Lately, Timisoara has become the centre of some significant cultural events: by means of expressing its intention of achieving the title of European Cultural Capital, but also by founding the first Factory of decorations in Romania. The second project's target is to create decorations and costumes for the theatre performances in Timisoara, but also for the lyrical theatres in the country as the main aim of this action is to improve the quality of the Romanian opera performances. Andras Demeter, the Counsellor of the Minister of Culture accepted to talk about these projects in an interview.


The first Factory of decorations in Romania will be built in Timisoara. What was the main motivation to initiate such a project?

People belonging to the world of theatre and that of music have a common characteristic: they dream. They dream a lot, they dream beautifully, and most of the times their dreams become pragmatic realities. Timisoara is an unique city because it hosts "under the same roof" four theatres, in four different languages: the National Theatre, the German Theatre, the Hungarian Theatre and the Opera Theatre, which appeals to its audience by means of music. These four institutions are being flanked by a youth theatre. Also, close to Timisoara there are towns which have their own theatres: Lugoj, Arad; these institutions have a stringent need for a professional infrastructure, which can provide them the necessary of decorations, costumes and theatre props.


The project will be financed by the Minister of Culture and it will also provide decorations for the lyrical theatres in the country. How do you think this initiative will influence the quality of Romanian opera performances?

If we were able to imagine during this market economy period some different situations, totally "atypical" one to the other, I think these could be synthesized under one single name: Production for Theatre. In this context, the difference is that in this production line - for the lyrical theatre or the dramatic theatre - unique products are being fabricated; if it is possible for a factory to produce "unique products" necessary for each setting, for each artistic idea, then we may say that its effect over the theatre in general, is as favourable as it can be.