BUCHAREST NATIONAL THEATER

HEADQUARTERS OF THE MAIN ROMANIA THEATER IN UNIVERSITY SQUARE

National Theater in Bucharest is one of the main cultural buildings right in the heart of the Romanian Capital. Near the UNIVERSITY, INTERCONTINENTAL HOTEL and Bucharest Museum, the National Theater was built in the same time with Intercontinental in 1973.

WHEN WAS BUILT THE ROMANIAN NATIONAL THEATER IN BUCHAREST

Only a few people know that the first theater in Bucharest was built before 1817 and was called the Red Will and the first performances belonged to Austrian actors. Plays were also performed in Greek. The first national theater appeared in Bucharest in 1846 at Lord Gheorghe Bibescu’s will and the first performance was dedicated to the poor. Until 1877 it was called The Great Theater, then authorities changed its name in National Theater. The building was considered a masterpiece, being just as beautiful as any theater in Vienna. The National Theater was destroyed during the bombardments in World War II.

After the war everything the actors society owned and used for performances was taken and sent to the Soviet Union as war compensations. More, the new soviet authorities demolished the rest of the building. Between 1952 and 1973, great Romanian actors had to perform on different stages that did not belong to the National Theater.

NATIONAL THEATER AND THE AREA IN BUCHAREST

Works for the new building will start in 1967 and will be finished in 1973. Yet, the National Theater in Bucharest we see today is not the same building. A fire destroyed part of it in 1978 and had to be rebuilt more than 7 years later according to Nicolae Ceausescu’s plans. Nowadays, The National Theater has 4 halls for performances: The Great Hall, Lecture Theater Hall, Studio Hall and Hall 99.
There are 187 chandeliers. Two of them are 2 tons each, 11 meters high and 2 meters diameter.

In 2010 in front of the National Theater of Bucharest a new monument was built. It is an ensemble showing parts of I.L. Caragiale masterpieces. A new look, modern, was added to the old building, works being finished in 2014. You can also visit in the area, the ARMENIAN CHURCH.
SEE MAP…