One of the most appreciated and long-lasting performances of the Romanian independent theater, “Born in ’90”celebrates 10 years since its premiere with an extraordinary performance on December 1, 2024, at the Gong Theater in Sibiu.
“Born in ’90” one of the longest running shows of the independent theater Collage BIS Teatru
This anniversary shines a light on a show that managed to capture the attention of audiences across the country, offering an emotional and profound reflection on a historical period of transition, but also on an entire generation.
“Born in ’90” is a production of the independent company BIS Teatru from Sibiu. The premiere of the show took place on January 26, 2015, and the preview – on December 1, 2014. The play stars actors Andrada Grosu, Aneea Axentea and Claudiu Fălămaș, born in 1990, and is directed by Bogdan Sărătean.
What makes this show special?
“Born in ’90” it is not just a simple theater performance, but a story about the identity of an entire generation that grew up in the post-communist period in Romania. The actors don’t just play roles, they live their own memories on stage, giving the show an authenticity rarely found on theater stages.
The director Bogdan Sărătean managed to gather these stories in a captivating, emotional and historical puzzle, which is completed in front of the audience, emphasizing both the personal side and the historical context. The script was developed in a collective creative process, involving both the director and the actors.
The central theme of the show combines the childhood nostalgia of the protagonists with the gray shades of the socio-political context of Romania in the 90s, including the mining period. The show also contains video documents from the period 1990 – 2000.
“Born in ’90” became one of the most performed productions of BIS Teatru and continues to be an important point of attraction in the theater program. Traditionally presented at Grădina BIS, a cultural hub in Sibiu dedicated to artistic events, the show premiered in the intimate space of the Atrium Cafe.
The 10-year anniversary confirms the cultural impact this show has had and continues to have on audiences. Moreover, this event highlights the importance of independent theater in Romania, which continues to create bridges between the nation’s recent past and its present.
Free entry for young people
The anniversary show scheduled for December 1, 2024, at 7:00 p.m., comes with a special gift: free access for spectators under the age of 26, subject to availability.
Interested young people can reserve their tickets exclusively by SMS, to the number 0748.189.149, while people over 26 years of age can purchase tickets online. Tickets are available online at the price of 30 lei, and on the evening of the performance, they can also be purchased at the entrance to the theater, subject to availability, at the price of 35 lei.
“This is a rare initiative, aimed at encouraging the access of young generations to culture and promoting quality theater education” the representatives of BIS Teatru emphasized.
The show that transcends local boundaries
Although “Born in ’90” has become a landmark of the theater scene in Sibiu, its success transcends regional borders. The stories presented are universal, and the theme – the socio-political transitions in Romania and the evolution of a generation – resonates with the public throughout the country.
The show attracted spectators from both the province and the big cities, consolidating its status as a reference production in Romanian independent theatre. At the same time, he played an essential role in the evolution of the independent company BIS Teatru, being presented more than 70 times in various spaces, both conventional and unconventional.
In 2015, the show won the Special Jury Prize at the National Festival of Independent Theater (FNTI). Over the years, it has been acclaimed at numerous prestigious international festivals, such as the International Theater Festival in Sibiu, the International Theater Festival for Young Audiences in Iasi, and the events “25 hours of non-stop theater” held in cities such as Sibiu, Brașov and Timișoara. It was also presented at Festis Chisinau and, more recently, in 2023, it was part of the Program “Timisoara European Capital of Culture”.
A decade of emotion and testimonies
It’s hard to believe that 10 years have passed since the first performance of the show “Born in ’90”a decade full of unforgettable moments lived everywhere where this show was performed – “from prestigious theater halls to cellars, attics, mountain tops, classrooms, churchyards, gardens, public squares, cinemas, multi-purpose halls, auditoriums”.
“I have always been interested in studying audience reactions according to the age of the viewers. From the grizzled, who resonate with certain nostalgic moments, to those born in the new millennium, who look at the show as a combination of a lesson of history and science fiction. It was also interesting how the three actors matured over time, from an artistic but also a human point of view. What an adventure this show was! And what a joy to play it in Sibiu, the city of its creation, exactly 10 years after its premiere”director Bogdan Sărătean admitted.
The show now gathers its audience at the Gong Theater in Sibiu, the city where it was born, to celebrate a symbolic anniversary, on National Day itself. “We didn’t want the show’s message to still be so current, ten years after the premiere. What irony!”said the director, inviting young people and not only to participate in this cultural celebration.
The event will conclude the project “Children of the Revolution, children of hope”run by the BIS Association. As part of this project, young people from Sibiu high schools were challenged to reflect on the Revolution of 1989 through essays, and the show was played in educational events, thus emphasizing the deep connection between past and present generations. The project is co-financed by Sibiu City Hall through the Youth Agenda, and this December 1st performance marks not only 10 years since the premiere of the show, but also an important moment in Romania’s recent history.
“Born in ’90” – the mirror of a generation and a world in transformation
In the 10 years since the premiere, “Born in ’90” went through a constant evolution, adapting and becoming a landmark of Romanian independent theater, appreciated at the national level for the artistic quality, passion and dedication with which it was built.
Each performance is an invitation to the audience to explore an era of transition, to reflect on the influence of the past on the present and to discover how theater can become a faithful mirror of a generation. The social dimension of the play is balanced by a comic register, which has contributed significantly to the remarkable success of the show over time.
Thus, “Born in ’90” it is not just a theater performance, but a profound cultural experience, bringing to the fore recent history and the values of a generation that has found the strength to adapt in a constantly changing world.
