Moldovan Theatre Union head says Satiricus theatre to have more premieres, tours in 2019

Chisinau, 8 January /MOLDPRES/ - Interview given exclusively with the MOLDPRES State News Agency by stage manager actor, People’s Artist, director of the Satiricus I. L. Caragiale National Theatre, head of Moldova’s Theatre Union   Alexandru Grecu.   

MOLDPRES: Dear Mr. Director, how the 2018 year was for the Satiricus I. L. Caragiale National Theatre and for you personally?

Alexandru Grecu: It was maybe one of the most productive years, as 2018 was also marked by the Union (with Romania) Centenary. Or, the first issue of the 10X10 International Theatre Festival, dedicated to the contemporary dramaturgy from Moldova and Romania, took place at the Satiricus I. L. Caragiale National Theatre. At the event, ten plays by dramatists from Moldova and ten ones by dramatists of Romania were presented, as well as ten plays by Matei Visniec, the latter being also the host of the concerned issue. Therefore, I think that the most important item in our work was this festival, in which 25 troupes from all over the world participated. At the same time, we had two premieres last year: Women’s Doctor by Georges Feydau and Hamlet by William Shakespeare.    

M.: What are the other achievements recorded last year?

A. G.: We opened the 28th theatrical season with the play titled, 100 Minutes of Freedom, by Bogdan Sarateanu from Sibiu. Actors from Chisinau and Sibiu play in this performance. This is the first co-production, when two theatres from the two Romanian countries jointly made a play. This play will be staged on 17 and 18 January. Dedicated to the Centenary, the play speaks about two Romanian states, which simultaneously had and have also a common, but tragic history. It is about the evolution of both states starting from 1990s, about famine, deportations, union. This is a play popular with the audience.     

M.: In what other festivals did you participate in 2018?

A. G.: 2018 was a year with more tours. We participated in the International Theatre Festival from Sibiu, the most important theatre festival of Europe, with two plays: The Wedding by A.P. Chekhov and Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov. With the play Master and Margarita, we took part also in the festival from Suceava. In last May, we made a tour to Romania, within the cultural exchange between the Jewish Theatre from Bucharest and the Satiricus I. L. Caragiale National Theatre from Chisinau. They played in Moldova in April and we – in Bucharest and Sibiu in May. This tour ended in Suceava. Afterwards, we participated in the festival from Kherson, Ukraine, with the play Master and Margarita. From there, we came to Chisinau and went to Sibiu. In autumn, the Satiricus I. L. Caragiale National Theatre participated in the Nottara Theatre Festival with the plays Hamlet and Made in Moldova. Also in the autumn of 2018, our theatre took part in the Theatre Festival from Pitesti with Hamlet, where we were awarded the prize for the best stage management work.     

M.: How the 2019 year has begun for the Satiricus I. L. Caragiale National Theatre  and how do you think it will be for you?

A. G.: We have made a good start. The first performance of the play, Wine, Women and All That You Want, by Andrei Strambeanu will take place on 11 January. We pursue the goal to promote dramatists from Moldova through this play too.  The first performance of a play staged by stage manager Nicolae Pochirc from Pitesti (Romania) will take place on 9 March. A play staged by Vitalie Drucec comes next and I will end the season with the play, Good Night, Father. This year, we will have two international projects which I do not want to divulge, for the time being. It is about a tour to Europe and a co-production with a European theatre. We will also participate in eight festivals. We will have to stage five first performances in this season alone. Thus, in 2019, we will have more premieres and tours. At the same time, we put emphasis, in continuation, on value, which helps actors be more exigent in what they are doing.       

M.: Thank you for the interview! Great success!