UNITER Awards

The Romanian Theatre Union, which this year celebrates 25 years since its establishment, has rewarded the best performances and artists for last year

România Internațional, 26.05.2015, 13:32

The recently renovated Grand Hall of the National Theatre in Bucharest hosted on Monday night an exceptional event, the 23rd UNITER Awards Gala, which commends the performances of Romanian theatre. On the same occasion, the Romanian Theatre Union, UNITER, celebrated 25 years of life. The Union was in fact the first one to be rewarded. Based on a decree signed by the President of Romania Klaus Iohannis, it received the “Cultural Merit Order in the rank of Officer, in Category D, “Performing Arts. The distinction was granted in appreciation of “its contribution to encouraging creativity in Romanian theatre, of its dedication, of its promoting high-quality artistic education among the young generations, proving the excellence of Romanian theatre at both national and international level.

As every year, UNITER chose its winners. The best show of 2014 was “For Sale, directed by Gianina Carbunariu at Odeon Theatre in Bucharest. The director of the theatre, actress Dorina Lazar:

“I am thrilled. I really expected Gianina Carbunariu to get this award, because in my opinion it is high time this award went to the young, to the very dynamic and courageous, to a different kind of theatre.

The award for best director went to Victor Ioan Frunza, for his show “Furniture and Pain. The same show also won Adriana Grand the award for best stage design. Vlad Ivanov was awarded as best leading actor for his part in “The Good Person of Szechwan, staged at the Bulandra Theatre in Bucharest. The award for best actress of the year 2014 was given to Anca Hanu, for her part in “Amalia Takes a Deep Breath, a production of the National Theatre in Cluj Napoca.

The award for the best radio drama show went to the Romanian Radio Broadcasting Corporations production of “Henry V by William Shakespeare, directed by Attila Vizauer, and adapted for radio by Domnica Tundrea. The show “The Guilty One, based on a text by Ion Baiesu, and directed by Ion Gostin, won the award for television drama.

Lifetime achievement awards were also handed to actors Vladimir Jurascu and Mihaela Arsenescu Werner, director Alexandru Hausvater, stage designer Clara Labancz and critic Mira Iosif. Stela Giurgeanus “Time of Fools was awarded as the best Romanian play of the year 2014. The British director Peter Brook was granted an excellence award for the contribution to and impact of his shows on Romanian theatre.