Teatrul National "Marin Sorescu"

The National Theatre “Marin Sorescu” of Craiova occupies a special place in the history of the Romanian theatre. Founded in 1850, it continued to function, despite all the convulsions that characterized the history of our nation.

In the first decades of its existence the National Theatre of Craiova produced only musicals and vaudevilles. In the years following 1900 the emphasis is placed on dramatic shows, representing mainly the universal classics, especially Shakespeare and Molière.

The employing, in 1956, at the National Theatre of Craiova, of an entire class of actors (George Cozorici, Amza Pellea, Silvia Popovici, Constantin Rauţchi, Victor Rebengiuc, Dumitru Rucăreanu, Sanda Toma), together with their professor, Vlad Mugur, marked a very important moment. These actors would, years later, become the Golden generation of the Romanian theatre. The team spirit manifested itself through an uncommon creative force, refreshing the means of expression of the actors and of enactment.

The meeting, then the collaboration of the 150 people collective with Silviu Purcărete, Vlad Mugur, Tompa Gabor, Mihai Măniuţiu, Mircea Cornişteanu and other directors, Romanian and foreign, propelled the theatre in a privileged position within the Romanian and international theatrical movement. The lasting collaboration between the TNC and Silviu Purcărete, which started in 1989 and continues to this day, was and still is a moment of reference in the becoming of this institution, objectified through performances that gained national and international acclaim, that at the time positioned TNC among the most valuable and artistically expressive theatres from the world theatrical movement. The majority of these performances were awarded with prestigious national and international prizes.

Furthermore, the Shakespeare Festival, through its exceptional artistic and organizational level, set up with the “William Shakespeare” Foundation, led by Emil Boroghină, made the TNC known worldwide. Its six editions so far, have consolidated the reputation of this theatre, that reunited here some of the best troupes and performances of the world, and has also hosted colloquia and symposia dedicated to the work of Shakespeare with the participation of the most important specialists of the moment.

Great directors from all over the world have been present in Craiova, with reference performances, such as Eimuntas Nekrosius, Robert Wilson, Lev Dodin or Peter Brook.

The present repertoire, as well as the international festivals where it is constantly invited, make of the National Theatre of Craiova an extraordinary ambassador of the Romanian culture in the whole civilized world.