„Matei Vișniec” International Festival | 21st – 27th of March 2021

The National Museum of Romanian Literature will organize the first edition of Matei Vișniec International Festival between the 21st and the 27th of March 2021, celebrating two important international days: World Poetry Day – March 21st and World Theatre Day – March 27th, 2021.

Starting from 11 o’clock, every day, we will post The Festival Mornings on our Facebook page, o series of poetry readings of the invited poets who live in Romania or abroad: Anca Mizumschi (Arizona, USA), Irina Nechit (Republica Moldova), Florin Iaru, Carmen Veronica Steiciuc, Teodor Dună, Vlad Berariu, Andrei Codrescu (New Orleans, USA).

Also, theater plays, signed by Romanian, Hungarian, Italian, French, Brazilian and Uruguayan theatre directors, eight episodes of Trap Door Theatre’s Decompose Theatre, the movie Teeth, directed by Rareș H. Stoica, readings from Vișniec’ plays by French actors from L’Échoscène, a puppet theatre show directed by Eric Deniaud will be posted LIVE on our Facebook page, along with conferences held by George Banu, specialist in Theatre Studies, essayist and Professor Emeritus at Sorbonne University.

The visitors of the main exhibition of The National Museum of Romanian Literature (Nicolae Crețulescu 8) will have the opportunity to watch the graphic poems created by Matei Vișniec, which will be screened in the Avant-garde Room. During the festival, in the attic, we will project documentary movies: Matei’s Paris; Matei Vişniec – King in Avignon; Provence – A kind of Paradise, directed by Andreea Ştiliuc.

Matei Vişniec is considered the most important contemporary Romanian playwright, with plays translated into over 20 languages. Some of his plays have been enacted in major European theatres: Rond Point Theatre des Champs Elysées in Paris, Stary Theatre of Cracow, Piccolo Theatre of Milano, Royal Theatre of Stokholm, Young Vic Theatre of London, National Theatre of Istanbul, Maxim Gorki Theatre of Berlin, Teatro Stabile of Catania (Sicily).

He was awarded with: Le Prix Jean-Monnet de la Littérature Européenne, 2016; European Award of The French Society of Dramatic Authors and Composers SACD, 2009; Drama Award of the Romanian Union of Writers (1999, 2002, 2007); Drama Award of the Academy of Romania, 1998; Press Avignon Award in 1995, 1996, 2008 and 2009; Award of the Romanian Theatrical Society for „Clown wanted”, the best play of the year.

Project organized by the Bucharest City Hall through The National Museum of Romanian Literature

Project parteners: The TVR Production House, TVR Iași, Embassy of Uruguay in Romania, Teatro El Galpón, Trap Door, Asociația Persona, Culturas em Movimento, ACTI Teatri Indipendenti, L’Échoscène, Collectif Kahraba, Bulandra Theatre, Lucian Blaga National Theatre from Cluj-Napoca, Teatrul Szigligeti din Oradea, Institutul Cultural Maghiar București / Magyar Kulturális Intézet Bukarest, Teatrul Municipal Matei Vișniec din Suceava, eTeatru.ro, Teatrul Fără Nume, UNITER, UNATC.

Media Partners: RFI România, Radio România Internațional, Radio România Actualități, Radio România Cultural, Radio România Iași, Radio România Cluj, Radio București FM, Radio Clasic, Observator cultural, Revista Familia, Modernism, Zile și Nopți, AgențiadeCarte.ro, AGERPRES.

Watch the festival trailer here.

