Luk Perceval: "I Believe Theatre Is, First and Foremost, a Ritual"
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The second day of the Festival began with a Special Conference featuring Cristian Măcelaru in conversation with Octavian Saiu about the things that bring us together and the power of music.
For Măcelaru, conducting is a philosophy of human relationships rather than a technical skill. The lesson he learned from his first teacher has remained the guiding principle of his entire career:
"When you step onto the stage, decide to love the people you work with. Love is an active verb, a decision you make before the relationship begins. The paradox is that the transformation happens within you, because giving love first requires accepting yourself. And a conductor is the loneliest musician in the world: he studies the score alone and steps alone in front of the orchestra, where no one speaks to him."
The following Special Conference brought together acclaimed director Luk Perceval and Matei Vișniec for a discussion about Perceval's artistic vision and creative process.
"Theatre is a space where we share what truly concerns us."
As part of the online programme FITS Talks, writer Marius Chivu was in conversation with Claudia Maior, coordinator of the Romanian companies section, staged readings and the FITS book collection.
Dan Perjovschi joined Ștefania Ferchedau, Florin Fâra and Răzvan Pop for a discussion on art books in Romania in 2026.
Saturday also featured the second performances of Sex, Money & Hunger, directed by Luk Perceval; One Night with Morricone, presented by Italy's National Choreographic Centre Aterballetto; and Othello, produced by Bursa State Theater.
The Metamorphosis, directed by Yuri Kordonsky and nominated in two categories at the 2026 UNITER Awards, was performed to a full house at Fabrica de Cultură.
The Japanese production Noh Theatre Without Limits captivated audiences at St. John's Evangelical Church with the profound beauty of Noh theatre, faithfully preserved by the historic Yamamoto Noh Theater, one of Japan's most prestigious Noh companies.
In Sub Arini Park, The Magical Garden of Storybook Animals provided the perfect setting for children to unleash their imagination.
The day concluded in the Grand Square with a spectacular flying trapeze performance presented as part of the Swiss Season, followed by a concert by Bere Gratis titled Without Queens There Are No Kings.
Gro(o)ve (Grove), the production that replaced the Norwegian performance The Language of Dictatorship, sold out all remaining tickets within minutes and has become one of the most eagerly awaited performances of this year's Festival.
From Soul to Soul – FITS' Gift to Audiences Around the World
"This year, the magic of the Festival extends beyond the performance venues and public spaces. The Festival's communications team has prepared a special gift for audiences around the world: the platform soul.sibfest.ro. Through this project, we want to bring people closer together and show that theatre and emotion always have the power to unite us," said Constantin Chiriac, President of FITS.
soul.sibfest.ro is a free digital platform that allows anyone to send an online letter to a loved one, directly "From Soul to Soul."
To illustrate how kind thoughts travel around the world, the website features an interactive map displaying, in real time, the journeys of all messages sent, while preserving the privacy of their contents.
Sibiu International Theatre Festival: 848 Events and 5,000 Artists from 83 Countries
The Sibiu International Theatre Festival (FITS), one of the world's largest and most important performing arts festivals, takes place this year from 19 to 28 June. The 33rd edition, held under the theme SOUL, features 848 events and welcomes more than 5,000 artists from 83 countries.
This year's theme – SOUL – highlights the idea that beyond technology lies the human soul, whether it belongs to the artist or the spectator.
The FITS mobile application includes the complete Festival programme, allows users to personalise their schedules and offers many additional features. The app is available free of charge on both Google Play for Android and the App Store for iOS.
Real-time information about FITS is available on the Festival's Facebook, Instagram and TikTok channels, as well as through the FITS newsletter at fitsibiu.substack.com.