"Patrel Berceanu" Poetry and Drama Festival
The writer and theater man Patrel Berceanu cultivated the art of dialogue, friendship, and cordial polemic, as a necessary exercise for the living spirit of a city with a certain cultural tradition. There are numerous writers and artists who keep him alive in their memory, as a loyalist of the probity of ideas that give the measure of the creative spirit. In the writers' gatherings in Craiova, he was the most lucid voice - of the opposition to rigidity, ankylosis, personality cult, and stupidity with a crowd. He openly fought the byzantinism of a dozen in certain areas of the literary guild, the veleitarism and duplicity that had become the norm of life, the shortcomings of Romanian theatrical life. He was for professionalism and lucidity in the profession, art, and life. Equally intensely, he was the first to praise the delicacy and discretion of those who understood: true art is for people, not for archives, museums, and personal aggrandizement. The underlying irony of poems or pamphlets targeting opportunists and careerists at the top represented his trademark and coat of arms.
The cultural initiatives and activities proven in over 30 years of cultural activity, in the Craiova theater, where he was literary secretary since 1988, or in literature, have made Patrel Berceanu a writer and an intellectual with superior civic involvement, driven by a rare sense of compassion and friendship. His work, including the theatrological one, can constitute an example of professionalism and altruism, including for the younger generations. The 11 volumes republished by friends within the festival that bears his name, whether they are poetry or theatrology, fully prove it.
On April 19, 2026, he would have turned 75 years old.
The "Patrel Berceanu" Poetry and Drama Festival (initially called the Poetry Festival, and in the second edition the Literature and Drama Festival) started from a shared idea of the writers Nicolae Coande and Mihai Firică. The festival is the result of a partnership between the "Marin Sorescu" National Theatre in Craiova (representative, Nicolae Coande, literary secretary) and the Romanian Writers' Union - Craiova Branch (president, Mihai Firică), which was joined by the Băileşti Municipality City Hall (mayor, Pistrițu Costel)) and, intermittently, the "Amza Pellea" Culture House.
In 2016, at the initiative of Nicolae Coande, an important group of writers from Craiova paid tribute to him at the Craiova National Theatre, the "Look!" hall, during an event called "Patrel Berceanu - 10 years after...". Several writers and artists from Craiova, friends or close friends, evoked the work and personality of Patrel Berceanu, as well as the void left by his early departure: Alexandra Davidescu, Viorel Penișoară-Stegaru, Marius Dobrin, Cătălin Davidescu, Marcel Voinea, Ioan Lascu, Jean Băileșteanu, Cornel Mihai Ungureanu, George Popescu, Mircea Suchici, Angel Rababoc, Constantin Cicort.
After this first tribute, the first edition of the festival (April 18-19, 2019) discussed the literary work of the writer Patrel Berceanu (1951-2006), a combative intellectual for whom poetry, theater, and his committed journalism constitute a landmark of spirituality in this part of the country. On the occasion of the inaugural edition of the festival, the poetry anthology "six kinds of fear, seven kinds of courage" (Ed. Aius, 2019) was printed, edited by Doina Pologea. The project was financially supported by the Craiova National Theatre. The edition benefits from a preface signed by Paul Aretzu, an afterword by Nicolae Coande, and a word on the 4th cover, by Al Cistelecan. The two days of the festival, organized at the Craiova National Theater and the Băilești Municipality Culture House, were attended by, among others, writers Cornel Bălosu, Ioan Lascu, Gela Enea, Emilian Mirea, Ionel Ciupureanu, Liviu Florin Jianu, sculptors Ilarion Voinea, Marcel Voinea, actors Angel Rababoc, Tamara Popescu, Anca Dinu, Sebastian Berceanu, the writer's son, and Doina Pologea, the writer's wife.
The poet Marian Drăghici was the laureate of the "Patrel Berceanu" Poetry prize.
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The years 2020-2021 led to the blockage of the initiative, the festival was resumed only after two years for the now well-known reasons - the pandemic and generalized suspicion.
The 2nd edition of the festival (organized by the Craiova National Theatre and the Craiova Branch of the Writers' Union), September 15-16, 2022, brought into discussion the work of the theatrologist Patrel Berceanu, an eminent connoisseur of Romanian theatre, graduate of UNATC Bucharest. On September 15, the debate on the theme "Theatrologist and literary secretary - the living memory of the stage" took place, focusing on the work and profile books of the theatrologist Patrel Berceanu, with the participation of the theatre critic Doru Mareș, and of Mrs. Victoria Balint, director of the "Iosif Vulcan" troupe, Regina Maria Theatre, Oradea. Moderator, Nicolae Coande. Under the aegis of T.N.C., the monographs of the performances "Titus Andronicus", respectively "Ubu rex cu scene din Macbeth"(directed by Silviu Purcărete), conceived and written by Patrel Berceanu, were republished in a single volume. Poems from Berceanu's work were recited by the actors Eugen Titu, Angel Rababoc and Nicolae Vicol (T.N.C.), respectively Adriana Ioncu and Ionica Dobrescu (Theatre for Children and Youth "Colibri"). At this edition, the poet Vasile Baghiu, a special guest at the "Poets' Gathering", held the conference "The Chimeric Metaverse of Poetry". Vasile Baghiu was the laureate of the "Patrel Berceanu" Poetry Award that year.
