A LAST TRIBUTE TO THE LATE DIRECTOR SZOMBATI GILLE OTTO
The artistic collective of the Regina Maria Theater in Oradea mourns the passing of the beloved director Szombati Gille Otto and stands with the bereaved family.
Many actors of our theater knew him personally, were schoolmates, stagemates and old friends. He will always remain in their memory as a great director and reliable friend.
May God rest him in peace!
Those who knew and respected him are expected to pay their last respects on Wednesday, May 30, at 12 noon, in the foyer of the Theater. The funeral will also take place on Wednesday, at 2 p.m., at the Steinberger Chapel.
He was born on January 29, 1930 in Oradea. He was employed for several years at the Hungarian Theatre in Timişoara, but spent most of his years in Oradea, having an intense and fruitful activity at the two sections of the State Theatre.
We must admit that Szombati Gille Otto directed numerous successful home shows, rightly considered the "savior" of the institution's budget, which was always insufficient. The plays were either comedies - romantic, satirical, detective - or dramas or plays for children. Let's remember a few titles: "Double Game" by Robert Thomas, "Butterflies Are Free" by Leonard Gershe, "Little Pharisees" by Dimitrios Psatas, "Madame Sans-Gêne" by Victorien Sardou and Émile Moreau, "Heidelberg of the Past" by Wilhelm Meyer-Förster, "The Trial of Adam and Eve" by Rudi Strahl (premiere in the country), "A Kidney Stone" by Paul Everac (he was one of the author's favorite directors), "A Farewell Weekend" by Marc Sauvajon, "Crystal Heart" by Lev Ustinov. The following performances enjoyed public success, as well as laudatory reviews: "The Arva of Good Hope" by IDSîrbu (a triumphant tour in Bucharest), "Interview" by Ecaterina Oproiu, "Play Strindberg" by Friedrich Dürrenmatt, "Death of a Traveling Salesman" by Arthur Miller.
If we were to summarize the main qualities of the director, these would be: a sense of the stage, acquired in the school in Târgu Mureş, permanent collaboration with all the creators, the absence of infatuation and tyrannical imposition in front of the artistic team, respect for the text and authors, the science of working with actors, respecting their personality, sincere interest in the good reception of the show, sincere esteem for the audience to which it is addressed.
He has demonstrated genuine sensitivity both in his work with actors and in his writings: poetry, essays, prose. Here are some of the titles that speak for themselves about the director's concerns: "Dreamlike Destiny" - poems, 1991; "The Apple of Discord" - dramas, 1993; "The Philosopher's Stone" - aphorisms, 2003; "The Squirrel Wheel" - essays, 2005; "Legiuitori în umbră sau a treia tablă de piatră" - historical parable-Spartan legend, 2005.
Rich cultural universe, varied interests. With a good command of Romanian and Hungarian, the director collaborated permanently with the two sections of the Oradea Theater.
Artistic sheet – Regina Maria Theatre
- Artistic direction of THE PURPLE FLOWER by Brausevici-Karnauhova, 1964
- Directed by Wilhelm Meyer-Förster at HEIDELBERG OF THE OLD TIMES, 1969
- Artistic direction at BAUDELAIRE BILINGUAL RECITAL, 1969
- Artistic direction at MICHELANGELO by Al. Kiriţescu, 1969
- Artistic direction for DEATH OF A SELLER by Arthur Miller, 1970
- Artistic direction at THE ARK OF GOOD HOPE by IDSîrbu, 1970
- Artistic direction of DESTINIES (INVISIBLE SHOULDERS) by Silvia Andreescu and Theodor Mănescu, 1971
- Artistic direction for THE FOX AND THE GRAPES by Guilherme Figueiredo, 1971
- Directed by Rudi Strahl for THE TRIAL OF ADAM AND EVE, 1972
- Directed at DOG REVOLT by Herman Wouk, 1973
- Artistic direction for AN IMPOSSIBLE GIRL by Virgil Stoenescu, 1973
- Artistic direction GERMANICA IN THE WINDOW by VIPopa, 1973
- Artistic direction for THE TROJAN WAR WILL NOT TAKE PLACE by Jean Giraudoux, 1974
- Artistic direction at PLAY STRINDBERG by Friedrich Dürrenmatt, 1974
- Artistic direction of LIFE IS LIKE A WAGON by Paul Everac, 1975
- Artistic direction of THE NAMELESS STAR by Mihail Sebastian, 1975
- Art direction for BOMBA ZILEI by Ben Hecht and Charles McArthur, 1976
- Artistic direction at MAREA GARĂ NOUĂ by Victor Frunză, 1976
- Artistic direction of WHEN THE GRASS HAS A HUMAN FACE (AND THE NIGHTS OF LOVE WILL COME) by Rodica Padină, 1976
- Artistic direction at the HORVÁTH IMRE TRIBUTE RECITAL, 1976
- Directed by HOT SPRING based on a script by Bokor Andrei, 1977
- Artistic direction on 1 8 7 7 based on a screenplay by Viorel Horj, 1977
- Artistic direction of KIDNEY STONE by Paul Everac, 1977
- Artistic direction of BUTTERFLIES ARE FREE by Leonard Gershe, 1978, dir. Szombati Gille Otto
- Artistic direction of MICII FARISEI by Dimitris Psatas, 1978
- Artistic direction for MADAME SANS-GÊNE by Victorien Sardou and E.Moreau, 1979
- Artistic direction of THE CRYSTAL HEART by Lev Ustinov, 1979
- Artistic direction at INTERVIU by Ecaterina Oproiu, 1980
- Artistic direction of DOUBLE GAME by Robert Thomas, 1981
- Artistic co-director in INTRIGUE AND LOVE by Fr. Schiller, 1982, dir. Zoe Anghel Stanca
- Artistic direction of A GOODBYE WEEKEND by Marc Sauvajon, 1983
- Artistic direction of LIFTING by Pierre Chesnot, 1990
- Artistic direction and translation of ONLY BUTTERFLIES ARE FREE by Leonard Gershe, 1992
- Directed by THE SCANDALOUS AFFAIR BETWEEN MR. KETTLE AND MRS. MOON by JBPriestley, 1995
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Premiere of the show "The Awakening"„
The Regina Maria Theatre announces the premiere of the show "Deșteptarea", a contemporary text by Doru Vatavlui, directed by Bobi Pricop, which will take place on January 17 and 18, 2026, from 7:00 PM, in the theatre's Great Hall. The show is specifically dedicated to the adolescent audience, but is also addressed to parents, teachers and all those interested in how the digital world influences identity formation and relationships between generations.
Self Guided Audio Tour – TRM Theater @Night
Welcome to TRM Theatre @Night, the experience that gives you the opportunity to discover the Regina Maria Theater from a different perspective: not just as a spectator, but as an explorer of a hidden world.
Tonight, the theater opens its doors differently.
With the help of this audio guide, you will be able to walk the route prepared especially for the event on your own and discover stories about the building's architecture, the history of the Oradea theater, the backstage spaces, the stage mechanisms and the small details that the audience usually does not have the opportunity to observe.
From the foyer and the Great Hall, to the boxes, balcony, and the spaces that support the magic behind a show, this tour invites you to look at the theater not just as a place for performances, but as a living organism, in which every corner has a story.
How does it work?
- Press play on the audio file below.
- Follow the route indicated during the event.
- Stop in each space and let the story reveal the theater to you, step by step.
Approximate tour duration: 30 minutes
Recommendation: Use headphones for the most immersive experience.
Location: Queen Maria Theater, Oradea
Start the audio tour and let the theater tell you its story.
