Radio România Internațional

Tag: National Theater Festival

  • October 20, 2023

    October 20, 2023

    Summit. The transformation of Romanias economy into a green and digital one is a long-term process, which requires a strong national plan and must be assumed by all political, business and civic forces, the Romanian Prime Minister, Marcel Ciolacu, told the participants in the second “Climate Change Summit”. According to him, mitigating the effects of climate change in the short, medium and long term is a priority for the Bucharest Executive. He also stated that in collaboration with the private sector, solutions for the future can be developed, so that Romania in 2030 will be better prepared to deal with climate challenges. For his part, the President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, stated that the impact of climate change is global and appreciated the fact that part of the Summit is taking place in universities. He stressed that young people must have opportunities to participate in the process of decarbonization and acceleration of the green transition.



    Schengen. The European Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, says that the good results obtained by Romania and Bulgaria in the management of pilot projects on migration are an additional argument in favor of the accession of the two states to the European Free Movement Area – Schengen. The statement was made at the Home Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg. Several countries supported the entry of Romania and Bulgaria into Schengen. Austria and the Netherlands, which opposed the accession last December, did not present any argument.



    Aid. The National Committee for Emergency Situations in Romania has decided to grant support to the population of the Gaza Strip. The humanitarian aid will consist, among other things, of food, water, beds, mattresses and tents. The transport will be provided with the support of the Romanian Ministry of Defense and international organizations, the Romanian Government has announced.



    Bonuses. The Bucharest government will adopt, in todays meeting, the decision by which career bonuses will be granted for teaching and auxiliary staff, as well as professional career bonuses for non-teaching staff in the state education system, supported by non-refundable external funds. These are the amounts promised by the Executive during the teachers strike in May, of 1,500 lei (the equivalent of 300 euros), and 500 lei respectively (100 euros). Also today, the Government will approve the National Health Strategy for the next seven years.



    Israel. Israel will evacuate the city of Kyriat Shmona, on the northern border with Lebanon, threatened by the strikes of the pro-Iranian Islamist group Hezbollah, the Israeli army announced today, quoted by international news agencies. According to the source, about 25,000 residents will move “in reception houses, financed by the state”. On the eve, the army reported an attack with anti-tank rocket launchers from the Lebanese territory and responded by attacking “Hezbollah infrastructure”. Air raids were also launched against the Islamists. Since the start of the war triggered by an unprecedented attack by the Palestinian group Hamas in southern Israel on October 7, clashes on the Israeli-Lebanese border have left around twenty dead on the Lebanese side, mostly fighters, as well as a Reuters journalist and two civilians. On the Israeli side, at least three people were killed.



    Ukraine. Ukrainian troops are facing fresh attacks by the invading Russian army in the largely destroyed eastern town of Avdiivka and are making progress in their counteroffensive on the southern front, senior military officials in Kiyiv say, quoted by international news agencies. The commander of the Ukrainian army, General Valerii Zaluzhnyi says that “the enemy keeps attempting to break through our defenses and surround” Avdiivka. According to the source, the Russians are bringing new assault and armored units there and striking with aviation and artillery. In the south, the Ukrainians claim to have advanced 400 meters near the village of Verbove, in the Zaporizhzhia region.



    Theater. The 23rd edition of the National Theater Festival begins in Bucharest today. The official opening will take place at the National Theater and will be followed by the first performance of the guest show “Catarina and the Beauty of Killing Fascists” from Portugal. The festival will last 11 days and will offer the public 30 productions from Romania and three foreign shows. The program also includes debates, conferences, exhibitions, book launches, reading and radio shows, as well as creative workshops and meetings with artists. (MI)


  • October 20, 2018 UPDATE

    October 20, 2018 UPDATE

    JUSTICE – Romanias president Klaus Iohannis intends to summon all political parties represented in Parliament for talks on the justice laws, following Fridays report of the Venice Commission on the changes brought to these laws in Romania. The Venice Commission, an advisory body of the Council of Europe, composed of independent experts in the field of constitutional law, believes that the changes brought to the Criminal Code, the Code of Criminal Proceeding and the justice laws will weaken the fight against corruption and organized crime. The Commission recommends large-scale public consultations, aimed at achieving a solid and coherent legislative change, supported by citizens and in compliance with the rulings of the Constitutional Court. Following the critical opinion of the Venice Commission, president Klaus Iohannis has stated that the Justice Minister Tudorel Toader, himself a member of the Commission, has definitely compromised his credibility and should resign.