The festival program

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From Sunday, 21st of March 2021, till Saturday, 27th of March 2021, from 11:00 AM
On NMRL Facebook page, website www.mnlr.ro, platform www.culturaindirect.ro
The Mornings Festival
Original version in Romanian

Sunday, 21st of March 2021, 10:00 AM
On NMRL Facebook page, website www.mnlr.ro, platform www.culturaindirect.ro
Opening speech
Ioan Cristescu, the General Manager of The National Museum of the Romanian Literature
In Romanian with English subtitle

Sunday, 21st of March 2021, 3:00 PM
On NMRL Facebook page
The Pivot Questionnaire
Matei Vișniec answers the questionnaire created by Bernard Pivot and chosen by Mihai Țărnă director at Teatrul Fără Nume, for his interview.
In Romanian with English subtitles

Sunday, 21st of March 2021, 6:00 PM
Live on NMRL Facebook page
Buzunarul cu pâine
Directed by Tudor Chirilă
TVR Production House
Original version in Romanian

Sunday, 21st of March 2021, 7:50 PM
On NMRL Facebook page, website www.mnlr.ro, platform www.culturaindirect.ro
Matei Vișniec’ message about Decomposed Theatre, project initiated by Trap Door Theatre
In English with Romanian subtitles

Sunday, 21st of March 2021, 8:00 PM
Live on NMRL Facebook page
Trap Door Theatre | Decomposed Theater #1
The Runner & Illusionist
Directed by: Katarzyna Winska
Cast: John Kahara, Michael Mejia
In English with Romanian subtitles

Monday, 22nd of March 2021, 6:00 PM
Live on NMRL Facebook page
Trap Door Theatre | Decomposed Theater #2
The Meat Eater
Directed by: Zachary Nicol
Cast: Zachary Nicol
In English with Romanian subtitles

Monday, 22nd of March 2021, 8:00 PM
Live streaming on NMRL Facebook page
Trap Door Theatre | Decomposed Theater #3
The Man in the Circle, The Man with a Cockroach, Brainwasher 1, The Beggar
Directed by: Michael Mejia
Cast: Logan Hulick, Neema Lahon, Leslie Lund, Carl Wisniewski
In English with Romanian subtitles

Tuesday, 23rd of March 2021, starting from 10:00 AM, 12:00 AM, 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM
The National Museum of Romanian Literature, Nicolae Crețulescu Street no. 8
Parisul lui Matei/ Matei`s Paris (documentary movie)
Directed by Andreea Știliuc
In Romanian with English subtitles

Tuesday, 23rd of March 2021, 4:00 PM
Live on NMRL Facebook page
Voix dans le noir
Puppet theatre show created and acting by Eric Deniaud
Collectif Kahraba (Lebanon, 2009)
Original version in French

Tuesday, 23rd of March 2021, 6:00 PM
On NMRL Facebook page, website www.mnlr.ro, platform www.culturaindirect.ro
Places and spaces of the theatre: unity and variety
Conference held by George Banu
Original version in Romanian language

Tuesday, 23rd of March 2021, 8:00 PM
Live on NMRL Facebook page
Performance #4: „The Animal Trainer”, „The Philosopher”, „The Human Rubbish Bin“
The Animal Trainer, The Philosopher, The Human Rubbish Bin
Directed by Marian Masoliver
Cast: Caroline Hart, Emily Lotspeich, Keith Surney, Kevin Webb
In English with Romanian subtitles

Tuesday, 23rd of March 2021, 9:00 PM
Live on NMRL Facebook page
Nina, ou da fragilidade das gaivotas empalhadas
Text: Matei Vișniec
Translated by: Clara Carvalho
Director: Denise Weinberg
Artistic director: Alexandre Tenório
Staged by: Cultura em movimento
Original version in Portuguese

Wednesday, 24th of March 2021, starting from 10:00 AM, 12:00 AM, 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM
The National Museum of Romanian Literature, Nicolae Crețulescu Street no. 8
Vișniec, rege la Avignon/ Matei Vişniec – King in Avignon (documentary movie)
Directed by Andreea Știliuc
In Romanian with English subtitles

