Gábor Tompa
Encyclopedia
Gábor Tompa is a Romania
n theater director
and teacher, born in Târgu Mureş on August 8, 1957. Since 2007 he has been Head of Directing at the Theatre and Dance Department of the University of California
, San Diego. He is the general and artistic director of the Hungarian Theatre of Cluj since 1990, the theatre is member of the Union of the Theatres of Europe
(UTE) since 2008.
in 1981 as a student of Liviu Ciulei
, Mihai Dimiu, Cătălina Buzoianu, founders of the world-famous Romanian school of stage directing. Since 1981 Tompa has directed plays at the Cluj-Napoca Hungarian Theatre
in Cluj-Napoca
. In 1987 he became the artistic director
of the theatre, after the Romanian Revolution of 1989
he became the managing of the theatre as well. He has staged more the 60 plays and produced other 60 in the United Kingdom
, France, Germany, and Spain, in addition to Hungary
and Romania - in English, French, German, Romanian, Hungarian, and other languages.
Since 1989 he has been professor at the Szentgyörgyi István Theatre Academy in Târgu Mureş. He founded the Faculty of Dramatic Art in Cluj and has run its directing programme since 1991. From 1990 – 1995 he was head of directing at the Theatre Academy in Târgu Mureş; in 1991 he founded the Theatre and Drama Faculty in Cluj-Napoca. In 2005 he directed the M.A. program at Brunel University
, London, UK. He has taught classes and workshops for actors and directors in Spain, the UK, and France.
From March 2006 to April 2008 (when the Hungarian Theatre of Cluj joined the UTE), he was an individual member of the Union of the Theatres of Europe.
Features:
- Nominated for Best Performance Award, 2011 (Leonce and Lena)
- Nominated to the Best Performance Award, 2005 (Waiting for Godot)
- Nominated to the Best Performance Award, 2003 (Jacques or the Obedience)
- Award for Excellence – 2002
- Best Director of the Year in Romania (1984–ATM, 1987–ATM, 1993, 1997 and 2008)
- Best Performance of the Year (1989, 1992, 2008)
- Best Director
- Best Performance
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
n theater director
Theatre direction
A theatre director or stage director is a practitioner in the theatre field who oversees and orchestrates the mounting of a theatre production by unifying various endeavours and aspects of production...
and teacher, born in Târgu Mureş on August 8, 1957. Since 2007 he has been Head of Directing at the Theatre and Dance Department of the University of California
University of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
, San Diego. He is the general and artistic director of the Hungarian Theatre of Cluj since 1990, the theatre is member of the Union of the Theatres of Europe
Union of the Theatres of Europe
The Union of the Theatres of Europe is an alliance of European public theatres. It serves to promote European integration through cultural interaction....
(UTE) since 2008.
Professional career
He graduated in stage and film directing at the I.L. Caragiale Theatre and Film Academy in BucharestBucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
in 1981 as a student of Liviu Ciulei
Liviu Ciulei
Liviu Ciulei was a Romanian theater and film director, film writer, actor, architect, educator, costume and set designer. During a career spanning over 50 years, he was described by Newsweek as "one of the boldest and most challenging figures on the international scene".-Biography:Born in...
, Mihai Dimiu, Cătălina Buzoianu, founders of the world-famous Romanian school of stage directing. Since 1981 Tompa has directed plays at the Cluj-Napoca Hungarian Theatre
Cluj-Napoca Hungarian Theatre
The Hungarian Theatre of Cluj was founded in 1792 and is located in Cluj-Napoca, the fourth largest city in Romania. It was the first Hungarian theatre company in Transylvania, now a part of modern day Romania. The Hungarian Theatre of Cluj functions as a repertory theatre, entirely subsidized by...
in Cluj-Napoca
Cluj-Napoca
Cluj-Napoca , commonly known as Cluj, is the fourth most populous city in Romania and the seat of Cluj County in the northwestern part of the country. Geographically, it is roughly equidistant from Bucharest , Budapest and Belgrade...
. In 1987 he became the artistic director
Artistic director
An artistic director is the executive of an arts organization, particularly in a theatre company, that handles the organization's artistic direction. He or she is generally a producer and director, but not in the sense of a mogul, since the organization is generally a non-profit organization...
of the theatre, after the Romanian Revolution of 1989
Romanian Revolution of 1989
The Romanian Revolution of 1989 was a series of riots and clashes in December 1989. These were part of the Revolutions of 1989 that occurred in several Warsaw Pact countries...
he became the managing of the theatre as well. He has staged more the 60 plays and produced other 60 in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, France, Germany, and Spain, in addition to Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
and Romania - in English, French, German, Romanian, Hungarian, and other languages.
