Robert Icke’s production of “Mary Stuart,” directed by Andrei Șerban, captivated the Budapest audience on the evening of April 28 at the National Theater (Nemzeti Színház) as part of the 13th edition of MITEM (Madach International Theatre Meeting). The main hall was packed to capacity, and at the end of the performance, the audience rewarded the artists of the Bucharest National Theater with minutes of applause and a standing ovation, in an atmosphere of rare enthusiasm that confirmed the powerful impact of the production on international audiences. The official invitation to MITEM and the success achieved on the stage of the Nemzeti Színház reaffirm the solid collaborative relationship between the two institutions, as well as the Bucharest National Theatre’s consistent presence in the circuit of major international theater festivals. Andrei Șerban’s production impresses with the power of its contemporary reinterpretation of the classic text, its dramatic tension, and the refinement of its stage design, offering the audience a highly intense theatrical experience. The duel between the two queens, Mary and Elizabeth, takes on contemporary significance in this production, and the director’s interpretation, marked by remarkable precision and depth, was met in Budapest with unanimous enthusiasm. The cast, featuring Raluca Aprodu, Ofelia Popii, Mihai Călin, Marius Bodochi, Conrad Mericoffer, Emilian Oprea, Mihai Calotă, Florin Aioane, Ciprian Nicula, and Florin Călbăjos, was praised for the coherence, energy, and expressiveness of their performances, which played a decisive role in the evening’s success. With this success in Budapest, the “I.L. Caragiale” National Theater in Bucharest reaffirms its mission to promote Romanian artistic excellence on international stages and to strengthen European cultural dialogue through high-quality performances.   Translated by Andreea Codrea-Boeriu

The 34th edition of the UNITER Awards Gala will take place on Monday, May 25, 2026, at the Majestic Hall of the Odeon Theater in Bucharest. For the 34th edition of the UNITER Awards Gala, the nomination jury was composed of theater critics Oana Bors, Mihai Brezeanu, and Iulia Popovici. The performances that caught the jury's attention were those that premiered between January 1 and December 31, 2025. According to the statutes of the Romanian Theatre Union, the UNITER Senate – Board of Directors awards the "Ion Caramitru" Excellence Award, Lifetime Achievement Awards and Special Awards at the UNITER Awards Gala. The I.L. Caragiale National Theater in Bucharest stands out this year with the following awards and nominations: Lifetime Achievement Award: Marius Bodochi Victor Rebengiuc: UNITER tribute for his brilliant and long-lasting career Nomination Irina Moscu for the set design of the play Prophet Ilya by Tadeusz Słobodzianek, directed by Botond Nagy Nominations for the category "Best Original Music and Sound Design": Cristina Juncu for the music of the performance Waiting for Ulysses, a concert-performance by Cristina Juncu, based on Homer's Odyssey, the Par Coeur Association in partnership with NTB Claudiu Urse for the music for the play Prophet Ilya by Tadeusz Słobodzianek, directed by Botond Nagy, set design by Irina Moscu More details here    Translated by Andreea Codrea-Boeriu 

Starting May 7, 2026, the Media Foyer of the NTB (Grand Hotel wing) will host “Romania in Watercolor 4”—the fourth national watercolor painting exhibition, organized by the Association of Watercolor Painters of Romania (A.P.A. – IWS Romania). The first three editions were also held in the NTB’s exhibition spaces, in 2019, 2021, and 2024. Over 75 works by 70 watercolor artists will be on display. The exhibition opening will take place on May 7, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. A demonstration will take place during the opening: watercolor artists Ovidiu Iovănel, president of the A.P.A., and Gabriel Andrei, vice president of the A.P.A., will collaborate on a watercolor painting. The “International Watercolor Society Globe Art Network” (IWS) is a nonprofit organization founded in 2012 by Atanur Dogan, a Turkish artist residing in Canada, and has been active in Romania since 2016. In 2018, IWS Romania acquired legal status under the name “Association of Watercolor Painters of Romania” (A.P.A.), chaired by artist and architect Ovidiu Iovănel.  The association was founded with the aim of promoting the world’s oldest painting technique, watercolor. We quote from the A.P.A.’s “Mission Statement”:  “Our goal is to promote respect, peace, and harmony through the use of art—the common language of the entire world. Our activities involve bringing together watercolor painters and art lovers, particularly those who appreciate watercolor. Watercolor painting has long been neglected and even despised, to the detriment of other techniques. To bring watercolor art to the forefront, as we grow, we promote and popularize watercolor painting in every country. (…) We have undertaken a monumental task, and success is possible only if we work together. So far, we have succeeded. Thus, in our group in Romania there are over 100 artists, some well-known and others less so, professionals and amateurs alike. We show respect, practice courtesy and diplomacy at all times, listen to one another, are open to new ideas, and welcome innovation.” The exhibition will be open until the end of May 2026 and can be visited daily from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.   Translated by Andreea Codrea-Boeriu