Andrei Șerban
- When?September 18, 2026, 10:30Where?Nodus
A Life in the Service of the Stage
Andrei Șerban is one of the most significant Romanian theatre and opera directors, who has worked on the world’s biggest stages during his career spanning over five decades. He has directed performances in 39 countries and collaborated with prestigious institutions such as the Metropolitan Opera in New York, the Comédie-Française, the Paris Opera, the Vienna State Opera, the Royal Opera House – Covent Garden in London, and the National Theatre in London.
He graduated from the Institute of Theatre and Film Arts in Bucharest in Radu Penciulescu’s class, and already at the beginning of his career, he attracted attention with his performances directed at the Youth Theatre in Piatra Neamț, and then at the Bulandra Theatre in Bucharest. In 1971, he moved to the United States with a Ford scholarship at the invitation of Ellen Stewart, the founder of the legendary La MaMa theatre in New York – this marked the beginning of his extraordinary international career. His professional development was also significantly influenced by his collaboration with the world-renowned director, Peter Brook, in Paris.
After the 1989 revolution, he returned to Romania, where he took over the leadership of the National Theatre in Bucharest, and has since been a decisive figure in Romanian theatre life. His most famous productions include the internationally acclaimed Ancient Trilogy, and Uncle Vanya staged at the Hungarian State Theatre of Cluj.
In addition to his directing work, he taught acting at Columbia University in New York for nearly three decades, where he launched generations of actors into their careers.
At MindFormers, he will talk about his directorial journey and the defining experiences of his career, and young people interested in theatre and directing will also have the opportunity to ask him questions in person.
Andrei Șerban is one of the most significant Romanian theatre and opera directors, who, during his career spanning more than five decades, has worked on the world’s biggest stages. He has directed performances in 39 countries and collaborated with prestigious institutions such as the Metropolitan Opera in New York, the Comédie-Française, the Paris Opera, the Vienna State Opera, the Royal Opera House – Covent Garden in London, and the National Theatre in London.
He graduated from the Institute of Theatre and Film in Bucharest in Radu Penciulescu’s class and attracted attention early in his career with his productions at the Youth Theatre in Piatra Neamț, and later at the Bulandra Theatre in Bucharest. In 1971, he moved to the United States on a Ford Scholarship at the invitation of Ellen Stewart, the founder of the legendary La MaMa theatre in New York – this marked the beginning of his extraordinary international career. His professional development was also significantly influenced by his collaboration with the world-renowned director Peter Brook in Paris.
After the 1989 revolution, he returned to Romania, where he took over the leadership of the National Theatre in Bucharest, and has since been a defining figure in Romanian theatre life. His most famous productions include the internationally acclaimed Ancient Trilogy, and Uncle Vanya staged at the Hungarian State Theatre of Cluj.
In addition to his directing work, he taught acting for nearly three decades at Columbia University in New York, where he launched generations of actors into their careers.
At MindFormers, he will talk about his directorial journey and the defining experiences of his career, and young people interested in theatre and directing will also have the opportunity to ask him questions in person.