    MEASURES – The Romanian Government is considering freezing salaries in the public sector in 2019. A letter sent this week by the Finance Ministry to Brussels reads that this is one of the measures envisaged for next year, for Romania to observe the deficit target of 2.58% of the GDP and subsequently to correct the deviation from the medium term objectives by reducing the structured balance which will exceed 3% of the GDP this year. According to the document posted on the European Commissions website, the Romanian Government intends to maintain the value of holiday tickets to approximately 300 Euro, and also the number of employees in the public sector.



    VISIT – Kuwait is the last leg of the Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dancilas Near East tour. She has visited the cultural center Abdullah Al Salem, one of the largest cultural compounds in the world, the Scientific Center and the Grand Mosque in the capital. On the occasion, the Romanian PM highlighted the possibility of developing bilateral ties in research and innovation. Also, she appreciated the openness of the Kuwait authorities towards religious minorities and the efforts made to integrate them. Viorica Dancila also stressed the fact that the Muslim community in Romania had lived in peace alongside Christian and other ethnic groups. Previously, in the United Arab Emirates, Ms. Dancila had meeting with business people and officials, whom she encouraged to come and invest in Romania.



    INTERCEPTION – The Romanian Defense Minister Mihai Fifor stated on Saturday, in relation to the Russian place intercepted near the Romanian air space, that there was no reason of concern. Such events are not isolated, and they test the reaction speed of the NATO forces, the minister also said. He also stressed the fact that Romania, as a member of NATO, was ready to fulfill its mission at any time. On Thursday, a Russian military aircraft, flying near the Romanian air space, was intercepted by Canadian fighters, in collaboration with the Romanian Air Forces. As soon as the Russian plane was detected by the Command and Control Center of the Romanian Air Forces, Canadian Hornet fighters were sent on mission. They watched the Russian plane from a short distance, until the latter left the area.



    US – The Romanian Secretary of State for bilateral and strategic relations in the Euro-Atlantic space, George Ciamba, has had meetings in Washington with US officials. During these meetings he stressed that the Romanian presidency of the EU Council will focus on strengthening the partnership between the EU and the US, according to a communiqué issued on Saturday. Romania will hold the rotating presidency of the EU Council in the first half of next year. In the US, George Ciamba held talks with Wess Mitchell, Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs. During the talks, the Romanian official stressed that Romania will continue to be a committed ally to the US.



    PROCESSION – On Sunday in Bucharest, thousands of Roman and Greek Catholic believers and priests will take parte in a procession with relic and icon of Pope John Paul II. The relic consists in several drops of the Popes blood, a gift to the Saint Joseph Cathedral in Bucharest from Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, the former personal secretary of the Pope, currently Archbishop Emeritus of Krakow. Born on May 18th, 1920 in Wadowice, Poland, Karol Wojtyla was elected pope in October 1978 and died on April 2nd, 2005, at the Vatican. Pope Francis declared him a saint in April 2014, so John Paul II was included in the calendar of the Catholic Church, and his liturgical commemoration was set for October 22nd of each year. In 1999, Pope John Paul II came to Romania, on the first visit to a predominantly orthodox country by a head of the Catholic Church.



    FESTIVAL – Bucharest is hosting the 28th National Theater Festival. For 11 days, theater lovers have the opportunity to participate in some 100 artistic events: shows, performances, exhibitions, book launches and meetings with special guests. The director of the festival, Marina Constantinescu, has stated that the money collected during the festival will be donated to the Daruieste viata (Give Life) Association, for the building of the first hospital of pediatric oncology and radiotherapy in Romania. Bucharest is also playing host to the event titled Cannes Films in Bucharest, an opportunity for film goers to watch films awarded at the prestigious festival, but also films signed by Romanian directors.



