Directed by Laurențiu Rusescu, the production features five amateur actors with physical disabilities—marking a national first for Romania.
The play No Magic Pill is part of the first Romanian theater project dedicated to people with physical disabilities, titled The Price of Life, and will have its preview on July 1st at 6:30 PM at the Media Hall of the “I.L. Caragiale” National Theatre in Bucharest, in the presence of Irish playwright Christian O’Reilly.
Inspired by the real-life story of Martin Naughton—a well-known figure in Ireland for his tireless work advocating for social inclusion—the play brings to the stage a moving story about individuals with physical disabilities who fight courageously to maintain their dignity and independence. O’Reilly’s script is a tribute to love, friendship, and the relentless pursuit of freedom and is being staged outside Ireland for the first time.
“I’m thrilled, honored, and grateful that No Magic Pill will be staged in Romania. When I wrote the play, I never imagined it would be performed anywhere outside Ireland. So, I was genuinely surprised when director Laurențiu Rusescu contacted me to express his interest in staging it in Romania. I was instantly impressed by his vision to include the production as part of a larger initiative aimed at facilitating access for people with limited mobility to the creative process, while advocating for real and meaningful change in Romanian theater,” said Christian O’Reilly.
The cast includes Mihaela Velicu and Florin Aioane, alongside five amateur actors with motor disabilities who were selected through a rigorous casting process held in April and May: Alex Tache, Ariana Mihaela Dumitru, Paul Lucian Teodorescu, Arian Cristian Notrețu, and Alexandru Calițoiu. The story is brought to life with the special participation of actors Bianca Babașa and Emil Hoștină, and the production will have five additional performances on July 2, 3, 8, 9, and 10. Tickets: https://bit.ly/3HBK9Gg
The music is composed by Călin Țopa (this year’s UNITER Award winner for Best Original Score and Sound Design), and the set design is by Andreea Koch, collaborating once again with Laurențiu Rusescu after their successful partnership on Callas at the Bucharest National Opera.
“I was moved to see the same desire we had when we staged the play in 2022 in Ireland—to bring visibility to people with physical disabilities and contribute to their inclusion. We told the story in a way that showed the humanity, humor, and richness of life for people with disabilities, and the audience responded with enthusiasm. I’m confident the same will happen in Romania, and audiences will love Laurențiu’s production. I’m looking forward to traveling to Bucharest with my family to see the final result and meet the wonderful team that made this possible,” added O’Reilly.
Laurențiu Rusescu, the initiator of The Price of Life project and director of No Magic Pill, has a diverse career in television, film, and theater, known for his bold artistic approaches and deep commitment to socially engaged themes. His portfolio includes the hybrid opera-theater production Callas featuring Oana Pellea, the gender-based violence drama Exit, the action series Băieți Buni (2005, director – PRO TV), and the acclaimed HBO Romania miniseries Hackerville (2018, screenwriter).
The July 10 performance will be streamed live on the PiciorDePlay platform and will remain available to audiences across the country for 48 hours. Full details will be announced soon.