ICR Romanian Cultural Institute London

Elevator @ Romanian Season

         

Overwhelming emotions, intriguing stories, amazing characters and a storm of feelings invades this month the scene of The New Diorama Theatre London, in a series of performances produced by Firehouse Creative Productions. The Season showcases new works by emerging Romanian artists through a series of book and play readings, post show talks, an ongoing art installation and music.

Click here for the full programme of the Romanian Season.

Elevator, the main production of the Romanian Season, is the original stage version of the successful film, written by Gabriel Pintilei and translated by Cristina Catalina.

Two teenagers. A jammed lift. No mobile signal.
Inspired by a true story, Gabriel Pintilei's moving two-hander explores human dynamics in an extreme environment as it follows two youngsters journey through one of life's worst nightmares.
Spurred on by a sense of romantic adventure, they find themselves trapped inside the lift of an abandoned building. As one failed escape attempt follows another, and jokes are wearing thin, how long before innocence, friendship and stamina collapse under the weight of their confined existence?

Elevator might have more to say than you would think about teenagers' lives in Romania, about looking for a way to escape the confinement of their trapped existence, for all the apparent freedom a mobile phone would seem to offer and it may even have more to say about the experience of growing up as a wider, human experience.
Noel Megahey, DVD Times

Winner of Best New Play at the Romanian Dramaturgy Festival 2007.

Directed by: Rachel Parish; Design: Will Holt;
Original music: Joe Hastings; Costumes: Jemima Carter-Lewis
Cast: Amrita Acharia, Bradley Hall
Running time: approx. 1 hour, no interval
Age guidance: 16+

When: 4 - 22 May: Tue-Sat 7.30pm, Sat mat 3.30pm;
         Thu 6 May 7pm - Press night, followed by post show talk with cast and creatives;
         Thu 13 May - Gala night featuring Romanian singer songwriter Monooka, strong tipples and culinary delights;
         post show talk with the writer.
Where: The New Diorama Theatre, 15 Triton Street, Regent’s Place, NW1 3BF, London;
Tickets: www.newdiorama.com.