    INVICTUS – The Romanians who are participating in Sydney in the Invictus Games, the international adaptive multi-sport event, in which wounded, injured or sick armed services personnel and their associated veterans take part, will start on Sunday the team competitions, said on Radio Romania Colonel Augustin Pegulescu, himself an Iraq and Afghanistan veteran. The Romanian team is made up of 15 wounded soldiers, most of them participating for the second time in the Invictus Games. More than 500 soldiers from across the world have come to Sydeny to take part in the games, created by Prince Harry four years ago.


  • October 20, 2018

    October 20, 2018

    JUSTICE – Romanias president Klaus Iohannis intends to summon all political parties represented in Parliament for talks on the justice laws, following yesterdays report of the Venice Commission on the changes brought to these laws in Romania. The Venice Commission, an advisory body of the Council of Europe, composed of independent experts in the field of constitutional law, believes that the changes brought to the Criminal Code, the Code of Criminal Proceeding and the justice laws will weaken the fight against corruption and organized crime. The Commission recommends large-scale public consultations, aimed at achieving a solid and coherent legislative change, supported by citizens and in compliance with the rulings of the Constitutional Court. Following the critical opinion of the Venice Commission, president Klaus Iohannis has stated that the Justice Minister Tudorel Toader, himself a member of the Commission, has definitely compromised his credibility and should resign.



    INTERCEPTION – Russian military aircraft, flying near the Romanian air space, was intercepted by Canadian fighters, in collaboration with the Romanian Air Forces. According to information made public today, the Russian jet was a SU 27-Flanker and was flying above the Black Sea. As soon as the Russian plane was detected by the Command and Control Center of the Romanian Air Forces, Canadian Hornet fighters were sent on mission. They watched the Russian plane from a short distance, until the latter left the area.



    PROCESSION – On Sunday in Bucharest, thousands of Roman and Greek Catholic believers and priests will take parte in a procession with relic and icon of Pope John Paul II. The relic consists in several drops of the Popes blood, a gift to the Saint Joseph Cathedral in Bucharest from Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, the former personal secretary of the Pope, currently Archbishop Emeritus of Krakow. Born on May 18th, 1920 in Wadowice, Poland, Karol Wojtyla was elected pope in October 1978 and died on April 2nd, 2005, at the Vatican. Pope Francis declared him a saint in April 2014, so John Paul II was included in the calendar of the Catholic Church, and his liturgical commemoration was set for October 22nd of each year. In 1999, Pope John Paul II came to Romania, on the first visit to a predominantly orthodox country by a head of the Catholic Church.



    FESTIVAL – Bucharest is hosting the 28th National Theater Festival. For 11 days, theater lovers will have the opportunity to participate in some 100 artistic events: shows, performances, exhibitions, book launches and meetings with special guest. The director of the festival, Marina Constantinescu, has stated that the money collected during the festival will be donated to the Daruieste viata (Give Life) Association, for the building of the first hospital of pediatric oncology and radiotherapy in Romania. Bucharest is also playing host to the event titled Cannes Films in Bucharest, an opportunity for film goers to watch films awarded at the prestigious festival, but also films signed by Romanian directors.



    INVICTUS – The Romanians who are participating in Sydney in the Invictus Games, the international adaptive multi-sport event, in which wounded, injured or sick armed services personnel and their associated veterans take part, will start tomorrow the team competitions, said on Radio Romania Colonel Augustin Pegulescu, himself an Iraq and Afghanistan veteran. The Romanian team is made up of 15 wounded soldiers, most of them participating for the second time in the Invictus Games. More than 500 soldiers from across the world have come to Sydeny to take part in the games, created by Prince Harry four years ago.



    HANDBALL – The Romanian womens handball champions CSM Bucharest are this evening playing, away from home, against the Norwegian squad Vipers Kristiansand, in the Champions Leagues Group D. In the first two matches, the Romanian team defeated Ferencvaros of Hungary on home turf, and was defeated by Bietighem of Germany. On Thursday, CSM Bucharest got a new head coach, the Serb Dragan Djukic. He replaced the Swedish Magnus Johansson. Djukic, aged 56, has trained clubs such as Pick Szeged of Hungary, Vardar Skopje of Macedonia and Maccabi Tel Aviv of Israel, as well as the national teams of Montenegro, Israel, Great Britain, Switzerland, Macedonia and Jordan.