The 2nd edition of the festival (organized by the Craiova National Theater and the Craiova Branch of the Writers' Union), September 15-16, 2022, brought into discussion the work of the theatrologist Patrel Berceanu, an eminent connoisseur of Romanian theatre, graduate of UNATC Bucharest. On September 15, the debate on the theme "Theatrologist and literary secretary - the living memory of the stage" took place, focusing on the work and profile books of the theatrologist Patrel Berceanu, with the participation of the theater critic Doru Mareș, and of Mrs. Victoria Balint, director of the "Iosif Vulcan" troupe, Regina Maria Theatre, Oradea. Moderator, Nicolae Coande. Under the aegis of T.N.C., the monographs of the performances "Titus Andronicus", respectively "Ubu rex with scenes from Macbeth" (directed by Silviu Purcărete), conceived and written by Patrel Berceanu, were republished in a single volume. Poems from Berceanu's work were recited by the actors Eugen Titu, Angel Rababoc and Nicolae Vicol (T.N.C.), respectively Adriana Ioncu and Ionica Dobrescu (Theatre for Children and Youth "Colibri"). At this edition, the poet Vasile Baghiu, a special guest at the "Poets' Gathering", held the conference "The Chimeric Metaverse of Poetry". Vasile Baghiu was the laureate of the "Patrel Berceanu" Poetry Award that year.
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Ediția a III-a s-a desfășurat în perioada 27-28 aprilie 2023. Prima zi, în foaierul Teatrului Național „Marin Sorescu”, unde a avut loc dezbaterea cu tema „Teatrul contemporan – criză sau abundență?”. Invitați speciali: Doina Papp, critic de teatru, prof. univ. dr. Ioan Cristescu, directorul Muzeului Național al Literaturii Române, editor „Tracus Arte”, București. Moderator, Nicolae Coande. A fost lansat volumul „Cel care trece” (Ed. Tracus Arte, 2023) – cronici, portrete și studii teatrale, autor Doina Papp, care a fost laureată din acel an a Premiului de Dramaturgie. A urmat lansarea a patru volume de poezie semnate de Patrel Berceanu în timpul vieții. Cărțile au fost reeditate, prin grija scriitorului Constantin Barbu (sprijin financiar) și Nicolae Coande (redactor de carte), la Editura „Revers”, Craiova: „Sentimentul baricadei” (Ed. Scrisul Românesc, 1976), „Poeme în mărime naturală” (Ed. Scrisul Românesc, 1983), „Întâmplarea cea mare” (Ed. Eminescu, 1984), „Lacrimi civile” (Ed. Scrisul Românesc, 1991). Actorii Angel Rababoc și Petronela Zurba au susținut un recital din poezia sa.
On Friday, April 28, a group of writers and friends (Mihai Firică, Doina Pologea, Cornel Bălosu, Liviu Jianu, Julien Caragea, Ana Paraschivescu, Amelia Etegan, Marius Dobrin) participated in a meeting at the "Mihai Viteazul" Theoretical High School in the city, where they held discussions with students and teachers, some of whom knew the poet.
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The 4th edition of the "Patrel Berceanu" Poetry and Drama Festival took place on April 17, 2024, organized by the "Marin Sorescu" National Theatre, Craiova Branch of the Romanian Writers' Union Partner, Pen Club Romania. In the foyer of the "Marin Sorescu" National Theatre, the debate on the theme "Theatrology and theatre criticism - new paradigms of theatre history" took place. Special guests: Ion Parhon, theatre critic, Mariana Ciolan, Radio Romania Cultural, Mircea A. Diaconu, professor at "Ștefan cel Mare" University, Suceava - held personal conferences within the proposed theme. At the initiative of Nicolae Coande and with the financial support of the writer Constantin Barbu, the volume "Theatre in dialogue with the century" was published, theatre studies, Ed. Revers, Craiova, 2nd edition, collection of the "SpectActor" magazine Library. The debate was coordinated by Nicolae Coande, artistic consultant of TN Craiova.
Literary critic Mircea A. Diaconu held the conference "Caragiale. The Machine That Swallows Us", as part of the "SpectActor Meetings" specially scheduled for this event dedicated to the theater scholar Patrel Berceanu. The "Patrel Berceanu" Dramaturgy Award was awarded to the theater critic Ion Parhon, and the Poetry Award to the poet Julien Caragea.
Literary critic Mircea A. Diaconu held the conference "Caragiale. The Machine That Swallows Us", as part of the "SpectActor Meetings" specially scheduled for this event dedicated to the theater scholar Patrel Berceanu. The "Patrel Berceanu" Dramaturgy Award was awarded to the theater critic Ion Parhon, and the Poetry Award to the poet Julien Caragea.
The first day of the event hosted the debate on the theme "National Dramaturgy - what does contemporary mean today?" in the foyer of the National Theatre in Craiova. Ioan Cristescu, director of the National Museum of Romanian Literature, held the conference "145 years - Tudor Arghezi, playwright and translator".
