Mike Savuica
Graduate of the New International Performing Arts Institute (NIPAI).
Theatre Directing Diploma Program
Photographer Raducu Popa
Before – The Body of a Woman as a Battlefield (by M. Vișniec)
NIPAI impact – „I was just starting out as a director, and I was directing more based on instinct. After 2 international workshops with the Ostrenko brothers I started using more of Michael Chekhov’s Psychological Gesture. This was the first time I started considering directing actors outside-in, and using actions – doing more and explaining less.”
Role - Director, Choreographer.
The Theatre of Romanian Playwrights (Repertoire Theatre)
Synopsis - The performance shows what happens when two women are abused and what happens to them physically, and mentally. Every scene is a different tableau that reflects upon different forms of hate/abuse (including self-hate, revenge, etc.). It shows that we globally have to make bigger efforts towards fighting for equality, and that history has a tendency to repeat itself. It also shows that if we do
not start taking immediate actions and better educate future generations, history might not change that much. We also show a unity between abuse victims and how they can stand for each other and how they should not be afraid to speak out.
During - Kcezyow (Woyzeck by G. Buchner)
NIPAI impact – „All the diploma program modules helped me build this performance. It was many hours of in-class, and online lessons. I always had support, and a team of people to guide me, and answer my every question. The diploma program was the necessary foundation I needed to make my first steps towards a directing career.”
Role - Director, Choreographer, Dramaturgy, Performer.
The Jewish State Theatre Bucharest
Synopsis - What was first? Man, or sin? A simple soldier on the brink of madness has to battle the choice between good and evil. He lives an infernal loop outside of time. The border between real and imaginary dissolves as the audience is immersed in the twilight zone. The audience is constantly asked if they can forgive their sins. Kcezyow is not a performance but an experience that dares penetrate all one’s atoms.
Festivals & Awards - feeder.ro People’s Award for Best Interdisciplinary Project 2023; Interconintenal Bienal 2023 (Argentina, Brazilia, Columbia); Serile Teatrului Studentesc Festival 13 (2023); National Theatre Festival of Romania 32 (2022); Bucharest Fringe 13 (2022); Art Festival Techirghiol 2022; StudentFest Timisoara 2022; Okaua Festival IX - Won 3rd place – Special Award Most Profound Director; Hyperfest 2022 – Won Best Show; Tamtam Festival Brasov 2022; PASA Festival Korea 2022
After – Grand Denmark Hotel (Hamlet by W. Shakespeare)
NIPAI impact – „Taking all the lessons from NIPAI, I now keep on building, and developing further the knowledge I was given into creating professional productions. My biggest focus on tackling this performance (as it is the most well known piece of theatre in existence) was composition, and rhtym. I wanted to bring a unique element into directing it. During Woyzeck I was using paintings to create images on stage, and now I used my imagination. A unique aspect of NIPAI for me was the way they taught me to „paint” with bodies and actors to create tableaus on stage.”
Role - Director, Choreographer
Grand Denmark Hotel is an adaption of Shakespeare’s Hamlet. The performance brings the classical well- known story of the prince of Denmark to our days. This performance is an in-depth analysis of a dysfunctional father-son relationship.
It is an experimental piece of work that brings together elements of theatre, dance, and music. By experimenting with the junction of these three arts, we created a piece of work that is suitable for all generations. We wanted to create a show that will not bore as well as deliver a strong message. In the era of speed, we have adapted, and brought the essence of Hamlet’s story.
Everything happens inside the walls of the Grand Denmark Hotel – at stake there are billions of dollars that Hamlet must give away to buy his freedom (because of murdering Polonius).
Another element that is different in our version compared to other adaptations is that we have a chorus that acts as Hamlet’s thoughts, thus the audience can visually see what Hamlet is thinking and feeling.
Festivals & Awards - Sibiu International Theatre Festival 2024