Wednesday, 24th of March 2021, 4:00 PM

Live on NMRL Facebook page
Omul din cerc/ Man in the Circle
An experiment-project signed by Ana-Ioana Macaria and Andu Dumitrescu, part of Bulandra Theatre’ project: „Bulandra – lecturi online. Vă rugăm să vă deschideţi telefoanele!”
Original version in Romanian

Wednesday, 24th of March 2021, 7:00 PM
Live on NMRL Facebook page
The feeling of elasticity when walking upon corpses/ Despre senzația de elasticitate când pășim peste cadavre
Autor: Matei Vișniec
Director: Răzvan Mureșan
Costumes: Ilona Lőrincz
Scenography asistent: Radu Lărgeanu
Lights: Jenel Moldovan, Alexandru Corpodean, Ionuț Maier
Sound: Vlad Negrea
Cast: Matei Rotaru, Cristian Grosu, Alexandra Tarce, Adrian Cucu, Cătălin Codreanu, Miron Maxim, Petre Băcioiu, Diana Buluga, Silvius Iorga, Patricia Brad
Staged by Lucian Blaga National Theatre from Cluj-Napoca
Original version in Romanian

Wednesday, 24th of March 2021, 10:00 PM
Live on NMRL Facebook page
Trap Door Theatre | Decomposed Theater #5
How to explain the history of quiet, lucid and fevered madness to brainwashed repair people
Directed by Nicole Wiesner
Cast: Maryam Abdi, Venice Averyheart, Natara Easter, Miguel Long, David Lovejoy, Robin Minkens, Emily Nichelson, Ruben Nicolaescu, Tia Pinson, Matty Robinson
Live streaming on NMRL Facebook page
In English with Romanian subtitles

Thursday, 25th of March 2021, starting from 10:00 AM, 12:00 AM, 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM
The National Museum of Romanian Literature, Nicolae Crețulescu Street no. 8
Proventa, Paradisul posibil
(documentary movie)
Directed by Andreea Știliuc
In Romanian with English subtitles

Thursday, 25th of March 2021, 4:00 PM
Live on NMRL Facebook page
De la sensation d’élasticité lorsqu’on marche sur des cadavres/ The feeling of elasticity when walking upon corpses
Reading performance of French actors from L’Échoscène
Director: Jean Audrey
Scenography: Juliette Desproges
Cast: Anthony Binet, Elsa Davoine, Delphine Lanniel, Chloé Mahy, Hadi Rassi, Jacques Schuler
Video captured during the event Scenes sur Seine at La Scène Watteau, March 4th 2021
Original version in French with Romanian subtitle

Thursday, 25th of March 2021, 6:00 PM
On NMRL Facebook page, website www.mnlr.ro, platform www.culturaindirect.ro
Theatre’texts: reportoire and current context
Conference held in Romanian by George Banu

Thursday, 25th of March 2021, 8:00 PM
Live on NMRL Facebook page
Trap Door Theatre | Decomposed Theater #6
The Brainwasher (I) (II), The Man in the Circle, The Voice in the Darkness, The Animal Trainer, The Runner, The Man with a Cockroach, The Illusionist
Directed by: Cristina Pronzati
Cast: Davide Borella, Anarosa Butler, Gary Damico, Kasey Foster, Mike Steele, Keith Surney, Nora Ulrey, and Kevin Webb
In English with Romanian subtitles

Thursday, 25th of March 2021, 9:00 PM
Live on NMRL Facebook page
La palabra progreso en boca de mi madre sonaba tremendamente falsa
Text: Matei Vișniec
Directed by: Aderbal Freire-Filho
Original version in Spanish with Romanian subtitles

Friday, 26th of March 2021, 4:00 PM
Live on NMRL Facebook page
Cântăreața cheală/ The Bold Soprano
Text by Eugen Ionescu
Directed by: Valeria Sitaru, Vlad Logigan, Cristina Briciu
Cast: Matei Constantin, Ana Radu, Marian Dumitru, Diana Ducar, David Drugaru, Cătălina Romaneț
National University of Theatre and Film I.L. Caragiale
Professor coord.: Valeria Sitaru
In Romanian with English subtitle

