Stage of the “Marin Sorescu” National Theatre in Craiova during the 33rd UNITER Awards Gala (May 26, 2025). Country Director Abdi Hassan (right) presents the British Council Special Award, while David Schwartz and Katia Pascariu from the Political Theatre Platform stand on the left. The stage is covered in red flowers with a backdrop reading “Premiul British Council (Premiu Găzduit)”.
The 33rd Edition of the UNITER Awards Gala, “Marin Sorescu” National Theatre in Craiova, 26 May 2025 ©

Andrei Gîndac

Established in 1991, the UNITER Awards Gala is one of the most important programmes of the Theatre Union in Romania. Over the years, it has grown into one of the country’s most prestigious cultural events, celebrating excellence in the performing arts by recognising outstanding achievements from the previous calendar year.

Each year, the Gala opens its doors not only to those in attendance, but to the entire country. Broadcast live on national television, including TVR1 and TVR Cultural, as well as on Radio Romania Cultural, the UNITER website, and its official social media channels, the event becomes a shared cultural moment nationwide.

Among the special guest prizes offered during the Gala, the British Council Award stands out as an important distinction, present on the stage ever since 1998. Starting with 2018, our Award has been dedicated to recognizing independent theatre initiatives that promote social inclusion, accessibility, and education through culture.

In 2025, the 33rd Edition of the UNITER Awards Gala took place on 26th of May, at the “Marin Sorescu” National Theatre in Craiova. This edition was especially meaningful, marking three major anniversaries: 175 years of Craiova’s theatre tradition, 550 years since the city’s first written record, and 35 years since the founding of UNITER.

Continuing its long-standing partnership with UNITER, the British Council presented its Award to the Political Theatre Platform (Stagiunea de Teatru Politic), a powerful initiative championing social engagement and active citizenship through theatre since 2013. With over 40 performances and multimedia projects across more than 50 cities in Romania and beyond, the Platform has brought together nearly 200 artists and countless audience members, sparking meaningful conversations about society. The Award was accepted on behalf of the Platform by David Schwartz and Katia Pascariu, reflecting the commitment and vision at the heart of its mission.

The British Council Award through the years

Since 2018, the recipients of the Award for social inclusion, accessibility, and education through culture have been:

  • In 2025, the Award was offered to the Political Theatre Platform (Stagiunea de Teatru Politic) for developing theatrical endeavours that have expanded end championed social and active citizenship participation through the medium of theatre.
  • In 2024, the Award was offered to Ferentari Studios, for their work in empowering marginalized youth and enriching the community through the power of the arts.
  • In 2023, the Award was presented to transLucid for promoting and supporting social inclusion - a performance-manifesto of transgender history, produced and developed by Identity.Education in partnership with Replika Educational Theater Center and the ADO Association – Art for Human Rights.
  • In 2022, the Award was offered to Cultură'n Șură, for promoting access to culture in the rural area.
  • In 2021, the Award was offered to Basca Theatre, for a theatre advancing social inclusion and community.
  • In 2020, the Award was offered to Giuvlipen, for their work in promoting and supporting social inclusion and encouraging civic engagement.
  • In 2019, the Award was offered to Reactor – Cluj, for their work in promoting and supporting social inclusion and encouraging civic engagement.
  • In 2018, the Award was offered to Replika Educational Theater Center, for their work in promoting and supporting social inclusion and encouraging civic engagement.

  • In 2017, the Award was offered to Marina Constantinescu, Artistic Director of the National Theatre Festival, for great achievements in supporting and promoting Romanian-British cultural relations.
  • In 2016, the Award was offered to two young actors (Dorin Eugen Ionescu and Alexandra Adina Rădescu) who accepted the challenge of re-reading Shakespeare and performing it in short moments, the event was part of the Shakespeare 400 Year.
  • In 2015, Cristiana Gavrilă, Ionuț Corpaci Teodorescu and Viorel Florea, the coordinators of the project titled ”9G – The New Generation”/„9G – Noua Generație” within the ”I.L.Caragiale” National Theatre were the winners of the British Council Award.
  • In 2014, the British Council Award was offered to Mihaela Păun, director of ArCUB - the Cultural Centre of Bucharest Municipality, for cultural management.
  • In 2013, the British Council Award was offered to actor and director Mihai Mălaimare for artistic innovation.
  • In 2012, the British Council Award went to Mr. Emil Boroghină, the President of the International Shakespeare Festival Craiova.
  • In 2011, the British Council Award was offered to Ion Caramitru for all the efforts made to support the British-Romanian cultural relationships. 
  • In 2010 the British Council award was given to the best staging of a contemporary British text, that is ”Quartet” of the ”Vasile Alecsandri” National Theatre in Iași, for the brilliant ways in which the actors Violeta Popescu, Mihaela Arsenescu Werner, Florin Mircea and Sergiu Tudose managed to highlight the qualities of the text.
  • In 2005, the British Council award was offered to the project which also included the release of Declan Donellan's volume "The Actor and the Target”.
  • In 2004 and then in 2006, the Award supported the professional development of young artists, offering study scholarships at the Royal Court.
  • In 2002 and 2003, the best contemporary British plays were given recognition ("Chips with Everything" at Odeon Theatre and "Stones in His Pocket" at the Hungarian State Theatre in Cluj-Napoca).
  • Between 1998-2001 the Award went to the best theatre managers – Emil Boroghină, Dorel Vişan, Corneliu-Dan Borcia, Constantin Chiriac. 

External links

Share this