Neil LaBute directs "Uncle Vanya" for the TNRS stage

The famous American playwright, director and screenwriter Neil LaBute is staging "Uncle Vanya", an adaptation of A. P. Chekhov's play, on the stage of the "Radu Stanca" National Theatre in Sibiu, a show that will be premiered on August 1st and 2nd.

"Shortly after the end of the 31st edition of the Sibiu International Theatre Festival with the theme Friendship, we are in full rehearsals for Uncle Vanya, directed by the famous playwright, writer, producer, director, artist Neil LaBute. It is an exceptional extension of the excellence that the Festival has imposed through the great personalities present during its 31st edition. Neil LaBute has come to work in Sibiu together with the actors of the National Theatre, with the students of the “Lucian Blaga” University and with the Romanian artists, in a team with such a beautiful energy! We are convinced that in Romania, and only in Romania, it will give birth to a great theatrical event, which also marks the preamble for the movie we want to make next year with Neil LaBute. These are the huge stakes that the Festival and the Theatre require, and we are glad that we can carry on the great projects that put Sibiu and Romania on the map of great cultural events", said Constantin Chiriac, President of the Sibiu International Theatre Festival and General Manager of the “Radu Stanca” National Theatre in Sibiu.

The exceptional premiere that the Sibiu National Theatre is preparing these days has in the cast Adrian Matioc, Pali Vecsei, Cendana Trifan, Șerban Gomoi, Diana Văcaru-Lazăr, Liviu Vlad, Antonia Dobocan and Crina Dumitrașcu.

The scenography is signed by Oana Micu and the light design by Cristian Niculescu.

Professor Serebreakov's arrival at his country estate with his young wife, Elena, reveals the many frustrations of a not-too-distant past, but also a series of passions unknown in the present. Sonia, the professor's daughter, feels the thrill of first love for a local physician, Dr. Astrov, as he tacitly competes against Vanea, the estate's caretaker (and the professor's former brother-in-law), for Elena's favor. Step by step, we discover the immortal story of destinies shattered by the passion of impossible loves, but also by the almost absurd existence of idealists facing boredom, regret and the agony of premature old age.

The arrival of Professor Serebryakov at his country estate, along with his young wife, Helena, reveals the many frustrations of a not-so-distant past as well as a number of unknown desires in the present. Sonya,  the professor’s daughter,  feels the thrill of first love for a local physician, Dr. Astrov, while he competes tacitly against Vanya, the estate caretaker (and the professor’s former brother-in-law), for Helena’s favor. Step by step, we discover the immortal story of destinies shattered by the longing for impossible loves, along with the almost absurd existence of idealists facing ennui, regret and the agony of premature old age.

 

Neil LaBute revisits Chekhov’s classic play to explore the human condition, past and present, in a dynamic and sensitive performance that brings to the audience a timeless and universal metaphor for the struggle with our own demons.

The avant-premiere of "Uncle Vanya" will take place on August 1st, at 19:00, and the premiere on August 2nd, at 7 PM, in the Great Hall of the TNRS. Tickets are available online at www.tnrs.ro and at the Sibiu Theatre Agency, Nicolae Bălcescu str. 17.

 

About Neil LaBute

Neil LaBute is a director, a screen writer and one of the most innovative American playwrights. His plays are translated and staged extensively in the United States of America and Europe: Bash: Latter-Day Plays (1999), The Mercy Seat (2002), Autobahn (2003), Fat Pig (2004), Some Girl(s) (2005), In A Dark Dark House (2007), Reasons To Be Pretty (2008), Helter Skelter (2008), Land of the Dead (2008), The Break of Noon (2010), The Furies (2009), In A Forest, Dark and Deep (2011), Lovely Head & Other Plays (2013), Reasons to Be Happy (2013), Money Shot (2014), The Way We Get By (2015). He wrote the script for several feature films: In the Company of Men, Your Friends & Neighbors, Nurse Betty, Possession, The Shape of Things, The Wicker Man, Lakeview Terrace, Death at A Funeral, Some Girl(s), Some Velvet Morning, Dirty Weekend and for some short films: Tumble, After-School Special, Sexting, Denise, Double or Nothing, Bench Seat, Sweet Nothings, BFF, It’s Okay. 

In 2013, LaBute receives the Literature Award of the American Academy of Arts and Letters. 

In 2023, he becomes a Fellow of the International Association of Theatre Leaders (IATL).