Odeon Theatre
Repertory company in the 1911 Majestic hall on Calea Victoriei, noted for its sliding ceiling.
The Odeon occupies the theatre hall built in 1911 within the Majestic complex on Calea Victoriei, designed by the architect Grigore Cerchez. Its main auditorium, the Majestic Hall, is one of the few in Europe fitted with a ceiling that slides open, a device originally intended to ventilate the room and allow open-air performances. The hall passed through several companies during the twentieth century and was restored before the present occupants arrived.
The company itself was founded in 1946 as a workers' theatre in the Giulesti district and took the name Odeon in 1990, when it moved to Calea Victoriei. It works with a permanent ensemble across two spaces, the Majestic Hall and the smaller Studio Hall, and its repertoire combines classical drama with contemporary Romanian and international writing. The theatre tours widely, takes part in the National Theatre Festival and offers occasional guided tours of the building.
Highlights
- Majestic Hall with a ceiling that slides open
- Two stages: the Majestic Hall and the Studio Hall
- Repertory ensemble founded in 1946
- Occasional guided tours of the historic building
