patriarch of world directing said that Robert Lepage is the genius of contemporary
directing. And if Peter Brook says it, it means that it’s true.
It is very difficult to reach Robert Lepage’ mastery level.
Seen as a prominent personality of Romanian
culture, an exemplary model both on stage and in real life,Victor Rebengiuc is honoured that this year’s edition
of the National Theatre Festival is dedicated to him. Director Mircea
Cornişteanu spoke about the well-known
Romanian actor:
I believe he is
now the patriarch of Romanian theatre. Fortunately, at the age of 84, he is in
perfect shape. He plays a lot, now he is cast in ‘Exit the King’, an incredibly
demanding performance. Unfortunately,
we have a bunch of great actors who haven’t received the honour of being
dedicated an edition of the festival to. I think it is a good thing for them
and the public alike, for the whole country to find out once more what great
values live among us.
Theatre can change the attitude towards the world,
says the National Union of Theatres in Romania, UNITER, the organiser of the
festival, which launched an appeal to the spectators to support a fund-raising
campaign for the building of a paediatric oncology clinic in Bucharest. (translated by Diana Vijeu)