Gabor Tompa

Gábor Tompa graduated in stage and film directing from the I.L. Caragiale Theatre and Film Academy in Bucharest in 1981, having been the student of some outstanding figures such as Liviu Ciulei, Mihai Dimiu, Cătălina Buzoianu, founders of the world-famous Romanian school of stage directing. Since 1981 Gábor Tompa has been directing at the Hungarian Theatre of Cluj, Romania. In 1987 he became the artistic director of the theatre and after the political changes he undertook the managment of the theatre as well. Since 1989 he has been a professor at the Szentgyörgyi István Theatre Academy in Tg-Mureş. He founded the Faculty of Dramatic Art in Cluj and has run its directing programme since 1991. Gábor Tompa is the recipient of many awards and has received widespread recognition in Europe for his physically adventurous and conceptually audacious productions of classic plays. He is directing worldwide including France, Portugal, USA, Germany, Spain, United Kingdom, Austria, Hungary, Ireland, Canada, South Korea, Czech Republic, Slovenia and Serbia. He received the 2002 UNITER Award for Excellence for the many achievements of his career. He is also the author of several volumes of poetry and essays on the theatre. He has staged more than 100 plays and produced another 120.

Works worldwide:

2021: Beckett, Waiting for Godot – Sao Joao National Theatre, Porto, PORTUGAL 2020: Eugène Ionesco, Rhinoceros – Mihai Eminescu National Theatre of Timișoara, ROMANIA 2019: W. Shakespeare, Richard II. – Vígszínház- Pesti Színház, Budapest, HUNGARY 2017: Dmitri Shostakovich, Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District – Slovene National Theatre, Maribor, SLOVENIA Samuel Beckett, Waiting for Godot – La Jolla Playhouse, San Diego, USA 2015: Saviana Stănescu, Toys – Hudson Guild Theatre, Los Angeles, USA A. P. Chekhov, The Cherry Orchard – Slovene National Theatre, Maribor, SLOVENIA 2013: Georg Büchner, Danton's Death – Seoul Arts Center, SOUTH KOREA Luigi Pirandello, Tonight We Improvise – La Jolla Playhouse, San Diego, USA 2012: E. Ionesco, Rhinoceros – Prague National Theatre, CZECH REPUBLIC 2011: Dido and Aeneas – Bach Collegium, San Diego, USA 2010: Ruins True – Coproduced by the Sushi Center for the Urban Arts, San Diego, USA and the Hungarian Theatre of Cluj 2009: Büchner, Woyzeck – la Jolla Playhouse-Potiker Theatre, San Diego, USA 2008: Mrozek, Tango – Theatre & Dance Department of the University of California, San Diego, USA 2005: After Euripides, Medea Circles – Municipal Theatre, Novi Sad, SERBIA 2004: Ionesco, The New Tenant – Northern Stage Ensemble, Newcastle, ENGLAND 2003: Beckett, Play – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj, Theatre Thália, Budapest, HUNGARY Beckett, Waiting for Godot – Vígszínház, Budapest, HUNGARY L. Pirandello, Tonight We Improvise – Staatsteather Freiburg, GERMANY 2002: András Visky, Juliet – Theatre Thália, Budapest – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj A. Camus, The Misunderstanding – Vígszínház, Budapest, HUNGARY A. P. Chekhov, Three Sisters – Staatstheater, Freiburg, GERMANY 2001: W. Shakespeare, King Lear – Vígszínház, Budapest, HUNGARY Beckett, Waiting for Godot – Manitoba Theatre Centre, Winnipeg, CANADA 2000: Ionesco, The Bald Prima Donna – Athéneé Théâtre Louis Jouvet, Paris, FRANCE Molière, Tartuffe – Théâtre de l'Union, Limoges, FRANCE Beckett, Endgame – Teatre Principal de Palma, SPAIN 1999: Beckett, Waiting for Godot – Lyric Theatre Belfast, UK Mrozek, Tango – Teatre Lliure, Barcelona, SPAIN Molière, The Pretentious Ladies – Teatre Alegria, Barcelona, SPAIN 1997: Mrozek, Tango – Pesti Színház, Budapest, HUNGARY Camus, The Misunderstanding – Akademietheater, Wien, AUSTRIA 1996: Ionesco, The Bald Prima Donna – Théâtre de l'Union, Limoges, FRANCE Visniec, Old Clown Wanted – Auersperg Fünftzen Theatre, Wien, AUSTRIA Molière, Tartuffe – Thália Theatre, Budapest, HUNGARY 1995: Beckett, Waiting for Godot – Staatstheater, Freiburg, Kammerspiele, GERMANY 1994: Shakespeare, Hamlet – Tramway Theatre, Glasgow, UK 1992: Beckett, Endgame – Wilma Theatre, Philadelphia, USA (workshop) Beckett, Waiting for Godot – Szigligeti Theatre Szolnok, HUNGARY 1991: Camus, The Misunderstanding – Szigligeti Theatre Szolnok, HUNGARY Székely, The Moors – CastleTheatre Gyula, HUNGARY 1990: Büchner, Woyzeck – Municipal Theatre, Novi Sad, YUGOSLAVIA 1987: Enquist, Song for Phaedra – National Theatre Skopje, YUGOSLAVIA

Works in Romania:

