What happens when the legendary actors of the Romanian scene go up with new names in front of an audience in the province? A festival is born that not only brings to light the theater, but turns it into an event of national interest.
Maia Morgenstern at the Festival versus Râmnicu Vâlcea Colaj Mg Motor & Nistor & Anton Pann
In a country where culture is often invited at the end of the program-and budget-, the Anton Pann Theater in Râmnicu Vâlcea makes a gesture of strength: it brings big names, brave ideas and a provocative theme. Between May 30 and June 5, 2025, the theater festivalu “versus” returns with the fourth edition, under the generic “Past versus future” – a scenic confrontation between tradition and experiment, between consecrated masters and emerging voices.
There are artists on the poster that no longer need any presentation: Maia Morgenstern (“I’m not me”), Florin Piersic Jr. (“Freak show Vol 2 ”), Nicu Mihoc (“Decalog after Hess”), but also a new generation of creators who change the rules of contemporary theater.
From shows awarded to the premiere, from children to children to the theater-forum and performances-reading- “Versus” It becomes a living map of the Romanian theater today, accessible not only to the Valcen, but to anyone seek meaning, emotion and relevance in the dramatic art.
Why does the versus festival matter – and why should
In a Romania in which the culture is often left in the last place, the Anton Pann Theater in Râmnicu Vâlcea-which turned 35 years of existence-transforms the provincial scene into a ring of national ideas and emotions.
Arriving at the fourth edition, the theater festival “Versus” It is not only a succession of shows, but a confrontation assumed between eras, styles and visions. It is the place where the classic actor meets the Digital Creator, where the dramatic text collides with the experimental performance and where the public is called not only to applaud, but to think.
What does the theater mean in a tired society? How does the present feel on stage, when the future beats in VR and you have? These are the questions that the guest directors and actors are trying to answer, in a program that brings together bands from all over the country.
The organizers announced an eclectic line-up: classic reinterpreted shows, contemporary premieres and workshops. But, beyond the program, the stake is greater: to bring the theater again to the center of society – as a living mirror and space of cultural resistance.
Vâlcea becomes the scene of a spectacular confrontation: “past vs.
For a week, Râmnicu Vâlcea is no longer just a city – it becomes the epicenter of a vibrant dialogue between generations, ideas and artistic worlds. Not only plays are played here, but our identity is played as a society. The versus festival causes the public to reflect on who we were, who we are and who we want to become.
“This year theme, past vs future, is more current than ever. But from this symbolic struggle, we want the public to come out with a clear conclusion: the present is the true stake. It is the time we live, we breathe and we can change something”stated for “Truth” Actor Octavian Costin, the director of the Anton Pann theater and the soul behind the festival.
He draws attention to an increasingly pressing reality: “We, the artists, have to adapt to a world dominated by technology and social networks. We have no other option. But I strongly believe in people and their ability to remain human, authentic, despite the currents trying to deviate our route into another direction.”
The festival also marks the three and a half decades of official existence of the Anton Pann Theater. “We wanted to celebrate this beautiful evolution by bringing back important actors who were part of our history, but also to give space to new names, which take this inheritance further.”added Matea Marin, the artistic director of the event.
In a world where time seems to run faster, Versus invites us to stop for a moment. Let’s look back without regret, to look at the future with hope and to anchor – conscious and brave – at the moment.
The small theatrical revolution that puts a provincial town on the cultural map of Romania
In a country where the great festivals tend to capture the spotlights, therefore, there are events that, far from the agitation of the capital, manage to move essential things in the living culture of the present. The versus Valcea Festival is one of them. It is not only a theater festival, but a declaration of artistic independence, a platform where the tradition and experiment coexists, and the public rediscover the theater as a deep and personal experience.
“Any festival, whether it is in a small or big city, is of its importance. Versus brings a variety of shows, people and ideas, precisely because we want to be a bridge between different theatrical worlds-from theaters established to emerging artists. This year-past VS-is extremely current and helps us to put this creative.”mentioned Tavi Costin, for “Truth”.
Compared to other festivals in the country, such as the Shakespeare Festival in Craiova, Versus does not want to copy, but to create a distinct, with its own fingerprint. And this year, the difference comes clear from the unique content: from cult shows to absolute premieres.
“We have in the program the trilogy of Sorescu -” The Salt Mountain “, a rare event in the theatrical landscape, which has not been played in festivals for years. Then, three premieres – not one – enrich this year’s edition. Among them: Matca, a show-workshop, and the production of Rolando Macrini-Theory of Today, a nonverbal exploration of emotion and expression ”completed Matea Marin, talking about the uniqueness and diversity of the versus festival.
Sorescu’s trilogy revived for the versus festival
What really does the versus festival do? The fact that, in a medium-sized city, a festival has the courage to provoke, innovate and bring contemporary quality theater where it can be enjoyed the most sincere: close to people. By the public who does not come only from cultural debt, but from an authentic need to feel, understand and be present.
The versus festival not only puts Vâlcea on the map of the contemporary Romanian theater, but does it with boldness and vision, bringing to the forefront of reference from the literary heritage, such as those from Marin Sorescu’s trilogy, but also contemporary impact creations, such as Decalog (after Hess), manifest for art 50+.
Rarely mounted on stage in the country, the three texts – Iona, Matca and Paraclisier – find an ideal space for expression in this brave event. Two of the assemblies are made right on the stage of the Anton Pann Theater, and the third comes from Brașov, a sign that Versus functions as a bridge between cities, ideas and theatrical generations.
“Sorescu does not often play in Romania, unfortunately. This is why we managed to bring his three texts to the same festival – each with his weight and depth – is a special moment for us and our audience.”the organizers mentioned.
Versus: The deck between tradition, innovation and community at the Olt shore
But the strength of this festival is not only in the classic landmarks, but also in the opening to the new, for experiment and internationalization. An eloquent example is the presence of director Rolando Macrini – “A name with international pedigrees”formed in the New York School and former assistant of Andrei Șerban – who holds an innovative nonverbal theater workshop.
“It is the kind of show that can be understood by a Chinese audience”, as he himself jokes, “because it is based on expression, on movement, on pure emotion, not on words”, explained the festival team.
Versus also goes beyond the classic theater and integrates a theater workshop forum, inspired by Luceafăr’s Eminescu, made in partnership with a youth association. Final product? A collective show, played on June 2, which brings young people to the center of the creative act.
The festival does not forget the smallest spectators either. The program includes children’s shows, a theatrical premiere in the form of a performance show (“Parallelepiped”) – A recently nominated play at the UNITER Gala in the radio theater category – followed by a Q&A session, a direct dialogue with the public about the new directions of Romanian dramaturgy, as well as an exhibition.
With a varied program, from classics to contemporaries, from sensory theater to forum, the versus festival is not only an artistic event – it is an identity statement for the city of Râmnicu Vâlcea. A place where culture plays discreetly, but with a force that overturns silence. Here, on the banks of the Olt, there are big questions – about the past, present and future -, with the same naturalness with which the most intimate human dramas are played on stage.
Vâlcea is no longer just a spa or monastic destination – it becomes a hot point on the cultural tourism map of Romania.
