'Richard The Third' [Richard III] by William Shakespeare, adaptation from Vecsei H. Miklos, directed by Istvan Albu, produced by Teatrul de Nord Satu Mare - the 'Harag Gyorgy' company took the Best Show Award at the 33rd edition of the UNITER Awards Gala.

The minister of culture, Natalia Intotero, was also in attendance at the 33rd UNITER Awards Gala, which took place in Craiova.

'At the suggestion of the team, because we are talking about 35 years dedicated to artists, the Ministry of Culture is honoured to award the highest distinction, a diploma of excellence, UNITER, and a trophy, a trophy that symbolizes a book. It all started with the book and (...) education without culture and culture without education is impossible. Therefore, even if sometimes opinions differ, we are members of the European Union, we promote unity in diversity, and I wish you a 'Happy Birthday!,' to continue what you started for Romanian artists, and to carry forward the exhortation: UNITER resists,' Natalia Intotero said on the stage.

The Award for Best Direction - The 'Lucian Pintilie' Award also went to Istvan Albu for 'Richard The Third' by William Shakespeare, adaptation from Vecsei H. Miklos, production of the Teatru de Nord Satu Mare - 'Harag Gyorgy' company.

The distinction was presented by the mayor of Craiova, Lia Olguta Vasilescu.

'Today, many of you have won awards, others have not, but I want to tell you, as on behalf of the audience, that for us, all of you who have dedicated your lives to the theatre, you are the winners of our hearts,' said Lia Olguta Vasilescu.

Among the prizes awarded at the UNITER Gala there were:

* Best Supporting Actor - Stefan Mihai for his role Feste in 'Twelfth Night' [A douasprezecea noapte] by William Shakespeare, directed by Andrei Serban, produced by the Constanta State Theatre;

* Best Supporting Actress - Silvana Negrutiu for the roles of Mother and Narrator in the play 'Parents,' an adaptation of the novel with the same name by Diana Badica, directed by Cristian Ban, produced by the Metropolis Theatre in Bucharest;

* Best Leading Actor - Vlad Udrescu for the main role in the play 'Hamlet' by William Shakespeare, artistic direction and stage adaptation by Declan Donnellan, produced by the 'Marin Sorescu' National Theatre in Craiova;

* Best actress in a leading role - Oana Mogos for her role Valeria (the grandma, Grigore's daughter) in the show 'Queen of the Night' [Regina Noptii], text and direction by Leta Popescu, production of the 'Fani Tardini' Dramatic Theatre in Galati;

* The Best Theatre Critic (The George Banu Award) went to Oana Bors;

There were also awarded several special awards, which went to:

* The D-butan-T festival - a search engine for new coming artists, an initiative of the 'Andrei Muresanu' Theatre in Sfsntu Gheorghe;

* Bogdan Budes (post mortem) - a special award for new translations of screenplays;

* The Purcarete Week - 50 years of excellence in theatre, a project produced by the 'Marin Sorescu' National Theatre in Craiova, initiated by Vlad Dragulescu.

Stage director Niky Wolcz, playwright Horatiu Mihaiu, theatre critic Carmen Mihalache, actor Emil Coseru and actress Rodica Negrea each received an award for the entire career.

The 'Ion Caramitru' Excelence Award went to the International Festival ATELIER, Baia Mare - which had it's 30th edition in 2024.

Emil Boroghina and Vlad Dragulescu received the UNITER President Award for their Shakespeare Festival in Craiova.

Also, the British Council granted an award to the Political Theatre Platform, which was handed to David Schwartz by actress Katia Pascariu.

Among those who handed the award there was Princess Elena, the ICR (Romanian Cultural Institute) head, Liviu Jicman, A.G. Weinberger, actor Pavel Bartos,stage director Bobi Pricop, actress Coca Bloos, playwright Cosmin Florea.

The jury who made the nominations included theatre critics Daria Ancuta, Doru Mares, Maria Zărnescu, and the final jury who established the winners of the UNITER Awards was made of Oltita Cintec (theatre critic), Andrei Majeri (director), Ana Bianca Popescu (actress), Iuliana Vilsan (playwright) and Irina Wolf (theatre critic). AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Petronius Craiu, EN - writing by: Cristina Zaharia)