Since 1989 he has been professor at the Szentgyörgyi István Theatre Academy in Târgu Mureş. He founded the Faculty of Dramatic Art in Cluj and has run its directing programme since 1991. From 1990 – 1995 he was head of directing at the Theatre Academy in Târgu Mureş; in 1991 he founded the Theatre and Drama Faculty in Cluj-Napoca. In 2005 he directed the M.A. program at Brunel University
Brunel University
Brunel University is a public research university located in Uxbridge, London, United Kingdom. The university is named after the Victorian engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel....
, London, UK. He has taught classes and workshops for actors and directors in Spain, the UK, and France.
From March 2006 to April 2008 (when the Hungarian Theatre of Cluj joined the UTE), he was an individual member of the Union of the Theatres of Europe.
Works worldwide
- Dido and Aeneas - Bach Collegium (San Diego, USA, 2011)
- Ruins True – Coproduced by the Sushi Center for the Urban Arts, San Diego, USA and the Hungarian Theatre of Cluj (2010)
- Büchner: Woyzeck - la Jolla Playhouse-Potiker Theatre (San Diego, USA, 2009)
- Mrozek: Tango - Theatre & Dance Department of the University of California (San Diego, USA, 2008)
- After Euripides: Medea Circles – Municipal Theatre (Novi Sad, SERBIA, 2005)
- Ionesco: The New Tenant – Northern Stage Ensemble (Newcastle, ENGLAND, 2004)
- Beckett: Play – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj, Theatre Thália (Budapest, HUNGARY, 2003)
- Beckett: Waiting for Godot – Vígszínház (Budapest, HUNGARY, 2003)
- L. Pirandello: Tonight We Improvise – Staatsteather Freiburg (GERMANY, 2003)
- András Visky: Juliet – Theatre Thália, Budapest – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj (2002)
- A. Camus: The Misunderstanding – Vígszínház (Budapest, HUNGARY, 2002)
- A. P. Chekhov: Three Sisters – Staatstheater Freiburg (GERMANY,2002)
- W. Shakespeare: King Lear – Vígszínház (Budapest, HUNGARY, 2001)
- Beckett: Waiting for Godot – Manitoba Theatre Centre (Winnipeg, CANADA, 2001)
- Ionesco: The Bald Prima Donna – Athéneé Théâtre Louis Jouvet (Paris, FRANCE, 2000)
- Molière: Tartuffe – Théâtre de l`Union (Limoges, FRANCE, 2000)
- Beckett: Endgame – Teatre Principal de Palma (SPAIN, 2000)
- Beckett: Waiting for Godot – Lyric Theatre Belfast (UK, 1999)
- Mrozek: Tango – Teatre Lliure (Barcelona, SPAIN, 1999)
- Molière: The Pretentious Ladies – Teatre Alegria (Barcelona, SPAIN, 1999)
- Mrozek: Tango – Pesti Színház (Budapest, HUNGARY, 1997)
- Camus: The Misunderstanding – Akademietheater (Wien, AUSTRIA, 1997)
- Ionesco: The Bald Prima Donna – Théâtre de l`Union (Limoges, FRANCE, 1996)
- Visniec: Old Clown Wanted – Auersperg Fünftzen Theatre (Wien, AUSTRIA, 1996)
- Molière: Tartuffe – Thália Theatre (Budapest, HUNGARY, 1996)
- Beckett: Waiting for Godot – Staatstheater, Freiburg, Kammerspiele (GERMANY, 1995)
- Shakespeare: Hamlet – Tramway Theatre (Glasgow, UK, 1994)
- Beckett: Endgame – Wilma Theatre (Philadelphia, USA, 1992 - workshop)
- Beckett: Waiting for Godot – Szigligeti Theatre Szolnok (HUNGARY, 1992)
- Camus: The Misunderstanding – Szigligeti Theatre Szolnok (HUNGARY, 1991)
- Székely: The Moors – CastleTheatre Gyula (HUNGARY, 1991)
- Büchner: Woyzeck – Municipal Theatre (Novi Sad, YUGOSLAVIA, 1990)
- Enquist: Song for Phaedra – National Theatre Skopje (YUGOSLAVIA, 1987)
Works in Romania
- Molière: The Misanthrope - National Theatre of Iaşi (2011)
- Georg Büchner: Leonce and Lena – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj (2010)
- W. A. Mozart: Don Giovanni – National Opera of Cluj (2010)
- András Visky: Alcoholics – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj (2010)
- András Visky: Born for Never – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj (2009)
- E. Ionesco - The Bald Prima Donna – Lucian Blaga National Theater (Cluj, 2009)
- A. P. Chekhov: Three Sisters – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj (2008)
- W. Shakespeare - Richard III – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj - Gyula Castle Theatre, Hungary (2008)
- András Visky: Long Friday– Hungarian Theatre of Cluj (2006)
- Heiner Müller: Quartet – SalTimBanc Foundation Timişoara, Hungarian Theatre of Cluj, Nottara Theatre, Bucharest, Metropolis Youth Theatre (Bucharest, 2006)
- Shakespeare: King Lear – Lucian Blaga National Theatre (Cluj, 2006)
- E. Ionesco: Rhinoceros – Radu Stanca Theatre (Sibiu, 2006)
- I.L. Caragiale: The Lost Letter – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj (2005)
- András Visky: Disciples – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj (2005)
- Beckett: Waiting for Godot – Tamási Áron Theatre, Sf. Gheorghe (2005)
