A modern and local adaptation of the play “Orfani” by Dennis Kelly animated several cultural spaces in Bucharest this autumn (Teatrelli, ARTHUBx, Teatrul In Culise), but also the stage of the National Theater “Toma Caragiu” in Ploiești.
Iulia Alexandra Neacșu & Şerban Ghilvaci PHOTO: Lavinia Cioacă
The show produced by the Urbandada Association was co-financed by the National Cultural Fund Administration (AFCN) and was enthusiastically received by the public of all ages. Its 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, and the direction is signed by Laura Ducu (Sedința cu parătiriii, Devorează-mă, All you need is LUV, Long Phase).
ORFANI is a provocative show about family, limits and difficult decisions, and its performances this autumn were accompanied by debates on topics such as discrimination and dysfunctional family relationships, but also by an acting workshop dedicated to teenagers from Communities no. 1 and no. 2 of the organization SOS Children’s Villages. It was coordinated by actress Patricia Ionescu and addressed the correct expression and management of intense emotions and understanding how art can help as a form of therapy through a series of practical exercises and discussions based on them.
Work on the show began in the spring, by adapting the themes and universe proposed by Dennis Kelly to the reality of Romania in 2024, and rehearsals began in the summer. The show finally took the form of a psychological thriller that reflects local realities and explores in the most current and transparent way themes such as family ties, racism, abandonment and solidarity in the face of adversities.
Robert Oprea and Iulia Neacșu PHOTO: Lavinia Ciocă
“The play itself is powerful, full of tension and explores difficult themes, and this required a deep emotional approach. It’s quite a different role from anything I’ve done so far, my character is one who has to navigate extreme situations, facing moral dilemmas and deep fears. And the work process to get to what the public could see was an intense one, but one that I don’t regret at all,” said Iulia Neacșu about the ORFANI experience. “And my character is a very complex one, it comes with many elements that we find in key characters in the play, including Hamlet. The challenge was to find concrete elements that would bring it very close to today’s world, that would make it easy to translate to the public in Romania in 2024, without losing its essence and origin. Fortunately, we had the right environment and all the levers to do this, and after the reactions of the public, it was a bet that we won,” said Şerban Ghilvaci. “And unlike big productions with a lot of characters, here we had the opportunity to work in depth on each scene. It was a very intense experience, one of the most beautiful and relevant collaborations so far“, added Robert Oprea.
The last performance this autumn took place at the end of last week, in the intimate space of the independent theater In Culise. The project team plans to continue the itinerant route of the show in 2025, hoping to reach more cities in the country. “We want to find a permanent and constant home for this show, which is currently traveling. Because it’s a brave show that doesn’t hide behind its finger. I think that, especially nowadays, it is very interesting to follow the path from the victim to the aggressor, in an increasingly polarized society, which shapes each of us in this sense. I liked in all Laura’s shows the way she manages to reveal the nuances of the psychology of her characters, to bring you closer to them from a human point of view, without giving them easy justifications.“, said Oana Furdea, Project Manager of the project.
More news about the opportunities of the next performances will be posted on the Facebook and Instagram pages of the creative community Wickenarium, established by Laura Ducu to bring together the artistic projects (theatre, film, immersive installations) developed by her.
