Interview: MARIA ELENA MORAR / UNITER

"Even if maybe I don't want to admit it, this kind of validation gives meaning to things, especially at turning points, and finishing school is one such moment for me."

This year's UNITER Awards Gala brings our Reactor colleagues three nominations in three different categories. We talked with them, asked how they relate to this nomination and what expectations they have. Fingers crossed for them!

We start the first interview with Maria Elena Morar, nominated in the Best Debut category, for her roles in the show Lalele, păsări și beton ("Tulips, Birds and Concrete"), directed by Leta Popescu.

1. What does this UNITER nomination mean to you, so early on in your path? How does it feel in relation to your work so far and the profession you've chosen?

Maria Elena Morar: I take this nomination as an encouragement and, to be honest, it was welcome. My master's is nearing its end, I'm officially finishing school and uncertainties are creeping in. And this nomination comes at a good time, a sort of "you're doing fine, keep going". Otherwise, I don't think it changes much. Sure, it brings some visibility, my name and photo appear in more places, some new followers on Instagram, a few friend requests, spectators show up who otherwise might not have come to the show, but nothing that shakes things up. So far ☺. Still, I've enjoyed the attention, the congratulations, and I can't wait to perform, it's like I've "unlocked" a braver Maria and I can't wait to see what new things I discover in the shows.

2. Do you think anything will change for you if you win or if you don't win? Have you thought about a possible speech if you get the award?

M.E.M.: I honestly don't know if it changes anything in a concrete way. Clearly, if I won, it would be a huge confidence boost, I'd probably keep staring at that statuette until I got used to the idea that this actually happened to me. And I'd rush to add it to my CV. And I think it would mean something, in my career, even if I wouldn't realize it has an effect in the moment, but it would surely become a landmark in my journey. Even if it only stays in my head as "the year I won the UNITER for Best Debut". And that's something, that it's for a debut. In this category you can only be nominated once, you can only get this award once. There's something about that which moves me and makes me think about my whole journey so far, the admissions, the school years. Even if maybe I don't want to admit it, this kind of validation gives meaning to things, especially at turning points, and finishing school is one such moment for me.

I think about 5 minutes after hearing the news I was already thinking about what I'd say if I won. I guess your mind automatically goes there. And I feel a kind of pressure about the speech, about what I'd say up there. I'll prepare some words at home (even so, I think it's very possible I'd forget half of what I prepared from the nerves) and I think I'll prepare some words about the need to encourage young people and the initiatives of young artists, most of whom come from the independent scene. When I say these words I'm thinking of cont.rar, and of Fresh Start, and of all the students who graduate every year and head toward the independent scene, the more accessible option, of all the emerging artists who have ideas, who are looking for money and frameworks, who want to work. And, of course, I'd also say some thank-yous, as one does ☺

3. Tell us a bit about the characters you play in the show "Lalele, păsări și beton", and also about the experience of working on this show. What is this type of stage language like for you, and also the discourse the whole show delivers?

M.E.M.: I really like the idea of the actor's bodily expressiveness as the main vehicle for storytelling. I think it's challenging both for the artists, in how each of us individually can help build this universe, and for the audience. It demands a different kind of suspension of disbelief from the audience. And my characters emerged gradually over the course of rehearsals, meaning I built them step by step. I discovered new things while working. And somehow, that's how the whole process went. Things flowed constantly, they came out of one another, we built together with the girls, one thing out of another. I admit I was nervous at the start, I really wanted to work with Leta, it was the first time I worked with Alexandra and Andrada, my first reunion with Ana since we finished our undergraduate degree, and I felt like the youngest. But I quickly got rid of those intrusive thoughts, the girls are very generous stage partners, Leta is very strong and inspires confidence, she led the process with care and purpose. And it's so beautiful to tell stories. I think that's my favorite thing about theatre. And this show brought together a lot of my favorite things about theatre. I'll just add that I find it really cool and funny how we have female characters ranging from 5 months old to characters in their seventies ☺

If you want to support Maria for the Audience Vote, you can vote for her between May 22-25 at www.uniter.ro. 

Here's also the support video made by her fellow cast members: