From Barbican to Leicester Square Theatre

I started thinking about the project Tales Told in Romanian in 2012 during my cultural management residence at Romanian Cultural Institute in London during which I took part in the promotion campaign for the Nottara Theatre tour at Barbican with their production Festen. During the campaign for the ten sold-out runs and afterward, I realised there is in London a community of theatre lovers that would like to see more Romanian theatre but don't have the opportunity. 

I came back to The National Theatre in Bucharest where I was working at the time and I started to make a plan. From the very beginning, the idea had the support of the Romanian Cultural Institute in London and, one year later we managed to bring to Leicester Square Theatre the first production of the series. 

Since then over 37 shows toured in London and Dublin, I worked with five theatres and Leicester Square Theatre in West End became Romanian theatre's home and meeting place for Romanian artists and a very engaged audience, Romanian and non-Romanian alike. 

But, beyond the numbers and names, I am honoured and happy by the fact that we managed to build a community. There are patrons who travel more than three hours to London to see a show and there are people who have seen Romanian theatre for the first time in the UK. We had a very engaged 11-day baby in the audience as well as a 90-year lady. There are children born here who don't understand very well Romanian and grown-ups that maybe forgot how beautiful the Romanian can sound told by a talented Romanian actor who can make you laugh and cry at the same time. 

I thank you all for your effort, time, love, smiles, tears, and applauses. 

For you, for us and for the next patrons the story must go on. 

I am looking forward to seeing you back at the theatre.

Claudia Cirlig