Sibiu International

Theatre Festival

June 8, 2017

The International Platform

of Doctoral Research in the Fields of
Performing Arts and Cultural Management
 7

Constantin Chiriac
President of the Sibiu International Theatre
Festival

A
long the years, the Sibiu International Theatre Festival has imposed, at the level of
Sibiu and Romania in dialogue with the world, the concept of a community’s urban
rehabilitation through culture. That is how the following appeared and developed:
1. Democracy through Culture Foundation;
2. Sibiu Performing Arts Market;
3. The Department of Drama, Theatre Studies and Cultural Management within Lucian Blaga
University of Sibiu;
4. Sibiu European Capital of Culture 2007;
5. The transformation of Radu Stanca Dramatic Theatre into Radu Stanca National Theatre of
Sibiu;
6. The Doctoral School in the field of Theatre and Performing Arts within Lucian Blaga Uni-
versity of Sibiu;
7. The Drama and Arts Management Universities Convention.

For three years, together with our international partners, we have been developing the Platform
of Doctoral Research in the Fields of Performing Arts and Cultural Management within Lucian
Blaga University of Sibiu.

It is important that the research and excellency dimensions crown all these accomplishments
and develop future steps towards the creation of the Performing Arts and Cultural Management
Research Institute within the future Performance and Congress Centre.
8

Ioan Bondrea
Rector of Lucian Blaga University
of Sibiu

L
ucian Blaga University of Sibiu has been a long-term partner and co-organizer of Sibiu
International Theatre Festival, one of the most internationally significant events of this
kind. The programmes developed within the festival’s context are part of a promotion
strategy employed by the university in order to support the young talents who distinguish
themselves in the field of the performing arts. Starting with the year 2015, the study cycles
proposed by LBUS in the field of the performing arts has been completed to all three study
levels: B.A., M.A., and PhD, this aspect highlighting one more time the excellent quality of the
artistic education provided to the students in Sibiu.

The International Platform of Doctoral Research in the Fields of Performing Arts and Cultural Ma-
nagement is a next step that aims at the further internationalization of the doctoral theatre stu-
dies in Sibiu and that values above all the practical aspects of the artistic research and creative
process. I wish good luck to all the participants at the platform meeting and I believe in their
efforts completely.
 9

Ion M. Tomuº
Head of the Department of Drama and
Theatre Studies, LBUS

F
or over 20 years, every beginning of the summer, Sibiu becomes an important landmark
for everything that the performing arts entail. Thus, Sibiu International Theatre Festival
has brought a major contribution to the regeneration of the urban space and leading
to an international opening Sibiu has never seen before. The Department of Drama and
Theatre Studies from Sibiu is the product of the festival and as a consequence it challenges
every professor as well as every B.A., M.A. or PhD. student to rise up to certain excellence
standards. Founded in 2015, the Department of Drama and Theatre Studies within the Doctoral
School of Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, seems to be a young one, despite of the fact that
the foundation was set a long time ago, by means of the coherent development strategy of
the artistic education in Sibiu i.e through the two major lines of study: acting and cultural
management.

The list of the partner universities of the International Platform of Doctoral Research in the Fields
of Performing Arts and Cultural Management is a major supporting aspect for the ambitious pro-
ject regarding a collaboration in scientific research and artistic creation. Last but not least, I need
to emphasize that the platform meeting sets out to identify solutions and strategies in order to
improve the doctoral studies in the field of performing arts and cultural management.
10