- S. Mrozek: House on the Border – Radu Stanca Theatre (Sibiu, 2005)
- Alfred Jarry: Ubu Enchained – Comedy Theatre (Bucharest,2004)
- S. Beckett: Happy Days – Comedy Theatre (Bucharest, 2004)
- E. Ionesco: Jacques or the Obedience – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj (2003, Nominated by UNITER for Best Performance of the Year)
- S. Beckett: Play – Theatre Thália, Budapest – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj (2003)
- S. Witkiewicz: Cockroaches – Radu Stanca Theatre (Sibiu, 2003)
- András Visky: Juliet – Theatre Thália, Budapest – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj (2002)
- S. Mrozek: Charlie – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj (2001)
- Molière: The Misanthrope – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj (2000, Nominated by UNITER for Best Performance of the Year 2001)
- S. Beckett: Endgame – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj (1999)
- Shakespeare: Troilus and Cresida – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj (1998)
- Shakespeare: Hamlet – National Theatre Craiova (1997)
- Gombrowicz: Operetta – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj (1997, Nominated by UNITER for Best Performance of the Year)
- Büchner: Woyzeck – Bulandra Theatre (Bucharest, 1995)
- Bulgakov: The Intrigue of the Hypocrites – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj (1995)
- Molière: Tartuffe – Theatre Academy (Tg-Mures, 1994)
- Camus: The Misunderstanding – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj (1993, Nominated by UNITER for Best Performance of the Year)
- Shakespeare: A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj (1992)
- Ionesco: The Bald Prima Donna – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj (1992)
- Shakespeare: As you like it – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj (1991)
- Székely: The Moors – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj (1991)
- Heltai: Moth-ball – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj (1990)
- Hsing-Chien: The Bus Stop – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj (1989)
- Sigmond: Raining with Love – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj (1989)
- Ispirescu: The Coach is Coming – National Theatre Tg-Mures (1989)
- Caragiale: A Tempestuous Night – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj (1988)
- Shakespeare: Hamlet – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj (1987)
- Sütő A.: Blithe Wailing – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj (1987)
- Poliakoff: City Sugar – Theatre Academy (Tg-Mures, 1986)
- Mrozek: Tango – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj (1985)
- Caragiale: A Tempestuous Night – National Theatre (Tg-Mures,1984)
- Feydeau: Cat in a Bag – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj (1984)
- Dehel G.: The Innocent – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj (1984)
- Bulgakov: Ivan, Wassilievitch – Bulandra Theatre (Bucharest, 1983)
- S. Mrozek: Piotr Ohey – Academy of Theatre from Tg. Mures (1983)
- Albee: The Zoo-Story – National Theatre (Tg-Mures, 1982)
- Bulgakov: Ivan, the Terrible – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj (1982)
- Blaga: Master Manole – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj (1982)
- Mrozek: Tango – Theatre Academy (Bucharest,1981)
- Büchner: Woyzeck – Hungarian Theatre (Sfîntu-Gheorghe,1980)
- Beckett: Happy Days – Theatre Academy (Bucharest, 1979)
Movies
Shorts:- Behind the Mask - director (Romanian TelevisionRomanian televisionRomanian television may refer to:* Communications media in Romania* Televiziunea Română, TVR, the national television network* List of Romanian language television channels...
) 1978, - Fugue - director (Romanian Television) 1979
Features:
- Chinese Defence – director (Hungarian-Romanian-French coproduction) 1999
Published works
- Címke-függöny – Label-curtain (Gábor Tompa's private theatre dictionary, Bookart, Csíkszereda, 2010)
- A tatu hozománya – Father's Dowry (poems for children, Pallas Akadémia, 2007)
- Lidércbánya – Mine of Nightmares (selected poems, Pallas Akadémia, 2004)
- Noé Színháza – Noah’s Theatre (selected poems, Pallas Akadémia, 2004)
- Depressio Transilvaniae – (Four-handed sonnets with A. F. Kovács, Miercurea Ciuc, Romania, 1998)
- Aki nem én – Not I (poems, Târgu Mureş, Romania, 1996)
- A késdöfés gyöngédsége – The Tenderness of Stabbing (studies, Cluj-Napoca, Romania, 1995)
- Romániai magyar négykezesek – Four-handed Pieces (poems, with András ViskyAndrás ViskyAndrás Visky is a poet, playwright and essayist and the resident dramaturg at Cluj-Napoca Hungarian Theatre, Romania, where he also holds the position of associate artistic director...
