A modern and indigenous adaptation of the play “Orfani” by Dennis Kelly will premiere in Bucharest, this autumn, directed by Laura Ducu (Sedința cu parărinii, All you need is LUV, Făză longu).
The cast includes talented actors of the new generation, constant presences on the stages of independent theaters in Bucharest – Iulia Alexandra Neacșu, Șerban Ghilvaci and Robert Oprea. The show is a production of the Urbandada Association, co-financed by the National Cultural Fund Administration (AFCN). As part of the program “Independent premiere shows” held by Teatrelli, the ORFANI show will have its first two performances in Bucharest on October 1 and 2, from 8:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased on eventbook.ro
Irina and Dan are having dinner in their apartment in a neighborhood on the outskirts of the city. The evening is turned upside down by Luci, Irina’s brother, who suddenly appears at the door in a shocking pose, after a violent incident in which he took part. ORFANI explores the fine lines between good and evil, trying to find the answer to an ever-present question: how far are we willing to go to protect our loved ones?
“Dennis Kelly’s text was the perfect playground for me to explore the depth with which childhood trauma, but also the failure of the social system, influences the dynamics of couple, family, interpersonal relationships. Good people sometimes make bad choices. And bad people sometimes make good choices too. The line between right and wrong can sometimes become very difficult to distinguish, good intentions and moral values can be easily perverted by fear, discrimination and trauma. About the complex dance of all this is our show which I hope will shine a light on what remains really important at the end of a long dark night”, said Laura Ducu.
Director Laura Ducu. PHOTO: Cristian Bajora
Dennis Kelly is one of Britain’s most influential contemporary playwrights, recognized for the depth and complexity of his texts. Among his famous songs, in addition to “Orphans”, are “Love and Money” and “DNA”. Beyond his work in theatre, Kelly is also known for writing the BBC sitcom Pulling, which won a British Comedy Award in 2008, cementing his reputation in the British entertainment industry, and for his film adaptation of Matilda the Musical. In addition to his theatrical and film career, Dennis Kelly was noted for his strong public stances on important social issues such as hospital conditions and the quality of medical services in Ireland.
ORFANI reflects local realities and explores themes such as family ties, racism, abandonment and solidarity in the face of adversity in the most up-to-date and transparent way. Beyond the performances of the show, which will take place on the stage of several independent cultural spaces in Bucharest, but also on the stage of the “Toma Caragiu” Theater in Ploiești, the project will bring into discussion, through a series of debates and workshops dedicated to teenagers, the integration problems that institutionalized children encounter, once they leave the foster care system.
It is the fifth show directed by Laura Ducu in the last three years, the director being preoccupied all this time with the theme of the fragility of the human being, the overwhelming impact of the social context on individual development, the alienation that occurs as a result of the impossibility to communicate and above all the relativization of perspectives in according to gender.
The scenography of the show is designed by MStudio, under the coordination of Marius A. Stănică and the assistance provided by Iness Roșca, the production is signed by Rareș Mihnea Hanțiu, and the soundtrack has original music composed by Andreea Verde. Oana Furdea is the project manager.