INTERNATIONAL PLATFORM OF
DOCTORAL RESEARCH IN THE FIELDS OF
PERFORMING ARTS AND CULTURAL
MANAGEMENT
1. Sorbonne Nouvelle University, Paris 3 (France)
2. Brown University (USA)
3. Suffolk Community Collage (USA)
4. Pace University (USA)
5. Yale University (USA)
6. Arizona State University (USA)
7. Leeds Beckett University (UK)
8. University of Bologna (Italy)
9. Folkwang Universität der Künste (Germany)
10. The Central Academy of Drama (China)
11. Shanghai Theatre Academy (China)
12. Beijing Dance Academy (China)
13. Open University of Hong Kong (China)
14. Hong Kong Institute of Education (China)
15. Japan Women’s University (Japan)
16. Nagoya City University (Japan)
17. Nihon University (Japan)
18. Waseda University (Japan)
19. Meiji University (Japan)
20. Moscow State University of Culture and Arts (Russia)
21. Université de Moncton (Canada)
22. École Nationale de Théâtre du Canada (Canada)
23. Academy of Arts in Osijek (Croatia)
24. National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts, Sofia (Bulgaria)
25. Academy of Music, Theatre and Fine Arts (Moldova)
 11

T
he main objective for the International Platform of Doctoral Research in the Fields of
Performing Arts and Cultural Management is to promote inter-institutional collaboration
and theatre education within the context of Sibiu International Theatre Festival.
The International Platform is an excellent place for dialogue and academic exchange between
young researchers and university staff each year, during Sibiu International Theatre Festival.
The Department of Drama and Theatre Studies at Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu and our PhD
school in the fields of Performing Arts and Cultural Management are preoccupied especially with
the practical side of academic research in our lines of studies. For the International Platform, we
are having in mind events such as one-man shows that are part of some kind of doctoral study
program; plays directed or performed by PhD students; conferences and public lectures sustai-
ned by PhD students and supervisors. The aim of all these co-operative actions is to present
outstanding and exceptional PhD research to the academic staff, the students, the researchers
and the mainstream audience: conferences, performances, workshops, set design shows etc. All
these events will associate with the future editions of Sibiu International Theatre Festival, using its
wide credibility, artistic authority and international academic visibility.
12

PROGRAM
FOR THE 2017 CONFERENCE OF THE INTERNATIONAL PLATFORM OF DOCTORAL
RESEARCH IN THE FIELDS OF PERFORMING ARTS AND CULTURAL MANAGEMENT

June, 8th, 2017

Venue: ‘Lucian Blaga’ Hall, at Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu (main building).

09:30 hrs
PhD Platform Presentation and opening speeches:
Constantin Chiriac (President of Sibiu International Theatre Festival),
Ligia Deca (Education and Research State Adviser for the Romanian Presidential Administration),
George Banu (Sorbonne Nouvelle University, Paris / Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu),
Ioan Bondrea (Rector of Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu)

Keynote Speech
Jarosław Fret (Director, The Grotowski Institute)
Round table discussion
 13

Presentations:
Marco de Marinis (University of Bologna)
Manuèle Debrinay-Rizos (Vice-president of ENCATC - European network in cultural
management and policy)
Andrew Fryer (Leeds Beckett University)
Ileana Orlich (Arizona State University)
Kwok-kan Tam (Open University of Hong Kong)
Terry Yip (Hong Kong Baptist University)
Manabu Noda (Meiji University, Tokyo)
Cristian Radu (Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu)
Noel Witts (Leeds Beckett University)
Charles Wittreich (Suffolk Community Collage)
Aurelian Bălăiță (George Enescu National University of Arts)
Kalina Stefanova (National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts, Sofia)
Alba Stanciu (Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu)
Diana Nechit (Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu)
Doriana Tăut (Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu)
Dragoș Buhagiar (Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu)
Ofelia Popii (Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu)
Vicențiu Rahău (Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu)
Silviu Scrob (Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu)
Yuki Shimizu (Meiji University, Tokyo)
Rei Inayama (Meiji University, Tokyo)
Aletia Badenhorst (Leeds Beckett University)
Petar Kaukov (National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts, Sofia)
Cristina Ghinea (Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu)
Ali Deac (Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu)

Concluding remarks
Octavian Saiu, Chair of the Conference (National University of Theatre and Film, Bucharest)
Ion M. Tomuș, Head of the Department of Drama and Theatre Studies (Lucian Blaga University of
Sibiu)
14

SUPERVISING PROFESSORS IN THE FIELD OF

THEATRE AND PERFORMING ARTS AT LUCIAN
BLAGA UNIVERSITY OF SIBIU

Professor Constantin CHIRIAC, Dr. Habil.

