RRI Live!

Listen to Radio Romania International Live

The Eurothalia European Theatre Festival

The highlights of the Eurothalia European Theatre Festival

The Eurothalia European Theatre Festival
The Eurothalia European Theatre Festival

, 06.12.2014, 12:39

Organized by the German State Theatre in Timisoara, the Eurothalia European Theatre festival has reached its 4th edition in 2014. Lucian Varsandan, the director of the German State Theatre in Timisoara, told us more about this year’s highlights:



The festival was meant to bring theatre-making in our country in line with some of the trends at European level. Ever since its early days, we wanted the festival to be a platform for high-quality cultural institutions doing theatre at EU level. In 2009, when the first edition of the festival was held, there was no similar initiative in the region and that made us go on. On the one hand, we want to bring to Timisoara some of the most innovating theatre projects from various European countries. On the other hand we are trying to bring to Timisoara some of the best plays in Romania. This component is also meant to showcase internal productions, something we started out last year and which we continued this year, and we intend to give more visibility to Romanian productions. What matters most, from my point of view, is the message the play has for a Romanian audience”.



On of the most daring shows of the 2014 edition of the Eurothalia European Theatre Festival, both in terms of its message, and in terms of its stage directing, was “Crash Course Chit Chat”, staged by Sanjei Mitrovic theatre company from Amsterdam. The concept, stage directing and choreography belong to the same Sanja Mitrovic, who brought together five actors representing five nations: Germany, France, England , the Netherlands and Belgium. The show is based on the personal stories of actors, recollections about their childhood, their family and personal lives, as well as historical facts and clichés associated with the aforementioned countries. Sanja Mitrovic uses documentary techniques to study the relationship between personal identity and European identity.



One of the Romanian highlights in the Eurothalia European Theatre Festival was “Victor, ou les enfants au pouvoir”, staged by Silviu Purcarete at the Hungarian State Theatre in Cluj. The show scooped this year’s award of the Romanian Association of Theatre Artists (UNITER) for best supporting actress. Csilla Albert shared with us her experience of working with this surrealist text.



A difficult text, indeed. I believe it was written to be read, rather than to be used for the stage, although it is the text of a play. It was a struggle, a real adventure to tame the text. I think it is a challenge for us, to always work on improving our skills and to no longer impersonate characters but rather try to feel them more. To me it’s important to unleash the child within me not by showing how I believe a child should be, but by pretending I am not 35 and I can be 6 again for about two hours. And I think Silviu Purcarete has a special talent of making the actors fall in love with the script, with a certain scene.“



As part of the festival, Timisoara’s German State Theater presented three of its own productions. One of them was Chekhov’s “Seagull”, a very touching performance, staged by Yuri Kordonsky, featuring actress Ioana Iacob playing the part of Irina Nikolaevna Arkadina.



Working with Yuri Kordonsky was absolutely fabulous! For an actor, working with such a director is a must. He has the ability to motivate us and put us in highly emotional situations. That’s what I found most fascinating when working with him. And the text is very good. What is Irina like? She often runs the risk of being rated as villain and she is impersonated like that. I’m not sure I succeed to bring her human side to the surface. What I know is that during rehearsals I did my best to show how good she was. She is a woman whose life was really hard and who strived to make something out of her life and career. She is very devoted to her art and sometimes she gets carried away because of that. But I think she has a good heart. Just like all of Chekhov’s characters, actually.“



Head of Timisoara’s German State Theatre Lucian Varsandan told us more about the goal of the festival.



I think any festival is tailored for the community where it has been staged. I think this festival found its way to the heart of the public. The number of people in the audience proves that. I believe the Timisoara locals and all other spectators have come to love this festival.”



Foto: mnir.ro
World of Culture Saturday, 02 November 2024

The Natural Dyes Exhibition at the History Museum

The National History Museum of Romania (NHMR) presents, starting in mid-September, a new exhibition: “Natural dyes. From museum scientific...

The Natural Dyes Exhibition at the History Museum
Foto: Adi Mărineci
World of Culture Saturday, 26 October 2024

EXT. CAR. NIGHT, a new film by Andrei Crețulescu

EXT. CAR. NIGHT, the second feature film directed and written by Andrei Crețulescu, stars four emblematic actors of the new wave who play multiple...

EXT. CAR. NIGHT, a new film by Andrei Crețulescu
Photo: facebook Animest
World of Culture Saturday, 12 October 2024

Ciao, Italy! Animest 19

After having gathered 15 thousand viewers in front of the cinema screens at the previous edition, the International Animation Film Festival –...

Ciao, Italy! Animest 19
Il progetto Bestiario - Bene di consumo
World of Culture Saturday, 05 October 2024

Bestiary, a Vanner Collective project

The independent theatre company Vanner Collective is known for its original initiatives in the Romanian cultural space, translating burning social...

Bestiary, a Vanner Collective project
World of Culture Saturday, 28 September 2024

Niko Becker, Gopo Film Festival’s Young Hopeful

28Actor Niko Becker in 2024 scooped the Gopo Award in the Young Hopefuls category as part of the Gopo Film Festival, for Dumitru, his role in the...

Niko Becker, Gopo Film Festival’s Young Hopeful
World of Culture Saturday, 21 September 2024

Anonimul International Independent Film Festival

The best Romanian short film at the Anonimul International Independent Film Festival was designated “(In) the Circle”, by Andreea...

Anonimul International Independent Film Festival
World of Culture Saturday, 10 August 2024

‘Amar’, an award-winning documentary film at the Astra Film festival

Last year, the New Perspective Award at the Astra Film Festival went to ‘Amar’, a documentary directed by Diana Gavra. The film has been in...

‘Amar’, an award-winning documentary film at the Astra Film festival
World of Culture Saturday, 27 July 2024

“Mrs. Buică”, a documentary by Eugene Buică

Mrs. Buică, directed by Eugene Buică, premiered in Romanian cinemas at the end of last...

“Mrs. Buică”, a documentary by Eugene Buică

Partners

Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român
Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS
Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online
Institului European din România Institului European din România
Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti
Muzeul Național de Artă al României Muzeul Național de Artă al României
Le petit Journal Le petit Journal
Radio Prague International Radio Prague International
Muzeul Național de Istorie a României Muzeul Național de Istorie a României
ARCUB ARCUB
Radio Canada International Radio Canada International
Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti” Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti”
SWI swissinfo.ch SWI swissinfo.ch
UBB Radio ONLINE UBB Radio ONLINE
Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl
creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti
italradio italradio
Institutul Confucius Institutul Confucius
BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți

Affiliates

Euranet Plus Euranet Plus
AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters
Digital Radio Mondiale Digital Radio Mondiale
News and current affairs from Germany and around the world News and current affairs from Germany and around the world
Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona

Providers

RADIOCOM RADIOCOM
Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company