The National Theatre building was constructed between 1967 and 1970, based on plans developed by a team of architects under the coordination of Horia Maicu.
The structure occupies an area of approximately 10,000 square meters, of which 1,480 square meters are dedicated to the main stage.
The National Theatre includes three performance halls: the Great Hall, which together with its foyers covers 4,000 square meters (equivalent to the size of a football field), the Studio Hall, and the Workshop Hall.
The Great Hall can accommodate 980 spectators, including 700 on the ground floor, arranged in continuous rows around the horseshoe-shaped stage. This configuration ensures optimal acoustic and visual conditions for all audience members. The stage, with an adjustable opening between 10 and 16 meters, follows the classic à l’italienne style and is equipped to support highly elaborate theatrical productions. Rising above the stage is a massive 46-meter-high dome that allows for the vertical movement of all necessary stage scenery.
The theatre’s second venue, known as the Studio Hall, features a flexible layout. Through a special mechanism, it can be configured for three types of performances: Italian, Elizabethan, or arena-style. Depending on the chosen format, seating capacity ranges from 450 to 600.
The Workshop Hall, with approximately 400 seats, is designed primarily for emerging artists and for showcasing modern trends in theatrical performance.
Inside the theatre, there are 187 chandeliers made of crystal prisms, including two monumental pieces each measuring 11 meters in height, 2 meters in diameter, and weighing 3 tons.
Source: Bucharest, the capital of RSR (Ministry of Tourism, 1976)