Professor George BANU, Dr. Habil.
Professor Marian RÂLEA, Dr. Habil.
Professor Cristian RADU, Dr. Habil.
Professor Catherine NAUGRETTE, Dr. Habil.
Professor Spencer GOLUB, PhD.
Professor Octavian SAIU, Dr. Habil.
Professor Ion M. TOMUȘ, Dr. Habil.
 15

Constantin CHIRIAC

Constantin Chiriac is Professor of Drama at “Lucian Blaga” University, Sibiu, the Department of
Drama and Theatre Studies, general manager of “Radu Stanca” National Theatre, Sibiu, president of
the Sibiu International Theatre Festival and of the Sibiu Performing Arts Market. In 2006 he received
his PhD from “Lucian Blaga” University, Sibiu, with a study entitled Poetry as Performance, due to his
long and outstanding activity in performing poetic texts. He has played over 50 roles on the stage
and in television productions and he also is the author of many remarkable one-man shows. He has
been awarded his Habilitation in Theatre and Performing Arts and he is the recipient of numerous
national and international awards. He teaches theoretical and practical courses in drama and film to
undergraduate, MA and PhD students of theatre.
16

George Banu

George Banu is Professor at the University of Paris III – the Department of Performing Arts (theatre
studies) and Affiliate Professor at “Lucian Blaga” University, Sibiu -- the Department of Drama and
Theatre Studies. Member of the editorial board and, since 1999, co-editor-in-chief of the journal
Alternatives théâtrales, secretary-general (1986-1992), then president (1994-2001) and currently
honorary president of the Theatre Critics’ International Association, George Banu has written over
twenty books on theatre. Translator and essayist, he has been an important contributor to the major
theatre journals in Europe and the word. He has participated in a number of seminars conducted by
Bernard Dort, Anne Ubersfeld etc, and has been coordinator of the research team devoted to the
study of one of the greatest directors of our times, Peter Brook. He is the recipient of many awards
and prizes: the UNITER (the Romanian Association of Theatre Artists) award for theatre criticism, the
UNESCO award for best documentary about theatre, the award of the Bucharest Visual Arts Festival
etc.
 17

Marian Râlea

Marian Râlea is one of the most renowned Romanian actors and at the same time an excellent
educator who has been specializing for over two decades in theatre activities for children. He is a
professor at the Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, where he is a supervisor for doctoral theses and
holds classes with the student-actors at the master level. He has performed in over 50 theatre shows
and in over 20 movies, has earned numerous awards and in 2010 he has obtained the PhD with
the thesis: Game-Childhood-Theatre in which he approached the theoretical part of the working
method he employs when working with actors. In 2007, he was the co-author of the volume Heroes,
Buffoons and Masks in the Schoolyard and in 2010, together with Constantin Chiriac he co-authored
the volume The Theatre Game.
18

Cristian Radu

Cristian Radu is Professor at “Lucian Blaga” University, Sibiu, the Department of Drama and Theatre
Studies, where he teaches, Cultural Management and Marketing of Cultural Products. He holds a
PhD in Cultural Management and has authored several books in the field: Contemporary Cultural
Management, Culture: Necessity or Ornament, The Regeneration of Urban Communities, and
Building up the Project Portfolio for the European Capital of Culture Programs. He has held a number
of national as well as international seminars on Cultural Management. He was the General Coordinator
of Sibiu 2007 European Capital of Culture progreamme, and Visiting Fellow at Leeds Metropolitan
University, UK.
 19

