Artists for peace, freedom, hope! This is the title of this year’s edition of the Meeting of National Romanian Theaters that is the seventh one and that will take place during September 15-28. Seventeen troupes from both sides of the Prut will present 24 plays. The program also includes radiophonic performances involving actors of the Bucharest National Radiophonic Theater and the Chisinau National Theater “Mihai Eminescu” that hosts the Meeting, book launches, film screenings, exhibitions and discussions. In solidarity with the citizens of Ukraine and in a move to promote the common ideals, the Kyiv-based Ivan Franko National Academic Dramatic Theater was invited to take part in the event, IPN reports.
“Mihai Eminescu” Theater director Petru Hadârcă told a news conference that the Meeting of Theaters generated increased interest in the cultural and artistic events. The current edition comes to remind the people how important the freedom of expression and peace are for the people of culture and for society in general. “We, the artists, as whole society, need freedom to create and the theater has been an island of freedom at all times,” stated Petru Hadârcă.
He noted that the National Radiophonic Theater, which turned into remarkable coproduction, represents a separate segment of the program. The performance “The Glass Garden” by Tatiana Țîbuleac will be premiered on September 16, at 2pm.
Minister of Culture Sergiu Prodan said that the current edition is unique as it will involve for the first time all the national theaters of Romania and the Ivan Franko National Academic Dramatic Theater of Kyiv. “This is an important moment to show our support for the people of Ukraine who are going through a ferocious challenge,” stated the minister.
His Romanian counterpart Lucian Romașcanu noted that the Ministry of Culture’s duty is to support any kind of artistic performance. “The Meeting of National Romanian Theaters is an extremely important event. Even if it is not under the direct coordination of the Ministry of Culture in Bucharest, we, financing all the national theaters present here, lend an important hand to this event,” stated Lucian Romașcanu.
Liviu Jicman, head of the Romanian Cultural Institute, launched a provocation for next year – to invite partners, directors of theaters or international festivals to the Meeting of National Romanian Theaters where Romanian theaters from both sides of the Prut can be seen simultaneously.
For the second consecutive year, the Meeting of National Romanian Theaters is held under the patronage of the President of the Republic of Moldova Maia Sandu and the President of Romania Klaus Iohannis.