  • The 25th edition of the National Theatre Festival

    The 25th edition of the National Theatre Festival

    Organized by UNITER — the Theatre Union of Romania, the National Theatre Festival this year has reached its 25th edition. For this reason, the programme proposed by the artistic director Marina Constantinescu was very special. Over the course of ten days, 41 plays from Romania and three plays from abroad were staged, in addition to over 50 other related events, bringing theatre aficionados in large numbers to theatres in Bucharest.



    One of the three theatre companies on the guest list this year was the Royal Drama Theatre of Stockholm, who came with ‘The Tiger’, a stage adaptation of Gianina Carbunariu’s play ‘The Siberian Tiger’.





    Whereas one of the highlights of last year’s edition was the production of the musical ‘West Side Story’, this year the National Theatre Festival’ in agreement with the International Theatre Festival in Sibiu’ created the platform “Manifesto for dialog”, drawing on Bogdan Georgescu’s play ‘Anti-social’, premiered in June at the International Theatre Festival in Sibiu.



    Stage director Bogdan Georgescu told us about his work with drama students: ”We started off in November last year with a workshop. I was mainly interested in the way human beings relate to one another, against the background of the media social phenomenon and its constant invasion. Two weeks ahead of the start of rehearsals for the performance, the episode in Cluj occurred, a scandal in a respectable high-school in Cluj, triggered by the fact that some of the schools’ pupils poured scorn on their teachers, in a secret group on Facebook. Teachers found out about that, hence the discussion revolving around 200 pupils having to be expelled from school. Starting from that story, we played for a month, we improvised and tried out all sorts of negotiation, debate and analysis techniques, and that’s how ‘Antisocial’ was born. I believe that, especially in the case of such projects, the stake is not necessarily to have somebody stand out, but rather, it is important that they learn how to work together and function together as a team, also after graduating from school”.



    Starting November 3rd, for one month running, “Antisocial” is on tour of 21 towns and cities across the country. Here is Bogdan Georgescu again: “We want to visit people at home, in their communities, and create a debate space for them. We provide neither answers, nor solutions. Through the show, through the meeting at and after the performance, we seek to facilitate a discussion about the education system, what it means today and how it can be re-designed, so that we can bring it in line with the realities of the year 2015.”



    “This show is about my mother, (…) about my mother who suffers from Alzheimer’s – about my mother whom I have not lost — about my mother, who, nonetheless, has lost me, even if she is still beside me. How can you capture such a heart-breaking situation?” says stage director Mihai Maniutiu in the argument of ‘Vertigo’, the guest performance at this year’s edition of the National Theater Festival. A deeply touching show, choreographed by Vava Stefanescu and Andrea Gavriliu, who are also the protagonists of the production staged by the “Aureliu Manea” Theater in Turda.



    With details on that, here is choreographer Vava Stefanescu: “ ‘Vertigo’ is a choreographic show, not a theatre performance. It is a visual show. It is Mihai Maniutiu’s poem recited by actor Marcel Iures, but there are also the texts which bodies write during the show. As far as the theme is concerned, when we started the rehearsals, we felt like crying all the time. But then I found that sorrow and sadness and suffering were so sublimated that they no longer affected us as actors, that we were attuned to the theme. And, as Mihai Maniutiu says, it is not the actor who cries, but the audience. I don’t think the show is about disease, it is about the loss of identity, the impossibility of recognizing your own identity or the other people”.



    To conclude, here is the opinion of theatre critic and professor George Banu, settled in Paris, a guest of the 25th National Theatre Festival, where the productions were selected by theatre critic Marina Constantinescu: “I think that Marina Constantinescu’s option is an interesting option. She made a wider selection, doubled the number of performances and thus succeeded in bringing together all generations that have polemic relationships. The festival seems to me to be a place of reconciliation. This panoramic option is linked to a jubilee, an anniversary and I think it is welcome.”