Catherine Naugrette

Catherine Naugrette is a professor with Sorbonne Nouvelle University Paris III, where he is the Head
of the Doctoral School in Arts and Media. As a professor at the Drama and Theatre Department
in Sorbonne, she teaches Theatre History and Aesthetics. Catherine Naugrette is a specialist in the
history and geography of theatres in Paris and she focused her research on the relations between the
city and the theatre. She authored several books, including Paysages dévastés: Le théâtre et le sens de
l'humain și L'esthétique théâtrale.
She was awarded numerous distinctions for research activity, including the ‘Prix d'esthétique théâtrale
Georges Jamati’ in 1992 and ‘Chevalier des Palmes académiques’, in 2012.
Apart from her activity at the university, Catherine Naugrette is part of the scientific committee for
some prestigious journals: Incertain regards. Cahiers dramaturgiques, Registres and also an expert for
some important organizations: AERES and ANR.
20

Spencer Golub

Spencer Golub is a Professor of Theatre Arts and Performance Studies, Comparative Literature,
and Slavic Languages at Brown University and is the author of several books in the field, including
Evreinov: The Theatre of Paradox and Transformation, the Callawayaward-winning The Recurrence
of Fate: Theatre and Memory in Twentieth-Century Russia and Infinity (Stage). He has contributed 150
entries to The Cambridge Guide to World Theatre and The Cambridge Guide to American Theatre,
and has published essays in a wide variety of books and professional journals. He is currently writing
both fiction and non-fiction. Professor Golub has been a Fulbright, IREX and two-time NEH Fellow. He
has worked as a professional stage director, journalist, script consultant and associate artistic director
in New York City and served as a guest scholar at professional regional theatres. His research interests
include Russian Theatre (in which he teaches two courses, "Revolution as a Work of Art" and "Russian
Theatre and Drama"), the performance of mind through the evidence of film and allied to personal
narrative and dramatic fictions (in which he teaches the course, "Mise en Scène"), adapting surrealist-
based methodologies for scholarly and creative writing (in which he teaches the course, "Abstraction
and Resistance"), and reconceptualizing the idea of "the Baroque" (in his course, "New Theories for a
Baroque Stage.").
 21

Octavian Saiu

Octavian Saiu is a scholar and professional theatre critic. He has taught theatre and dramatic
literature at various universities in Europe, Asia and Australasia. He holds a PhD in Theatre Studies
from the National University of Theatre and Film (NUTF) in Bucharest, with a thesis about theatrical
space, and another one in Comparative Literature from the University of Otago in New Zealand, with
a thesis about Samuel Beckett and Eugène Ionesco. He completed a PostDoc in Literary Studies and
has been awarded his Habilitation in Theatre and Performing Arts. He is Adjunct Secretary General of
the International Association of Theatre Critics (IATC) and President of the Romanian Section – Theatre
Studies of IATC. He has published articles in several international journals, as well as nine books on
theatre. He received the Critics’ Award in 2010 and the Award of the Union of Theatre Artists (UNITER)
in 2013.
22

Ion M. Tomuº

Ion M. Tomuș is a Professor at “Lucian Blaga” University, Sibiu, the Department of Drama and Theatre
Studies, where he teaches theoretical courses. He is member of the Centre for Advanced Studies
in the Field of Performing Arts (Cavas). In 2006 he was the recipient of an important award for
“interpretation of contemporary literature and philosophy,” during the sixteenth edition of the “Lucian
Blaga” International Festival, Cluj-Napoca. In 2008 he received his PhD from the National University
of Drama and Film, Bucharest, with a doctoral thesis entitled Realist and Naïve Picturesqueness in
Vasile Alecsandri’s, I. L. Caragiale’s, and Eugene Ionesco’s Plays and Their Stage Adaptations. In 2013
he finished a postdoctoral study together with the Romanian Academy, focused on the topic of the
modern international theatre festival, with case studies on Edinburgh International Festival, Festival
d'Avignon and Sibiu International Theatre Festival. He has published studies, book reviews, theatre
reviews, and essays in prestigious cultural magazines and academic journals in Romania and Europe.
Since 2005, he has been co-editor of the annual Text Anthology published by Nemira Publishing
House for each edition of the Sibiu International Theatre Festival.
 23

PhD Students in the Programme of

Theatre and Performing Arts at Lucian
Blaga University of Sibiu

Vicențiu Rahău is writing a thesis about the Sibiu International Theatre Festival, From the
Individual to the Community Development. He is an artistic consultant at Radu Stanca National
Theatre in Sibiu, is responsible for the indoor section of the festival and is holding seminaries
with the students from the Department of Drama and Theatre Studies (supervisor: Professor
Constantin Chiriac, Dr. Habil.).

