Gábor Tompa

Place and date of birth: Târgu Mureş, August 8, 1957

Graduated in stage and film directing at the „I.L. Caragiale” Theatre and Film Academy in Bucharest in 1981 as a student of outstanding personalities like Liviu Ciulei, Mihai Dimiu, Cătălina Buzoianu, founders of the world-famous Romanian school of stage directing.Since 1981 Gábor Tompa is directing at Hungarian Theatre in Cluj, Romania.In 1987 he becomes the artistic director of the theatre, after the political turn he undertakes the managing of the theatre as well.Since 1989 he is professor at the „Szentgyörgyi István” Theatre Academy in Tg-Mureş.He founded the Faculty of Dramatic Art in Cluj and run the directing programme of it since 1991. He staged more the 60 plays and produced other 60.

From March 2006 to April 2008 (when The Hungarian Theatre of Cluj joined the UTE) he was an individual member of the Union of European Theatres.

Works worldwide:

2008Mrozek: Tango -Theatre & Dance Department of the University of California, San Diego, USA2005After Euripides: Medea Circles – Municipal Theatre, Novi Sad, SERBIA2004Ionesco: The New Tenant – Northern Stage Ensemble, Newcastle, ENGLAND2003Beckett: Play – Theatre Thália, Budapest – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj, HUNGARYBeckett: Waiting for Godot – Vígszínház, Budapest, HUNGARYL. Pirandello: Tonight We Improvise – Staatsteather Freiburg, GERMANY)2002András Visky: Juliet – Theatre Thália, Budapest – Hungarian Theatre of ClujA. Camus: The Misunderstanding – Vígszínház, Budapest, HUNGARYA. P. Chechov: Three Sisters – Staatstheater, Freiburg, GERMANY2001W. Shakespeare: King Lear – Vígszínház, Budapest, HUNGARYBeckett: Waiting for Godot – Manitoba Theatre Centre, Winnipeg, CANADA2000Ionesco: The Bald Prima Donna – Athéneé Théâtre Louis Jouvet, Paris, FRANCEMolière: Tartuffe – Théâtre de l`Union, Limoges, FRANCEBeckett: Endgame – Teatre Principal de Palma, SPAIN1999Beckett: Waiting for Godot – Lyric Theatre Belfast, UKMrozek: Tango – Teatre Lliure, Barcelona, SPAINMolière: The Pretentious Ladies – Teatre Alegria, Barcelona, SPAIN1997Mrozek: Tango – Pesti Színház, Budapest, HUNGARYCamus: The Misunderstanding – Akademietheater, Wien, AUSTRIA1996Ionesco: The Bald Prima Donna – Théâtre de l`Union, Limoges, FRANCEVisniec: Old Clown Wanted – Auersperg Fünftzen Theatre, Wien, AUSTRIAMolière: Tartuffe – Thália Theatre, Budapest, HUNGARY1995Beckett: Waiting for Godot – Staatstheater, Freiburg, Kammerspiele, GERMANY1994Shakespeare: Hamlet – Tramway Theatre, Glasgow, UK1992Beckett: Endgame – Wilma Theatre, Philadelphia, USA (workshop)Beckett: Waiting for Godot – Szigligeti Theatre Szolnok, HUNGARY1991Camus: The Misunderstanding – Szigligeti Theatre Szolnok, HUNGARYSzékely: The Moors – CastleTheatre Gyula, HUNGARY1990Büchner: Woyzeck – Municipal Theatre, Novi Sad, YUGOSLAVIA1987Enquist: Song for Phaedra – National Theatre Skopje, YUGOSLAVIA

Works in Romania:

2006András Visky: Long Friday– Hungarian Theatre of ClujHeiner Müller: Quartet – SalTimBanc Foundation Timişoara, Hungarian Theatre of Cluj, Nottara Theatre, Bucharest, Metropolis Youth Theatre, BucharestShakespeare: King Lear – Lucian Blaga National Theatre, ClujE. Ionesco: Rhinoceros – Radu Stanca Theatre, Sibiu2005I.L. Caragiale: The Lost Letter – Hungarian Theatre of ClujAndrás Visky: Disciples – Hungarian Theatre of ClujBeckett: Waiting for Godot – Tamási Áron Theatre, Sf. GheorgheS. Mrozek: House on the Border – Radu Stanca Theatre, Sibiu2004Alfred Jarry: Ubu Enchained – Comedy Theatre, BucharestS. Beckett: Happy Days – Comedy Theatre, Bucharest2003E. Ionesco: Jacques or the Obedience – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj (Nominated by UNITER for Best Performance of the Year 2003)Beckett: Play – Theatre Thália, Budapest – Hungarian Theatre of ClujS. Witkiewicz: Cockroaches – Radu Stanca Theatre from Sibiu2002András Visky: Juliet – Theatre Thália, Budapest – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj2001S. Mrozek: Charlie – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj2000Molière: The Misanthrope – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj (Nominated by UNITER for Best Performance of the Year 2001)1999Beckett: Endgame – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj1998Shakespeare: Troilus and Cresida – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj1997Shakespeare: Hamlet – National Theatre CraiovaGombrowicz: Operetta – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj (Nominated by UNITER for Best Performance of the Year 1997)1995Büchner: Woyzeck – Bulandra Theatre, BucharestBulgakov: The Intrigue of the Hypocrites – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj1994Molière: Tartuffe – Theatre Academy, Tg-Mures, ROMANIA1993Camus: The Misunderstanding – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj (Nominated by UNITER for Best Performance of the Year 1993)1992Shakespeare: A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Hungarian Theatre of ClujIonesco: The Bald Prima Donna – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj1991Shakespeare: As you like it – Hungarian Theatre of ClujSzékely: The Moors – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj1990Heltai: Moth-ball – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj1989Hsing-Chien: The Bus Stop – Hungarian Theatre of ClujSigmond: Raining with Love – Hungarian Theatre of ClujIspirescu: The Coach is Coming – National Theatre Tg-Mures1988Caragiale: A Tempestuous Night – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj1987Shakespeare: Hamlet – Hungarian Theatre of ClujSütő A.: Blithe Wailing – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj1986Poliakoff: City Sugar – Theatre Academy, Tg-Mures1985Mrozek: Tango – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj1984Caragiale: A Tempestuous Night – National Theatre, Tg-MuresFeydeau: Cat in a Bag – Hungarian Theatre of ClujDehel G.: The Innocent – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj1983Bulgakov: Ivan, Wassilievitch – Bulandra Theatre, BucharestS. Mrozek: Piotr Ohey – Academy of Theatre from Tg. Mures1982Albee: The Zoo-Story – National Theatre, Tg-MuresBulgakov: Ivan, the Terrible – Hungarian Theatre of ClujBlaga: Master Manole – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj1981Mrozek: Tango – Theatre Academy, Bucharest1980Büchner: Woyzeck – Hungarian Theatre, Sfîntu-Gheorghe1979Beckett: Happy Days – Theatre Academy, Bucharest

