[ - How would you describe the theater year 2008 in Moldova?] - It was a rather rich year with many events like the Biennale of Eugen Ionesco Theater – an extensive theatrical event organized with the support of the Theater Union of Moldova (UNITEM). The theater brings up new themes, continues to develop the tradition of “great performances”, cooperates with invited directors, pays special attention to modern, national and international dramaturgy with a pronounced social aspect, and promotes new directors. The list of successful events includes the Festival of National Dramaturgy organized by Satiricus I.L.Caragiale Theater, which brought together playwrights of different ages and orientation. I hope they will be also creatively stimulated. It is a modern theater that focuses on inciting text, especially satire and humor, organically synthesized with the dance and song, with a special corporal expression. There were a lot of premieres two of which very popular among the public and the critics – Johan and the Fire directed by Petru Vutcarau, at Eugen Ionesco, and Dead Souls by Ion Sapdaru, at Mihai Eminescu National Theater. [ - What awards had been offered for theatrical works in 2008?] - With out direct contribution, some of the leading artists were honored with honorific titles and valuable prizes. Young actor Veaceslav Sambris was awarded the Municipal Youth Prize, actor Mihail Curagau – the Valeriu Cupcea Medal. Director Petru Vutcarau was nominated for the Europe Prize for Theater at the proposal of the office in Moldova of the International Association of Theater Critics, for the first time in the history of our theater. [ - What are the positive and negative aspects of the Moldovan theater?] - We have a powerful, original and inventive theater. The constant interest of the public and the invitations to participate in festivals abroad prove this. A negative aspect is the rather low interest in our modern dramaturgy. [ - How is the theater developing in Moldova?] - We see that our theater is coming closer to the European theater. Wee tend to the universe through what we have the best, through our typical national features. [ - What are your forecasts for the theatrical development in 2009?] - Certainly, I hope that the situation will improve. We expect that Eugen Ionesco Theater will move to the new headquarters offered by the Government. In March, we will launch a joint project with the Polish Institute and the Embassy of Poland in Moldova. It will include three lecture performances that will be given in different locations in Chisinau and in Balti. These lecturers could later become repertoire performances. In May, we will have the National Theater Festival. It is known that a festival is like a litmus test for all our theaters, an indicator of their efficiency. In November, when it is a century since the birth of Eugen Ionesco, we will hold an Ionescu Decade that will include invited plays, a scientific symposium on the works of the founder of the Theater of the Absurd, exhibitions, book launches and other events. We expect that all our directors will put on original and inventive productions.