Teatrul Evreiesc de Stat in Bucharest

Teatrul Evreiesc de Stat in Bucharest, Romania, is a theater specializing in Jewish-related plays. It is the oldest Yiddish-language theater with uninterrupted activity in the world. Its contemporary repertoire includes plays by Jewish authors, plays on Jewish topics, and plays in Yiddish, with many productions also featuring Jewish actors. The theater is stop 4 of 10 on the Jewish Bucharest tour, which places the venue within the city's Jewish cultural history.

What is Teatrul Evreiesc de Stat in Bucharest?

Teatrul Evreiesc de Stat is a Bucharest theater dedicated to Jewish-related theatrical work. Its distinctive status comes from the continuity of its Yiddish-language activity: it is the oldest Yiddish-language theater with uninterrupted activity in the world.

The theater's contemporary repertoire brings together plays by Jewish authors, plays on Jewish topics, and plays in Yiddish. Many of these productions feature Jewish actors, keeping the institution connected to both Jewish subject matter and Jewish artistic participation.

Why is the State Jewish Theater important in Bucharest?

The theater's importance in Bucharest begins with a tradition that started elsewhere in Romania. On August 19, 1876, the first Romanian Jewish Theater was inaugurated in Iaşi, at the famous “Pomul verde” summer garden. The artist and writer Avram Goldfaden laid the foundations of the first professional Jewish theater in the world, presenting a show with his own band.

One of the first chronicles of Goldfaden's performances was signed by Mihai Eminescu, described in the supplied account as the most prominent Romanian poet. Eminescu appreciated the actors' performance as “very good”. After a series of performances, Goldfaden and his band moved to Bucharest, connecting the city's theater history to the beginnings of professional Jewish theater in Romania.

The institution also reflects the difficult circumstances faced by Jewish artists during the fascist period. There were no performances in Hebrew, and Jews did not participate in Romanian shows. Starting with 1948, the Jewish theater became a state institution. In 1955, the building was consolidated, and its form has been maintained to the present day.

What can you find inside Teatrul Evreiesc de Stat?

The performance hall has 200 seats and includes a sound and air conditioning system. It also has a surtitling translation system connected to performances, making translation part of the venue's documented theatrical facilities.

The hall is used not only for performances but also as a conference and symposium hall. The theater foyer often hosts openings of art exhibitions and book launches, giving the building a cultural role beyond its stage programme.

To encounter Teatrul Evreiesc de Stat within the history of Jewish Bucharest, follow the venue's place in the Jewish Bucharest route.