Luminița Corneanu, editor-in-chief of the Romanian Literature Museum Publishing House, presented the volume of verses "Opera vieții mele", Ed. MLR, 2025, the complete edition of the author's poetry, edited by Nicolae Coande (introduction, afterword, critical apparatus). The selection of the poet's anthology and posthumous poems follows his trajectory from his debut volume, "Sentimentul barricadei", to the anthology "Planetă de poet" (2003), as well as unpublished poems proposed by the poet's wife, Doina Pologea. Critics Laurențiu Ulici, Eugen Simion, Alex Ștefănescu, Constantin M. Popa, George Popescu, Constantin Cubleșan, Gabriel Coșoveanu, Dumitru Mureșan, Al Cistelecan, Marius Ghica, as well as poets Constanța Buzea, Gabriela Melinescu, Marin Sorescu, Dinu Flămând, Traian T. Coșovei, Gabriel Chifu, Paul Aretzu, Nicolae Coande wrote about Patrel Berceanu's books.
During the event, Nicolae Coande presented the short prose volume "Pa! Ne vedem în Europa", Ed. Revers, Craiova, 2025, edited by Doina Pologea, with the financial support of the writer Constantin Barbu. Emil Boroghină, Constantin Barbu, Sebastian Berceanu, the poet's son, Cornel Bălosu, Ilarion Voinea, Gigi Truță, Lari Ștefănescu evoked the writer's personality. The Dramaturgy Award named after the theater scholar Patrel Berceanu was awarded at this edition to Ioan Cristescu, university professor, director of the National Museum of Romanian Literature.
The next day, on April 26, a group of friends paid tribute to Patrel Berceanu in his hometown, Băilești, during the event "Poetry on Balasan", the local lake where the poet used to swim with his childhood friends. Along with the writers present on the first day of the festival, the mayor of Băilești, Irinel Codruț Mușuroi, announced his intention to erect a bust of the poet at next year's edition, at the suggestion of sculptor Ilarion Voinea, who will carry out the project.
Nicolae Coande
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Patrel Berceanu was born on April 19, 1951 in Băileşti. In 1980 he obtained his degree from the Institute of Theatre and Cinematography (Theatre-Filmology department). During his student years he attended the "Amfiteatru" circle, and later he was one of the active participants in the "Ramuri" circle led by the writer Marin Sorescu. He was an admirable literary secretary of the National Theatre in Craiova (1990-2006), in the line established by personalities such as Liviu Rebreanu, Ion D. Sîrbu. He was director of the "Colibri" Theatre in Craiova and secretary of the Craiova Branch of the USR (1994-1996). He was a member of the Writers' Union of Romania, a member of UNITER and a member of the Romanian section of the International Association of Theatre Critics.
He made his publicistic debut with poetry in Preludiu (the literary and artistic supplement of "Scânteii tierentului", no. 31/1969). A year later, he made his publishing debut with the volume of poetry "Sentimentul barricadei" (Ed. Scrisul Românesc, 1976). He collaborated on the magazines "Romania literară", "Ramuri", "Luceafărul", "Amphiteatru", "Student Life", "Teatrul", "Vatra", "Familia", "The Literary-Artistic Supplement of the Spark of Youth", "Viaţa Romanian", "Tribune", etc. Abroad, he published in the magazines "Belvedere" (France, 1995) and "Wiener Festwochen" (Austria, 1993). After his debut, Patrel Berceanu published the volumes of poetry "Poems in natural size" (Ed. Scrisul Românesc, 1983), "The great incident" (Ed. Eminescu, 1984 ), "Civil Tears" (Ed. Scrisul Românesc, 1991), "Planetă de poet", anthology (Ed. MJM, Craiova, 2003), as well as theatrical monographs "Titus Andronicus - monograph of a theatrical event" (Ed. Aius, 1997) and "Ubu Rex with scenes from Macbeth" (Ed. Aius, 2000). Together with Doina Pologea, his wife, he signed the volume "New stories after Shakespeare's plays" (Ed. Dionysos, 1992). He is present with poetry in the anthologies "Young Poets of a new Romania" (Forest Books. London & Boston, 1991), "Day after Night" (Criterion Publishing, USA, 1999), Sorescu's Choice, (Bloodaxe Books, Ireland, 2002).
He is the holder of the following awards: "Luceafărul" Magazine Award (1974), "Amfiteatru" Magazine Award (1976, 1980), "Ramuri" Magazine Award (1984), U.T.C. Award (1984), Craiova Branch Award of the Romanian Writers' Union (1991, 1992). In 2004, he was awarded the Cultural Merit Medal, class III, category F – for "Promotion of culture" by the Presidency of Romania. He participated in the Symposium of Theater Leaders from Southeast Europe (Budapest, 1993), the Meeting of Press Attachés within the European Theater Convention (CTE, Paris, 1999) and the Seminar of University and School Theater (University of Corsica, Bastia, 1999). In 1994 he benefited from a research internship at the National Dramatic Center in Caen (France).
He died on May 2, 2006, in Bucharest.
