Teatrul Bulandra

In 1947, a new era dawned on Bucharest’s theatrical landscape with the birth of Teatrul Municipal. This was Romania’s first state theater. It quickly became known as Teatrul Bulandra, honoring its remarkable first director, Lucia Sturdza Bulandra. Imagine standing here, in front of Teatrul Bulandra, on the former site of the League for the Cultural Unit of Romanians. This very building, with its Neo-Romanian style and Art Deco flourishes, once housed a cultural youth group and the editorial office of a magazine guided by Nicolae Iorga. The theater’s first production, on September 17, 1947, was an adaptation of Mihail Sebastian’s unfinished play, “Insula,” directed by Mircea Șeptilici. A month later, they staged G.B. Shaw’s “Nu se știe niciodată” (“You Never Can Tell”), a resounding success that ran for an impressive 111 performances, attracting over 73,000 spectators in a city of around 600,000. Teatrul Bulandra also holds the distinction of hosting playwright Horia Lovinescu’s debut with “Lumina de la Ulmi” during the 1954/1955 season. After Lucia Sturdza Bulandra’s passing in 1961, the esteemed Liviu Ciulei took the helm as director. His tenure, from 1963 to 1972, is often referred to as a Golden Age for Teatrul Bulandra and Romanian theater. Ciulei’s leadership saw the production of 29 Romanian plays and 41 foreign titles. Teatrul Bulandra even joined the Union of European Theatres in 1991, solidifying its place on the international stage. Today, Teatrul Bulandra operates in two locations: this building, now known as Sala Liviu Ciulei, and Sala Toma Caragiu, near Grădina Icoanei Park. From its early days as Teatrul Municipal to its current full name, Teatrul Municipal “Lucia Sturdza Bulandra,” this institution has remained a cornerstone of Bucharest’s cultural scene. Its legacy continues to thrive, enriching the lives of audiences with captivating performances.