Cătălin Pătru is a young actor of the Radu Stanca National Theatre in Sibiu, who made himself
noticed by the public from the very first years after graduation. He is holding acting classes within
the Department of Drama and Theatre Studies and is writing a thesis on the idea of interaction
in theatre, which involves dancing, animation and film (supervisor: Professor Constantin Chiriac,
Dr. Habil.).

Silviu Scrob graduated the Theatre Studies and Cultural Management line of study at the
Department of Drama and Theatre Studies and has chosen as a subject for the PhD thesis the
management of the artistic production (supervisor: Professor Cristian Radu, Dr. Habil.).
24

Cristina Ghinea graduated the Theatre Studies and Cultural Management line of study at the
Department of Drama and Theatre Studies, is a specialist in communication at the Radu Stanca
National Theatre in Sibiu and at Sibiu International Theatre Festival. She is focusing her studies
on cultural marketing within the context of new digital paradigms (supervisor: Professor Cristian
Radu, Dr. Habil.).

Teodora Domnariu graduated in Acting (The Department of Drama and Theatre Studies) and
her studies focus on the social and educational aspects of the theatre, diachronically (supervisor:
Professor Marian Râlea, Dr. Habil.).

Dan Cogălniceanu is a cultural manager preoccupied with the urban communities which are
not very active culturally speaking. The subject of his thesis is determining research directions for
the identification of culturally diverse models (supervisor: Professor Marian Râlea, Dr. Habil.).

Dragoș Buhagiar is one of the most important set designers in Europe, having collaborated with
renowned directors worldwide. His doctoral research has practical applications in a true artistic
laboratory, in a tight connection with the actor, the director and the theatre manager (supervisor:
Professor George Banu, Dr. Habil.).

Ofelia Popii is famous, firstly, for her role as Mefisto in Goethe’s Faust (directed by Silviu Purărete).
Her doctoral study is taking into consideration the theoretical configuration of the journey she
envisioned when she put her character together (supervisor: Professor Constantin Chiriac, Dr.
Habil.).

Eugen Jebeleanu is a young director interested in the social theatre. He directed the performance
Families for the Department of Drama and Theatre Studies and for Radu Stanca National Theatre
in Sibiu, which questions the concept of family and the way it is integrated in the reality of the 21st
century (supervisor: Professor Constantin Chiriac, Dr. Habil.).
 25

Vlad Bacalu graduated in Acting (The Department of Drama and Theatre Studies) and is writing
a study about the neurological modifications which occur when slipping into a specific character,
when relating to different working methods in theatre (supervisor: Professor Ion M. Tomuș, Dr.
Habil.).

Elena Lotrean is a specialist in education and communication and is studying the importance
and the role of the non-formal education in an urban space with a public educated by the quality
standards promoted through the International Theatre Festival from Sibiu (supervisor: Professor
Ion M. Tomuș, Dr. Habil.).

Ondina Tăut has graduated History of Arts at Babeș-Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca and at the
present moment she the assistant for the vice-president of the Culture Committee within the
European Parliament. She is focusing her studies on the management of the historical heritage
(supervisor: Professor Cristian Radu, Dr. Habil.).

Cristiana Mermeze graduated the Theatre Studies and Cultural Management line of study at the
Department of Drama and Theatre Studies and is writing a study about reviving through culture
the rural area around Sibiu (supervisor: Professor Cristian Radu, Dr. Habil.).

Simona Chițan is a known personality in the context of the Romanian cultural journalism. The
subject for her thesis is the reception of contemporary theatre in the universe of the criticism
expertise (supervisor: Professor Octavian Saiu, Dr. Habil.).