Friday, 26th of March 2021, 5:30 PM
On NMRL Facebook page, website www.mnlr.ro, platform www.culturaindirect.ro
Dialogue: Rareș H. Stoica and Ioan Pop-Curșeu about the movie TEETH
Original version in Romanian

Friday, 26th of March 2021, 6:00 PM
Live on NMRL Facebook page
Dinții/ TEETH
The movie is based on Matei Visniec’s play TEETH
Directed and produced by: Rareș H. Stoica
Cast: Radu Văduva, Andrei Zagorodnîi, Cătălin Codreanu
Music by: Dragos Strat
Cinematography by: Andrei Giurgiuman, Rareș H. Stoica
In Romanian with English subtitle

Friday, 26th of March 2021, 8:00 PM
Live on NMRL Facebook page
Trap Door Theatre | Decomposed Theater #7
The Man in the Circle, The Man in the Mirror, The Runner
Directed by Neema Lahon
Cast: Edward Joe Bentley, Lyndsay Kane, Susan Mele, Benjamin Nathan-Serio, and Nora Lise Ulrey
In English with Romanian subtitles

Saturday, 27th of March 2021, 1:00 PM
Live on NMRL Facebook page
Extraterestrul care își dorea ca amintire o pijama/ The alien who wanted a pajama as a memory
Text: Matei Vișniec
Director: Ioan Brancu
Scenography: Ana Maria Condruz
Coregraphy: Andreea Duță
Music: Cári Tibor
Lights/Video Design: Lucian Moga, Andrei Cozlac
Cast: Cristina Florea, Horia Andrei Butnaru, Clara Popadiuc, Răzvan Bănuț, Alexandru Marin, Diana Lazăr, Delu Lucaci, Cosmin Panaite, Cătălin Ștefan Mîndru, Bogdan Amurăriței
Staged by Matei Vișniec Municipal Theatre from Suceava
Original version in Romanian

Saturday, 27th of March 2021, 4:00 PM
On NMRL Facebook page, website www.mnlr.ro, platform www.culturaindirect.ro
The actor and the acting
Conference in Romanian held by George Banu

Saturday, 27th of March 2021, 6:00 PM
Live on NMRL Facebook page
Occident Express
Director: Zakariás Zalán
Cast: Csatlós Lóránt, Dimény Levente, Dobos Imre, Firtos Edit, Gajai Ágnes,
Hajdu Géza, Hunyadi István, Kardos M. Róbert, Kiss Csaba, Kiss Tamás, Román Eszter,
Sebestyén Hunor, Tóth Tünde, Tőtős Ádám, Trabalka Cecília, Pitz Melinda
Scenography: Andra Bădulescu Vișniec
Stage director: Joó Emília
Prompter: Tentea Katalin
Music: Boca Hunor-Lehel
Staged by Szigligeti Theatre (Oradea)
In Hungarian with Romanian subtitles

Saturday, 27th of March 2021, 9:00 PM
Live on NMRL Facebook page
Performance #8: Decomposed Theater
The Man with the Apple, The Voice in the Blind Light I, The Voice in the Darkness II and III
Directed by Catherine Sullivan
Cast: Venice Averyheart, Cristina Pronzati, Bob Wilson
In English language with Romanian subtitles

___________

Festival team

Project initiator: Ioan Cristescu, general manager of The National Museum of Romanian Literature

Graphic designer: Cristina Milca
Editors: Olimpia Novicov (Romanian), Iuliana Miu (French)
Public Relations: Andreea Balaban, Gabriela Mareș, Loreta Popa, Ilinca Stratan
Multimedia: Daniel Paul Ciobanu, Alex Ursu

Project coordinator: Gabriela Toma (phone 0736 598 451, programe@mnlr.ro)