Margareta Niculescu – A Portrait throughout a Century

Abstract

Abstract In the last century, Romanian puppet theatre has not only received, but it has also given to the world – which I would personally correct. Perhaps: “it has given to the world innovative, poetic performances that have brought about a new aesthetic vibe.” If you skim through World Encyclopaedia of Puppetry Arts (first edition published in French, under the title Encyclopédie mondiale des arts de la marionette, and second edition published in English, under the aforementioned titled, available online at: https://wepa.unima.org/en/), you will find more information on Romanian puppet theatre than you might expect. A complicated history that has been reshaped subjectively – as is the case with every history. And, given that Margareta Niculescu left this world on the 19th of August, 2018, I’ve decided to turn back to the pages 493 and 494 (from the first edition), as if going in a pilgrimage. For quite some time, I’ve been thinking of getting closer to her, all prejudices, myths and subjectivity aside; perhaps Matei Brunul1 has also helped; do shadows make way for themselves/do they follow us? In any domain, at any time, in any place. What matters is that you want to go back into the light, to free yourself, to be able to remember.