Set designer painter
Date and place of birth: 31.01.1959, Bucharest
Studies: "Nicolae Grigorescu" Institute of Fine Arts, Bucharest, 1981, teachers: Vasile Roman, Traian Niţescu, Dan Jitianu
Marie Jeanne Lecca got a job at the State Theatre in Oradea after, while still a student of scenography, she designed the set for a successful show by the very young director Victor Ioan Frunză, the costumes for "Umbra" by Evgheni Şvarţ (Piatra Neamţ Youth Theatre), "Peer Gynt" (Iaşi Opera). In Bucharest, at the Small Theatre, she designed the set for an important show by Cătălina Buzoianu: "Ivona, Princess of Burgundy" by Witold Gombrowicz (with Leopoldina Bălănuţă, Mitică Popescu, Rodica Negrea, Florin Călinescu, etc.)
He stayed in Oradea for only two and a half seasons (1981-1984), during which time he designed the costumes for the shows "Arţarii fermecaţi" by Evgheni Şvarţ (1981), "Consolare" by Áron Tamási (1982), an entertainment show (1982), and the set design for "Gaiţele" by Al. Kiriţescu (1983), "Guralivul" by István Csurka (1983) and "Medea modernă" by Árpád Göncz (1984) of the Hungarian section, and a very elegant set and original costumes made of refined, very well-chosen materials, for the show "Ale vieții valuri" by Tudor Muşatescu. Especially since, in addition to the actors of the Oradea troupe, the stars invited from Bucharest also played in these costumes: Radu Beligan, Octavian Cotescu, Marin Moraru, Mihai Fotino and debutante Corina Chiriac. The show, as one columnist wrote, was a delightful demonstration of the sparkling way in which Romanian actors know how to make modern theater.". Since 1985 Marie Jeanne Lecca has settled in London, working as a scenographer for opera performances (sets and costumes, and currently exclusively costumes). She collaborates with important directors such as Ken Russel, Keith Warner, Francesca Zambello and, constantly, with David Pountney. She has designed superb costumes for opera performances in England, Scotland, France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Russia, her sketches and drawings being true works of art.
(Presentation by Elisabeta Pop)
