United Shakespeare International Festival 2025 in Chișinău
October 14–19, 2025 | Teatrul Fără Nume, Chișinău
The stage is set for one of Europe’s most anticipated cultural events — the United Shakespeare International Festival 2025 — opening in Chișinău. The festival brings together actors, directors, critics, scholars, students, and audiences from across the continent, united by a shared passion for the timeless works of William Shakespeare.
“In a threatened Europe, unity is needed — not just political, but also spiritual, emotional, cultural, and artistic. The multinational nature of Shakespeare’s work has this power — to unite what belongs to the spirit and emotion,”
said Mihai Țărnă, Festival President and Chief Director of Teatrul Fără Nume.
Festival Programme Highlights
October 14, Day 1 – Tuesday
- 12:00–13:00 — Press Conference
- 18:30 — Festival Opening Ceremony
- 19:00–21:45 — A Midsummer Night’s Dream, directed by Mihai Țărnă
Teatrul Fără Nume, Chișinău, MD
(Duration: 145 min / Location: Teatrul Fără Nume, Sfatul Țării 18 Street)
October 15, Day 2 – Wednesday
- 12:00–12:45 — Shakespeare Talks with Simion Buia & Guests (Lobby)
- 13:00–14:00 — Workshop: Exploring Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Speaker: Dr. Anna Kowalce-Pawlik, Polish Shakespeare Society
(Room 25, 2nd Floor) - 16:00–17:20 — Date with William, directed by Rostyslav Derzhypilskyi & Nadiia Levchenko
(Duration: 80 min / Academy of Music, Theatre and Fine Arts, Alexei Mateevici 111) - 19:00–20:20 — Feast: A Play in One Cooking, directed by Philip Paar
(Duration: 80 min / Teatrul Fără Nume)
October 16, Day 3 – Thursday
- 12:00–12:45 — Shakespeare Talks with Simion Buia & Guests
- 13:00–14:00 — Workshop: Shakespeare’s Female Characters: Between Myth and Subversion
Speaker: Dr. Sorin Cazacu, University of Craiova - 17:00–18:20 — Hamlet Mortuus Est, directed by Levente Kocsárdi & Mona Donici
(Duration: 60 min / Teatrul Fără Nume) - 19:00–22:00 — Richard III, directed by Albu István
(Duration: 180 min / Russian Drama Theatre A. Chekhov, Vlaicu Pîrcălab 75)
October 17, Day 4 – Friday
- 12:00–12:45 — Shakespeare Talks with Simion Buia & Guests
- 13:00–14:00 — Workshops:
- Richard III: Actor, Monster, Leader — Prof. Dr. Petru Golban
- Shakespeare at the Crossroads of Culture — Emeritus Prof. George Volceanov
(Room 25, 2nd Floor)
- 16:00–17:15 — Hamlet, choreography by Ina Broeckx (imPerfect Dancers, Italy)
(Duration: 70 min / Russian Drama Theatre A. Chekhov) - 19:00–21:00 — Macbeth, directed by Alfonso Zurro (Teatro Clásico de Sevilla, Spain)
(Duration: 120 min / Teatrul Fără Nume)
October 18, Day 5 – Saturday
- 12:00–12:45 — Shakespeare Talks with Simion Buia & Guests
- 13:00–14:00 — Workshops:
- Macbeth: One Tragedy, Different Directorial Takes — Prof. Dr. Tatiana Golban
- Macbeth in European Performance — Prof. Dr. Jacek Fabiszak
(Room 25, 2nd Floor)
- 16:00–17:00 — Shakespeare and the Masks, directed by M. Fusu (Students’ Performance)
(Duration: 60 min / Academy of Music, Theatre and Fine Arts) - 18:00–19:30 — Desdemona’s Handkerchief, directed by Anca Sigartău
(Duration: 90 min / Teatrul Fără Nume) - 21:00–23:00 — Festival Club Networking Evening
October 19, Day 6 – Sunday
- 12:00–12:45 — Shakespeare Talks with Simion Buia & Guests
- 13:00–14:00 — Workshop:Shakespeare Across Borders
Speakers:- Prof. Dr. Nicoleta Cinpoeş, University of Worcester
- Prof. Dr. Nataliya Torkut, Ukrainian Shakespeare Centre
(Room 25, 2nd Floor)
- 17:00–19:00 — Hamlet, directed by Declan Donnellan
(National Theatre “Marin Sorescu”, Craiova, RO)
(Duration: 120 min / National Theatre of Opera and Ballet “Maria Bieșu”)
About the Festival
The United Shakespeare International Festival 2025 celebrates Shakespeare’s universal legacy — a bridge between cultures, languages, and artistic traditions. Through performances, workshops, and dialogues, the festival aims to reaffirm the unifying power of art in a world facing division.