Teaching Experience:

1990–1995 - Head of directing at the Theatre Academy in Tg-Mures, Romania1991 – Founder of the Theatre and Drama Faculty in Cluj, RomaniaSince 2007 – Head of Directing at theTheatre and Dance Department of the University of California, San Diego

Classes for actors at the State Theatre School in Freiburg, Germany, 19951999 – Theatre Academy, Barcelona1999–2000 – classes at Institut del Teatre Barcelona and Terrassa, Spain

Workshops for directors:

International Workshop Festival, Manchester, UK 1993International Workshop Festival, Glasgow, UK 1994International Workshop Festival, Belfast, UK 2000Festival de la Francophonie, Limoges, France 2003Workshop on Shakespeare, Palma de Mallorca, Spain 2003Brunel University, London, UK 2005 (directing MA programme)

Movies:

ShortsBehind the Mask - director (Romanian Television) 1978Fugue - director (Romanian Television) 1979

FeaturesChinese Defence – director (Hungarian-Romanian-French coproduction) 1999

Published works:

Lidércbánya – Mine of Nightmares (selected poems, Pallas Akadémia, 2004)Noé Színháza – Noah’s Theatre (selected poems, Pallas Akadémia, 2004)A hűtlen színház – The Unfaithful Theatre An essay on stage direction, Bucharest, 1987)A késdöfés gyöngédsége – The Tenderness of Stabbing (studies, Cluj, Romania, 1995)Óra, árnyékok – Clock, Shadows (poems, Bucharest, Romania, 1989)Készenlét – Alertness (poems, Budapest, Hungary, 1990)Romániai magyar négykezesek – Four-handed Pieces (poems, with A. Visky, Pécs, Hungary, 1994)Aki nem én – Not I (poems, Tg-Mures, Romania, 1996)Depressio Transilvanyae – (Four-handed sonnets with A. F. Kovács, Csíkszereda, Romania, 1998)

Books about his work:

TOMPA GÁBOR színházi világa / Viziuni scenice/ Theatrical Visions - Koinónia, Cluj, Romania, 2007Conversation in Six Acts by Florica Ichim – Bucharest, Romania, 2003

Awards:

UNITER (Romanian Theater Union)- Nominated to the Best Performance Award, 2005 (Waiting for Godot)- Nominated to the Best Performance Award, 2003 (Jacques or the Obedience)- Award for Excellence – 2002- Best Director of the Year in Romania (1984–ATM, 1987–ATM, 1993, and 1997)- Best Performance of the Year (1989, 1992)Artist Meritorious of Hungary (2002)The Distinction of the Romanian President, 2000Critics' Award (ITI Romania, 1997)“Interference”- Price of Romanian Culture Foundation, 1997Best Performance of the Year in Yugoslavia (1990)Best Foreign Performance of the Year in England (1993)The Festival of the Romanian Comedy (2007) – Best DirectingThe Festival of the Romanian Dramaturgy (2004) – Best Directing”I. L. Caragiale" National Theatre Festival – Best Directing (1992, 1996)Hungarian National Theatre Festival (1996) – Best DirectorInternational Theatre Festival - Kisinov (1994)- Best Director- Best PerformanceTheaterpreis, Stuttgart (1995)Media Excellency Prize (2008)Golden Apple Award (2007)Szabadság Prise (2004)EMKE-Prise (1992)Kriterion-Prise (1997)“Cuvîntul“- Prise, (1996)Open Society Foundation Romania - Prise for Contemporary Arts • theatre, 1998Nomination for The Irish Times Award - 1999 for Waiting for GodotBest First Feature Award, International Film Festival, Salerno, Italy, for his “Chinese Defence”

Spoken Languages:Hungarian, Romanian, English, German, French, Catalan [www.huntheater.ro]