UNDERCLOUD Theatre Festival, 18th edition
UNDERCLOUD is the first independent theater festival in Romania
Ion Puican, 05.10.2025, 13:23
“UNDERCLOUD”, the first independent theater festival in Romania, returns between September 18 and October 5, with an anniversary edition – it has come of age, being the 18th edition. This edition takes place in 18 spaces in the Calea Griviței area of Bucharest. Two weeks of independent theater, art and creative energy!
The festival was initiated in 2008 by theater director Chris Simion-Mercurian and is produced by the Calea Griviței Foundation, with each show having only one performance in the festival, emphasizing the unrepeatable nature of the theatrical experience. “UNDERCLOUD” proposes a curatorial approach focused on living, challenging, provocative art, focused on contexts that directly and immediately influence the lives of the audience.
We spoke with actress Dana Rusu, curator of the performance section about this anniversary edition of “UNDERCLOUD”:
“The fact that “UNDERCLOUD” turns 18 this year, for us, for the festival team, this is coming of age. And it feels like we are turning 18 just like a child. You can feel in the festival program that we have matured, that we have evolved just like independent theater in Romania. We have evolved with it. In this year’s edition, the festival is on a holiday, and this edition is an anniversary one, that is why it starts on September 18, lasts 18 days and takes place in 18 locations on Calea Griviței and the surrounding area.”
What show or event would define the spirit of this edition of the “UNDERCLOUD” Festival? Dana Rusu, curator of the performances section, answers us:
“I don’t think there is a single show or event that defines the spirit of the 18th edition. Each show defines the spirit of this edition. The shows were chosen on the fly. They represent, of course, along with the team of volunteers, the “UNDERCLOUD” Festival. What is important to mention is that the artists responded to our challenge to adapt the shows they perform in a certain way at the venue, in unconventional spaces or outdoors, such as in the UNARTE courtyard, which is already a traditional space where we are building a large stage, where they can come and perform the show outdoors. And we continue like this until October 1st, with an outdoor show in this space.”
What other characteristic is specific to the “UNDERCLOUD” Festival?
“Also, the reading out loud shows. They really define the spirit of “UNDERCLOUD”. We always have at least one reading performance and this year’s edition is no exception. We have even more readings in an extraordinarily beautiful space, Primitiv Plants. We have “Letters to Doti” with Ionuț Grama and Alexandrina Halic, and, “Together” with Șerban Pavlu and Ofelia Popii.”
Actress Dana Rusu tells us what the “UNDERCLOUD” Festival has prepared for the young audience, the future theater spectators:
“MiniCloud, returns this year with activities for children. It takes place during the 3 weekends of the festival, also in the UNARTE courtyard, between 10 am and 2 pm. There are free courses for all children who register in advance. Theater, theater-dance and puppet and marionette construction courses. Of course, it is very important to involve children in the performing arts from a young age, and that is why we continue with the MiniCloud, and we do not want to give up, no matter what, on this section, because we know that we are growing, on the one hand, the future theater audience and, on the other hand, it is very important for the evolution of children, because it develops their imagination, creativity and, of course, the ability to speak in public. There are many skills that these courses target in the development of children.”
At the end of our discussion about the “UNDERCLOUD” Independent Theater Festival, actress Dana Rusu, curator of the performances section of this edition, told us:
“UNDERCLOUD” is known for its courage to step out of its comfort zone. That’s how I met it when I was a student and I wasn’t on the organizing team. That’s how I noticed it. Every edition comes with other challenges, and in organizing this year’s edition, first and foremost, the challenge was to extend it for 18 days and not have it be a festival like we’re used to, of 7, maximum 10 days. We hope that after 18 days of theater and art, the spectators will take with them the desire to see more independent theater, to come to more shows like this and more cultural events that somehow step out of their comfort zone. We hope to revitalize this historic area of Calea Griviței from a cultural point of view, to involve the community and residents of the area in the development of this festival. And we also want to promote the young artists who have entered this independent cultural sector, and hope that viewers will stay with them, and want to see them again and again.”