, Pécs, Hungary, 1994) - Készenlét – Alertness (poems, Budapest, HungaryBudapestBudapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
, 1990) - Óra, árnyékok – Clock, Shadows (poems, Bucharest, Romania, 1989)
- A hűtlen színház – The Unfaithful Theatre An essay on stage direction, Bucharest, 1987)
Awards
- UNITER (Romanian Theater Union)
- Nominated for Best Performance Award, 2011 (Leonce and Lena)
- Nominated to the Best Performance Award, 2005 (Waiting for Godot)
- Nominated to the Best Performance Award, 2003 (Jacques or the Obedience)
- Award for Excellence – 2002
- Best Director of the Year in Romania (1984–ATM, 1987–ATM, 1993, 1997 and 2008)
- Best Performance of the Year (1989, 1992, 2008)
- Hevesi Sándor Prise - ITI (International Theatre Institute) Award (2011)
- Ambassador of Hungarian Culture (2009)
- Media Excellency Prize (2008)
- The Festival of the Romanian Comedy (2007) – Best Directing
- Golden Apple Award (2007)
- The Festival of the Romanian Dramaturgy (2004) – Best Directing
- Szabadság Prize (2004)
- Artist Meritorious of Hungary (2002)
- The Distinction of the Romanian President (2000)
- Critics' Award (ITI Romania, 1997)
- “Interference”- Price of Romanian CultureCulture of RomaniaRomania has a unique culture, which is the product of its geography and of its distinct historical evolution. Like Romanians themselves, it is defined as the meeting point of three regions: Central Europe, Eastern Europe, and the Balkans, but cannot be truly included in any of them...
Foundation (1997) - Best Performance of the Year in Yugoslavia (1990)
- Best Foreign Performance of the Year in England (1993)
- ”I. L. Caragiale" National Theatre FestivalNational Theatre FestivalNandikar's National Theatre Festival was started in 1984. It is arranged annually in Kolkata, India, between 16 and 25 December. Initiated and organized, as the name suggest, by the theatre group Nandikar...
– Best Directing (1992, 1996) - Hungarian National Theatre Festival (1996) – Best Director
- International Theatre FestivalTheatre festivalTheatre festivals amongst the earliest types of festival. Classical Greek theatre was associated with religious festivals dedicated to Dionysus. The medieval mystery plays were presented at the major Christian feasts...
- Chişinău (1994)
- Best Director
- Best Performance
- Theaterpreis, Stuttgart (1995)
- EMKE-Prise (1992)
- Kriterion-Prise (1997)
- “Cuvîntul“- Prise, (1996)
- Open Society FoundationOpen Society InstituteThe Open Society Institute , renamed in 2011 to Open Society Foundations, is a private operating and grantmaking foundation started by George Soros, aimed to shape public policy to promote democratic governance, human rights, and economic, legal, and social reform...
Romania - Prize for Contemporary Arts theatre, 1998 - Nomination for The Irish TimesThe Irish TimesThe Irish Times is an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper launched on 29 March 1859. The editor is Kevin O'Sullivan who succeeded Geraldine Kennedy in 2011; the deputy editor is Paul O'Neill. The Irish Times is considered to be Ireland's newspaper of record, and is published every day except Sundays...
Award - 1999 for Waiting for Godot - Best First Feature Award, International Film Festival, Salerno, ItalySalernoSalerno is a city and comune in Campania and is the capital of the province of the same name. It is located on the Gulf of Salerno on the Tyrrhenian Sea....
, for Chinese Defence
External links
- Hungarian Theatre of Cluj
- Interview with Tompa et al (in RomanianRomanian languageRomanian Romanian Romanian (or Daco-Romanian; obsolete spellings Rumanian, Roumanian; self-designation: română, limba română ("the Romanian language") or românește (lit. "in Romanian") is a Romance language spoken by around 24 to 28 million people, primarily in Romania and Moldova...
) - University of California, San Diego, USA
- A Magyar Kultúra Követe
- Ambassador of the Hungarian Culture
- New Waves in Romanian Theatre
- L'impossible bilan du Festival Off d'Avignon 2009
- Robert Cohen: Theatre, 8th edition, 2010
- Daniel Meyer-Linkgrafe: Who's who in the World's Contemporary Theatre, Routledge, London-New York, 2008