EXCELSIOR Theater opens 2024 with the show PTERODACTILI by Nicky Silver, directed by Radu Iacoban. The first performances will take place on February 9, 10, 11, 2024, from 19:00.
PTERODACTILI, at the EXCELSIOR Theatre
EXCELSIOR Theater is the only theater in Bucharest dedicated to teenagers and young people
PTERODACTILI by Nicky Silver is a text that is performed for the first time in the country and the first show that Radu Iacoban stages at the EXCELSIOR Theatre, the only theater in Bucharest dedicated to teenagers and young people.
“Pterodactyls is a show that is always on the border between the absurd and the real, between the comic and the tragic, between the believable and the unbelievable. Who would have thought that observing a dysfunctional family falling apart before our eyes, we will end up, laughing, wondering which it is the fate of mankind.” Dan Pughineanu, actor
Pterodactyls is a comedy about people struggling with their own identities, just like in life, the characters talking to each other but never listening to each other, And just like in life, they hide in the citadel of their minds, create projections or get stuck in the past, stubbornly refusing to see the immediate reality.
“Serious things are said in this show, sometimes shocking, but they always appear in such unexpected and humorous ways that you almost wonder if you thought it. Together with Radu, we reached an alert style of play, where we juggle large gestures and reactions that force us to always be connected to each other, always “on the hook” and to take ourselves all the more seriously in order to finalize situations. The role of Emma Duncan offered me an overwhelming freedom of play, which I hope I can manage and which I am aware not many actors get to experience.” says the actress, Ioana Niculae
Along with Radu Iacoban (director) and Tudor Prodan (scenography), the show's creative team includes Aida Šošić (music) and Cristian Șimon (lighting design). The cast of the show PTERODACTILI is made up of the actors of the EXCELSIOR Theatre: Dan Pughineanu, Mihaela Trofimov, Ioana Niculae, Alex Popa, Doru Bem.
“I am one of the walking skeletons of this quintet of fossilized dinosaurs in human form. “Pterodactyls”, is a text signed by Nicky Silver and is staged under the baton of the bone trainer, director Radu Iacoban. It's dementia. Both the text and the rehearsals. Although we play in “Pterodactyls”, during the rehearsals I have the impression that we are in “One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest”, a handful of madmen who slalom through the pathologies of characters with dark humor, with colored tears and numb hearts. Unfortunately, it is a world not at all foreign to contemporaneity. I won't tell you more because I am under the pressure of a service secret, which will be revealed at the premiere. And if you can't make it to the premiere, the pterodactyls will stay at the Excelsior Theatre, in tightly sealed cages! So, we are waiting for you!” claims the actor Doru Bem.
Radu Iacoban graduated from the National University of Theater and Cinematography “ILCaragiale” Bucharest with bachelor's and master's studies in acting and directing. Together with set designer Tudor Prodan and composer Aida Šošić, he directs more than 30 shows in state and independent theaters in Romania.
He is employed at the Little Theater in Bucharest and at the National Theater in Timișoara, and in 2022 he was nominated for the Award for the best direction, at the UNITER Gala, for the show Vițelul de aur by Ilf and Petrov, performed at the “Maria Filotti” Theater from Brăila.
His shows address various themes and stories, with a predominant focus on the actor's art. The actors present in the casts of the shows directed by him were awarded and nominated for the most important awards offered by the theater guild: Ana Ularu, Emilia Dobrin, Ion Rizea, Ovidiu Ghinita, Răzvan Vicoveanu.
Tudor Prodan attended courses at the University of Architecture and Urbanism “Ion Mincu” Bucharest, Department of Interior Design, Architecture and Technology and Architecture. Since 2009, he has been working as a scenographer both in the independent and the state theater.
He collaborated with several directors including Radu Afrim, Vlad Massaci, Florin Piersic jr. He has two graphic art exhibitions and signed the visuals of several shows including In Event of Moone Disaster (untheatre), Life and death of Richard 2 (Teatrul Mic Bucuresti), When the rain will stop (Teatrul Mic Bucuresti), Creștini (Queen Maria Theater Oradea). Together with Alex Halka, he directed and animated the short film Familiar feeling, presented at Anim'est 2022.
Tickets can be purchased both online, directly from the website www.teatrul-excelsior.ro, and in physical form, from the theater box office.
“Pterodactyls was love at first… reading. And Grace Duncan, Todd and Emma's mother, I think is the most colorful and craziest role of all the ones I've “played”
until now” says actress Mihaela Trofimov about her role.
“Pterodactyls is a dark comedy about a dysfunctional family. But not one as you would expect because everything is taken to a paroxysm. We had fun rehearsing and I hope that shows in the final result.” It shows the actor Alex Popa.
For organized groups of students, reservations can be made at the e-mail address [email protected].
“The Pterodactyls show is the 23rd collaboration with the director Radu Iacoban. The show is neither a frothy comedy nor a comedy, it's a grotesque family story. What does this have to do with the pterodactyls in the title? We would very much like you we clarify, but…” says Radu Iacoban, the show's director