Ali Deac is an actor at the Radu Stanca National Theatre in Sibiu, counting already numerous
roles in his resume. His PhD thesis is dedicated to the influences of the German theatre on the
Romanian theatre context, especially on what the body expression in the postdramatic language
is concerned (supervisor: Professor Octavian Saiu, Dr. Habil.).
26

A Look Back at the 2016 Edition of the Conference of the

International Platform of Doctoral Research in the Fields of Performing Arts and

Cultural Management

THEATRE OF THE ABSURD AND THE ABSURDISM OF HISTORY:

FROM THE 1950S UNTIL THE BEGINNING OF THE 3RD
MILLENNIUM
June, 9th, 2016, Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu

The theme of the conference was motivated by the attention for the theatre of the absurd, as
an important landmark of the last 60 years in performing arts. On this line, we considered that
it is of fundamental importance to relate the theatre of the absurd with other landmarks of the
present days, in order to discuss and assess the problems with contemporary instruments. Hence,
this operation could help building a bridge: its first element would be the 1950s, when, during
the chaos that followed the Second World War, Europe (as well as the whole world) suffered an
acute post-traumatic shock, which made possible the appearance and the development of the
theatre of the absurd. The second element would be the globalized society at the beginning
of the 3rd millennium, which is also in a similar state of post-traumatic shock, with multiple
causes: the collapse of the Iron Curtain (that may be regarded as more than the ‘liberation’ and
‘democratization’ of certain Eastern European countries); September 11th 2001; the wars in Iraq
and Afganistan; the endless series of terrorist attacks all over the world; the Arab spring; the waves
of refugees etc. All these have created strong cultural and social effects and their post-traumatic
effect is almost ignored by the contemporary individual (artist), as he / she loves the globalization,
social media and is very narcissistic. The shock that followed the Second World War is similar to
the shock in which we are living now, but the latter is not entirely experienced (people are now
much busier). Even more, the present shock is continuous, emphasized by what is going on day
by day. Our conference intended to analyze this special cultural context of the last couple of
decades, together with all its implications to the field of performing arts.
 27

Participants:

Constantin Chiriac, President of Sibiu International Theatre Festival

Georges Banu, Sorbonne Nouvelle University, Paris / Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu
Ioan Bondrea, Rector of Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu
Alexa Visarion, National Research Council of Romania
Cristian Radu, Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu

Mariko Anazawa (Nihon University, Japan)

THE THEATRE OF THE ABSURD IN JAPAN. WAITING FOR GODOT IN JAPAN.

Kwok-kan Tam (Open University of Hong Kong)

ABSURDIST VISIONS AND FORM IN TWO CHINESE AND JAPANESE PLAYS

Manabu Noda (Meiji University, Japan)

BECKETTIAN VOICE FROM NOWHERE IN MIWA YANAGI’S ZERO HOUR: TOKYO ROSE’S LAST TAPE

Savas Patsalidis (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece)

THE POETICS AND ANXIETIES OF DIS-INTEGRATION

Round table discussion:

Carole Cusack (University of Sydney, Australia), Cheung Ping Kuen (Hong Kong Arts Centre), Maria
Vail (NYU Tisch School of Drama New York City, USA), Mario Vinković (University of Osijek, Croatia),
Jasmin Novljaković, Osijek (Academy of Arts, Croatia), Ioana Petcu (Universitatea de Arte „George
Enescu” din Iași, Romania), Thomas Langlois (Narval University Canada), Alba Stanciu (Lucian Blaga
University of Sibiu), Diana Nechit (Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu)
Concluding remarks
Octavian Saiu, Chair of the Conference (National University of Theatre and Film)
Ion M. Tomuș, Head of the Department of Drama and Theatre Studies (Lucian Blaga University of
Sibiu)
28
 Sibiu International
Theatre Festival

June 8, 2017

The International Platform

of Doctoral Research in the Fields of
Performing Arts and Cultural Management