Artistic director

Date and place of birth: 27.05.1965, Bucharest

Studies: "ILCaragiale" University of Theatre Arts, Bucharest, 1998, class of Cătălina Buzoianu

The young Florin Antoniu came to the State Theatre of Oradea in 1998 – with the idea of putting into practice both his knowledge acquired in school and the talent of the Oradea troupe. However, something did not „work out”: perhaps a mismatch between his projects and the troupe’s expectations. The option for the text „Exerciții de dicție pentru câinii fără stămăt” (diction exercises for stray dogs) by the young Dan Mihu (awarded the 2nd Prize of the Dramaturgy Competition organized by the Short Theatre Week festival, Oradea, 9th edition, 1993 – for the short play „Infernul actelor formale”) was, in principle, respectable. The show – also signed as a set designer, staged in the Studio hall, did not enjoy much success, proof of which is that it only had three performances. It was not seen by critics, so it did not benefit from any analysis, and was quickly forgotten.

Interested in certain texts, as well as their style, value and dramatic structure, Florin Antoniu retranslated Jean Genet's play "The Chambermaids", which he staged, with Vioara Bara designing the set design (1998). Dumitru Chirilă noted in his review for Famila magazine "the crazy courage, stemming from youthful impetuosity more than from artistic responsibility".

He also staged the show „The Nameless Star” by Mihail Sebastian, also signing the set design. The chroniclers unanimously noted the actors„ effort to make the famous characters credible. Fortunately, they noted the exemplary performance of Mariana Vasile – a Miss Cucu who is hard to forget. Mircea Morariu wrote that ”the main deficiency of the stage direction lies in the inability to create dramatic situations that would stimulate the actors.„ The show, in other words, had a hard time justifying its presence on the bill; its laudable intentions, unfortunately, only bore fruit to a small extent. It is clear that, not wanting to lie and deceive himself, the young man chose… freedom, leaving the Oradea theater. His motto, quoting Camus, was: ”Freedom is the right not to lie.”

(Presentation by Eugen Ţugulea)

Artistic sheet – Oradea State Theatre

• Translation and Artistic Direction of THE MAUDERS by Jean Genet, 1998
• Direction and Set Design for DICTION EXERCISES FOR STRANGE DOGS by Dan Mihu, 1999
• Artistic direction and sets for THE NAMELESS STAR by Mihail Sebastian, 1999