Rodica Tulbure (R.T.) from Radio Cluj is the wonderful, behind-the-scenes magic maker without whom the radio drama performances of the "Collaborative Mini-Playwriting" project simply wouldn't have been possible! Rodica is one of those incredibly passionate souls who pours her heart into creating delightful shows for our youngest audiences. Her sparking enthusiasm absolutely charmed us, and as a huge thank you for her involvement, we’ve sketched out a lovely mini-portrait. Through this warm chat between Rodica and Selma Dragoș (S.D.), we invite you all to get to know the fantastic artist behind the microphone:

S.D.: How did you first get into making shows for children?

R.T.: Oh, it’s quite a long story, but I’ll give you the short, sweet version! I never imagined I’d end up working in a radio studio. I used to listen to the radio and constantly try to picture the people behind the microphone. I thought to myself how truly special it must be to speak to the whole world like that. Then, in 1989, just as I finished high school, Radio Cluj reopened its doors. By a wonderful stroke of luck, they needed help in the technical department, and after a two-month trial period, in March 1990, I passed the exam and was hired as a radio operator alongside some other lovely colleagues. I met so many wonderful people: editors, producers, operators, technicians, and engineers who welcomed us little apprentices with open arms. They taught us how to discover the "game behind the words and the soul." I like to call interviews, reports, and shows "games behind the words" because that’s exactly how I view my work—as a playful adventure that helped me find my own special place in the world. And why do I call it a game of the soul? Because in every interview, report, or show, the editor, the operator, and the guest all leave a sparkling little piece of their soul behind. Playing has always been the magical key that lets us experiment, explore the world, express ourselves, and create that beautiful shared space where we can truly connect. My show "Sesame, Open Up!" was born in 1998, when I moved from the technical side to the editorial team. That’s when I launched a brand new, interactive show format designed to captivate elementary, middle school, and high school students alike. I always try to keep the information super accessible and fun for these age groups, helping young minds unlock their creativity, fuel their imagination, and discover fascinating new things. In a nutshell, that is my cheerful radio adventure!

S.D.: What inspires and drives you as an editor and reporter when you choose themes with, for, and about children?

R.T.: Children have always held a very special place in my heart! I absolutely adore seeing the sheer joy and wonder on their faces when they discover something new or create something they are proud of. I always try to craft my shows and features around current events and topics that matter to them, keeping a perfect, playful balance between learning and entertainment. I make sure everything is put together in a way that speaks directly to their world. In today’s digital age, it can be a bit of a challenge to get a child to sit down and keep their ears glued to the radio, but if you craft the audio soundscape perfectly, the magic works every time!

S.D.: What is the greatest joy for you as a show creator?

R.T.: First of all, I get to do what I love! Every single show, performance, and event brings its own wonderful dose of happiness and satisfaction—especially when you see the children's happy, smiling faces or hear beautiful feedback from our listeners. When you experience moments like that, you know all the hard work is completely worth it. Even when a show takes a mountain of effort to produce, the warm appreciation of our listeners and the community completely fills our hearts!

S.D.: What was the radio drama experience like for you?

R.T.: It was honestly one of the most beautiful experiences I've ever had in radio! Creating a radio drama is no easy task—it takes a treasure trove of imagination, creativity, and teamwork, whether you are the actor, the artistic director, the sound designer, or the illustrator... Unlike television, we can’t use visual images at the radio; we have to paint the entire picture using sounds! Sound effects, mixing, and music play a massive role, and they must be technically flawless so they can create that perfect audio magic that stirs the listener's emotions. Radio theatre is a powerful, beautiful art form that relies on a wonderfully synchronized team.

S.D.: Is there anything you would like to repeat?

R.T.: They say practice makes perfect, and repetition helps us learn and fine-tune things! Every single experience adapting a play for the radio is completely unique. The time I spent working with the fabulous team at MiniREACTOR was so joyful that I would happily do it all over again in a heartbeat! To answer your question literally, though, I’d probably only repeat the moments where our microphones gave us a bit of trouble—otherwise, I wouldn't change a single thing about the magic we made!

S.D.: What would you like to do differently if we could start all over again right now?

R.T.: I’m not sure what we would do differently, but we would definitely play around with a few details! Maybe we’d tweak a sound effect, introduce new sounds in certain scenes, or maybe even change our recording locations... Sometimes I think it would be wonderful to record out in nature to capture the authentic, wild sounds, if the script allows for it!

S.D.: What is your favorite children's story that you would love to turn into a radio play if you had the chance?

R.T.: There are so many wonderful stories just waiting to be turned into radio magic! But I think I would choose "The Wizard of Oz." I absolutely love the journey of Dorothy and her friends—the Cowardly Lion, the Tin Woodman, and the Scarecrow. They are all searching for something so precious: Dorothy wants to find her way home, the Lion needs courage, the Scarecrow wishes for a brain, and the Tin Woodman dreams of having a heart to love with. Just like these characters, we often find ourselves searching far and wide, traveling down so many roads and even to different countries to find what we're looking for, without realizing that most of the time, the magic was right inside us all along. "The Wizard of Oz" is a story that taught me so much, and I think it would make a spectacular radio adaptation!

Dear Rodica, you should know that it's not just the MiniREACTOR artistic team that is incredibly grateful to you! Below are some wonderful messages from both the young and grown-up co-creators who took part in our Collaborative Mini-Playwriting project:

"First of all, thank you so much for helping our play reach children who might not have internet, but who love listening to the radio—perhaps even curled up with their grandparents or parents! We are so grateful to you for helping the Twins reach so many ears, both in Romanian and Hungarian. Every child deserves to hear plays so they can see how big and exciting the world is, and realize that they too can have a voice in their own stories. Thank you for being so incredibly patient with all my questions and for treating me like a wonderfully important grown-up!"

(Petra Traistă and Bianca Murariu)

"We never in our wildest dreams thought we would write a story for children, let alone hear it playing on the radio as a real-life radio drama! Thank you for making our 'beyond-our-dreams' reality come true! We hope to have the chance to shake your hand soon so you can see our gratitude shining in our eyes and smiles!"

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(Catinca and Roxana Dăiciulescu)

The six delightful radio plays, along with some fabulous interviews, can be heard on Radio Cluj during the "Sesame, Open Up!" show, every Saturday at 10:00 AM, from June 19 to July 24 as follows:

June 19 | THE TWINS / IKREK by Petra Traistă and Bianca Murariu

June 26 | ONE MIND, TWO MINDS by Ilina Ruxandra and Oana Mureșan

July 3 | MY VERY OWN WORLD by Victor and Radu Popescu

July 10 | PERSEVERANCE by Catinca and Roxana Dăiciulescu

July 17 | TRUE OR MAKE-BELIEVE STORIES by Andrei Mihai and Mihaela Ramona Bar

July 24 | A HELPING PAW by Carla and Liana Precup

A huge round of applause and thank you once again to Rodica Tulbure and Radio Cluj for helping us keep the magic of children's theatre alive and kicking in Cluj and all across the country!

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