The German State Theatre Timișoara (GSTT) will participate in the 12th edition of the Interethnic Theatre Festival (IFESZT), taking place in Oradea from 10 to 21 November 2026, with the production “Penthesilea. A Requiem”, by Nino Haratischwili, directed by Eberhard Köhler. The performance will take place on Thursday, 12 November 2026, at 7:00 PM, at the Arcadia Hall of the Szigligeti Theatre in Oradea.
Drawing on the Greek myth of the Queen of the Amazons, Georgian playwright Nino Haratischwili offers a contemporary reinterpretation of Penthesilea’s story. The warrior queen finds herself facing an impossible dilemma: falling in love with her greatest enemy, Achilles. Combining mythology with themes such as heroism, war, love, civilisation and human destiny, the play explores the conflict between duty and desire, individual identity and belonging to a community, offering a contemporary perspective on a story with universal resonance.
The cast includes Ida Jarcsek-Gaza, Ioana Iacob, Radu Vulpe, Oana Vidoni and Alexandru Mihăescu. The artistic team brings together Eberhard Köhler (direction), Mira Țâra (dramaturgy), Ioana Popescu (set design), Simon Ho (music), Victoria Medvedeva (choreography), Vlad Dragomirescu (lighting design) and Bojița Ilici (make-up). The performance is in German, with Romanian surtitles, and is recommended for audiences aged 14 and over.
Organised every two years, the Interethnic Theatre Festival highlights the cultural and linguistic diversity of Romania’s theatre scene, providing a meeting platform for artists and institutions working in the languages of the national minorities. The 12th edition takes place in Oradea, where the festival returns after a 14-year break, hosted by the Szigligeti Theatre. Running from 10 to 21 November 2026, the programme features 20 performances across three theatre venues and brings together a variety of artistic perspectives, from productions by Hungarian theatres in Transylvania and institutions representing German, Jewish and Roma theatre to independent initiatives and interdisciplinary collaborations. Beyond the encounter between languages and cultures, the festival creates opportunities for exchange between artistic communities and highlights how distinct cultural identities contribute to shaping a shared theatrical landscape.
The German State Theatre Timișoara’s participation in this edition continues the institution’s commitment to promoting theatre in the German language and contributing to artistic dialogue between Romania’s cultural and linguistic communities.
For more information about the festival and the participating productions, visit: https://ifeszt26.szigligeti.ro/fesztival?lang=ro
See you in Oradea!
