ISTORIC

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'Mihai Eminescu' National Theatre - Timişoara

Brief history

On October 18, 1945 the Ministry of Arts approves the foundation of the first Romanian professional theatre in Timisoara, called The Workers' Theatre. The first show was performed on December 8, 1945 under Lilly Bulandra, stage director and manager of the theatre, and was called "Please...". The official inauguration of the first season takes place on December 25, 1945. The first troupe included amateur actors and graduate students of the Music and Drama Conservatory in Cluj. In 1949 it becomes the State Theatre - Timisoara then, beginning with 1966, it is called the “Matei Millo” Theatre and this till 1970 when it becomes the National Theatre - Timisoara, on the occasion of its 25th anniversary. In 1995, when celebrating half of a century of existence, it receives the name of “Mihai Eminescu”.

The succeeding managers of the theatre were: Sabin Indrieşu (1945-1946), Lilly Bulandra (1946-1948), Emil Josan (1948-1953), Traian Ghiţescu (1953), Marin Pârâianu (1954-1956), Gheorghe Leahu, (1956-1973), Traian Bunescu (1973-1979), Lucia Nicoară (1979-1989), Serban Foarţă (1990-1991), Vladimir Jurăscu (1991-1994), Ioan Ieremia (1994-1997), Ştefan Iordănescu (1997- ).

Between 1945-1990, the repertory of the theatre was subdued to the restrictions of the doctrinaire policy. The period going to 1956 (when the actor Gheorghe Leahu becomes its director) was characterised by the hiring of important professional actors, such as: Ştefan Braborescu, Dem. Moruzan, Jenny Moruzan, Gheorghe Damian etc. From the repertory point of view, the Russian and Soviet dramaturgy are highly represented, but the effort to stage plays written by local playwrights is also remarkable. Toward the end of this time, classic Romanian dramas start to be performed.

The period between 1956 and 1970 is considered the most fertile in the history of the theatre. The national classic and contemporary plays dominate the theatre's cultural offer. Many Romanian plays are performed then for the first time. Gradually, the repertory is enriched with foreign classical but also modern drama.

Famous Romanian stage directors created outstanding performances during this period of time: Ion Maximilian (1953-1963), Dan Nasta (1960-1964), Horia Popescu (1957-1959), Ioan Taub (1956-1961), Iannis Veakis (1956-1965), Constantin Anatol (1964-1965), Marietta Sadova (1966-1967), Mircea Marosin (1969), Aureliu Manea (1968-1969), Emil Reus (1960-1994), Petre Sava Băleanu (1963-1964), etc. Scenographers, such as: Eugen Trucinschi, Horea Popescu, Elena Pătrăşcanu Veakis, Virgil Miloia, Doina Almăşan Popa, Emilia Jivaniv, and actors such as: Dan Nasta, Dinu Gherasim, Vasile Cosma, Marina Başta, Vasile Creţoiu, art.em. Gheorghe Leahu, Ştefan Iordănescu, Gilda Marinescu, Florina Cercel, Ovidiu Iuliu Moldovan etc. contributed to the fame of the theatre.
The next decade – more pale – is marked by the strong ideological constraints imposed to the repertory. It is identified with the almost exclusive representation of the contemporary Romanian plays. The permanent stage directors were: Emil Reus, Ioan Taub, Ioan Ieremia. Among the important actors one can count: Vladimir Jurăscu, Irene Flamann, Lucia Doroftei, Eugenia Creţoiu, Ion Cocieru, Garofiţa Bejan etc. It was a time of high fluctuation of the artistic staff.

A revival took place up to 1990 when a few exceptional performances situated the National Theatre - Timişoara in the élite of the Romanian theatre. Besides the above mentioned personalities, there worked the directors: Ştefan Iordănescu, Alexa Visarion, Silviu Purcărete etc. Immediately after 1990, there was a period characterised by confusion, without artistic value, but the last two years pointed out the theatre's effort towards reorganisation and European standards.

The theatre building was raised between 1871-1875, according to the plans of the architects Helmar and Fellner, in Renaissance style. After the reconstruction that followed the second fire (1920), the original style was preserved only for the side walls of the building, the front side and the theatre hall being rebuilt in neo-Byzantine style. The scenes of the frescoes of the painter Kiriacoff, in the theatre hall, are inspired from the Romanian fairy-tales.