2020: E. Ionesco, Rhinoceros – Mihai Eminescu National Theatre of Timișoara 2019: W. Shakespeare, The Tempest – Lucian Blaga National Theatre Cluj 2018: W. Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj Maurice Ravel, The Spanish Hour / The Child and the Spells – Hungarian Opera of Cluj 2016: Max Frisch, Biedermann and the Frebugs – German National Theatre, Timișoara S. Beckett, Endgame – National Theatre of Târgu-Mureș, Tompa Miklós Company 2015: Ubuzdup! Gábor Tompa's adaptation based on Alfred Jarry's texts, National Theatre Cluj Friedrich Dürrenmatt, The Visit – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj 2014: E. Ionesco, The New Tenant – Nottara Theatre, Bucharest 2013: Sándor Weöres, Towards Wholeness (scenic reading) – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj Aureliu Manea, Aureliu Manea Trilogy – Lucian Blaga National Theatre 2012 Free adaptation after I.L. Caragiale, Leonida Gem Session – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj Liam Clancy, Mary Reich, Yolande Snaith, Shahrokh Yadegari, Tompa Gábor, Ruins True Refuge – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj 2011: Molière, The Misanthrope – National Theatre of Iaşi 2010: Georg Büchner, Leonce and Lena – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj W. A. Mozart, Don Giovanni – National Opera of Cluj András Visky, Alcoholics – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj 2009: András Visky, Born for Never – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj E. Ionesco, The Bald Primadonna – Lucian Blaga National Theater Cluj 2008: A. P. Chekhov, Three Sisters – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj W. Shakespeare, Richard III – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj – Gyula Castle Theatre, Hungary 2006: András Visky, Long Friday – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj Heiner Müller, Quartet – SalTimBanc Foundation Timişoara, Hungarian Theatre of Cluj, Nottara Theatre, Bucharest, Metropolis Youth Theatre, Bucharest W. Shakespeare, King Lear – Lucian Blaga National Theatre, Cluj E. Ionesco, Rhinoceros – Radu Stanca Theatre, Sibiu 2005: I.L. Caragiale, The Lost Letter – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj András Visky, Disciples – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj S. Beckett, Waiting for Godot – Tamási Áron Theatre, Sf. Gheorghe S. Mrozek, House on the Border – Radu Stanca Theatre, Sibiu 2004: Alfred Jarry, Ubu Enchained – Comedy Theatre, Bucharest S. Beckett, Happy Days – Comedy Theatre, Bucharest 2003: E. Ionesco, Jacques or the Obedience – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj (Nominated by UNITER for Best Performance of the Year 2003) S. Beckett, Play – Theatre Thália, Budapest – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj S. Witkiewicz, Cockroaches – Radu Stanca Theatre from Sibiu 2002: András Visky, Juliet – Theatre Thália, Budapest – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj 2001: S. Mrozek, Charlie – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj 2000: Molière, The Misanthrope – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj (Nominated by UNITER for Best Performance of the Year 2001) 1999: S. Beckett, Endgame – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj 1998: W. Shakespeare, Troilus and Cresida – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj 1997: W. Shakespeare, Hamlet – National Theatre Craiova Gombrowicz, Operetta – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj (Nominated by UNITER for Best Performance of the Year 1997) 1995: Büchner, Woyzeck – Bulandra Theatre, Bucharest Bulgakov, Intrigue of the Hypocrites – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj 1994: Molière, Tartuffe – Theatre Academy, Târgu-Mureș 1993: Camus, The Misunderstanding – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj (Nominated by UNITER for Best Performance of the Year 1993) 1992: W. Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj E. Ionesco, The Bald Primadonna – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj 1991: W. Shakespeare, As you like it – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj Székely, The Moors – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj 1990: Heltai, Moth-ball – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj 1989: Hsing-Chien, The Bus Stop – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj Sigmond: Raining with Love – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj Ispirescu: The Coach is Coming – National Theatre Târgu-Mureș 1988: I.L Caragiale, A Tempestuous Night – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj 1987: W. Shakespeare, Hamlet – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj Sütő A., Blithe Wailing – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj 1986: Poliakoff, City Sugar – Theatre Academy, Târgu-Mureș 1985: S. Mrozek, Tango – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj 1984: I.L Caragiale, A Tempestuous Night – National Theatre, Târgu-Mureș Feydeau, Cat in a Bag – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj Dehel G., The Innocent – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj 1983: Bulgakov, Ivan, Wassilievitch – Bulandra Theatre, Bucharest S. Mrozek, Piotr Ohey – Academy of Theatre from Târgu-Mureș 1982: Albee, The Zoo-Story – National Theatre, Târgu-Mureș Bulgakov, Ivan, the Terrible – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj L. Blaga, Master Manole – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj 1981: S. Mrozek, Tango – Theatre Academy, Bucharest 1980: Büchner, Woyzeck – Hungarian Theatre, Sfîntu-Gheorghe 1979: S: Beckett, Happy Days – Theatre Academy, Bucharest

From March 2006 to April 2008 (when The Hungarian Theatre of Cluj joined the UTE) he was an individual member of the Union of European Theatres. In May 2018 he was elected President of the Union of European Theatres. Since 2007 he has been Head of Directing at the Theatre and Dance Department of the University of California, San Diego.