FERM 2025 | Actor Doru AFTANASIU (National Theatre “Vasile Alecsandri”, Iași): “Theatre does not offer solutions, it raises questions. And through these questions, sometimes even at an unconscious level, we become more aware of ourselves and strengthen our discernment.”
100 economic opportunities for the development of the Moldova Region on the A7 Highway route
MOLDOVA REGIONAL ECONOMIC FORUM 2025
19th Edition – Vatra Dornei, July 9–13, 2025
Thematic Panel:
Culture and Regional Identity – Tradition, Innovation, and Social Cohesion
Speaker:
Doru Aftanasiu – Actor, National Theatre “Vasile Alecsandri”, Iași
Topic of the intervention:
“Performing Arts and Itinerant Theatre – Connecting to Moldova’s Cultural Circuit”
Within Panel 10 – Culture and Regional Identity – Tradition, Innovation, and Social Cohesion, actor Doru Aftanasiu delivered a memorable speech, advocating for the vital role of theatre in contemporary society and its potential to stimulate both social cohesion and cultural tourism.
“Theatre Cannot Be Replaced”
From the very beginning, Doru Aftanasiu challenged the audience with a timely question: “What could still attract young people to theatre?” In a world dominated by technology and artificial intelligence, where social and cultural life is increasingly moving online, the actor firmly rejected the idea of the stage disappearing.
“I don’t believe theatre can be replaced. It has existed since antiquity. It survived the emergence of cinema, television, and the internet. Theatre has always adapted, even during the pandemic.”
Aftanasiu recalled the lockdown period, when actors were forced to reinvent themselves by creating content for YouTube and social networks.
“Even then, the need for theatre was within us – the need for the natural, for real experience.”
Theatrical Convention and the Role of the Audience
The actor explained to the audience an essential concept: the theatrical convention. Once accepted by the spectator, it transforms them from a simple viewer into an active participant in the artistic act.
“The spectator becomes a creator of art, once they put their imagination at play. Theatre does not offer solutions, it raises questions. And questions, even unconscious ones, make us more aware of ourselves.”
This capacity of theatre to provoke reflection and stimulate discernment is, in his view, one of the most valuable contributions of the performing arts to society.
Personal Journey and Lessons from the Stage
Doru Aftanasiu shared a personal story about his beginnings, inspired at the age of 17 after watching “Hagi-Tudose” with master Constantin Rauțchi.
“That’s when a storm of questions began in my mind. Why are people like this? Why is the world like this? I believe theatre opens your eyes and changes the way you see people, even if you don’t become a psychologist.”
With humor, he recounted how his physical appearance brought him challenging roles – “from old men to madmen and alcoholics” – and how he learned to transform an apparent disadvantage into an asset.
“This is one of theatre’s lessons young people can learn: to look at a disadvantage as a great advantage.”
Theatre as a Driver of Tourism Development
The speech took an economic turn when the actor proposed the idea of developing theatre festivals as a tool for boosting tourism.
“Look at Sibiu. It had tourists before, but with the International Theatre Festival it became a recognized cultural and tourist hub. Why couldn’t this happen in Vatra Dornei? Culture doesn’t generate money directly, but it can create revenue through tourism.”
An intervention from the audience supported the argument with concrete data.
“In Sibiu, the city invests 14% of its budget in culture, and cultural events bring in 18% of the city’s budget. That means a 20% profit from the investment.”
Conclusion
Integrating performing arts into Moldova’s development strategies has the potential to generate multiple benefits: strengthening social cohesion, attracting diverse audiences, creating events with indirect economic impact, and positioning the region as a competitive cultural hub at national and international level.
Through the organization of festivals, tours, and itinerant cultural projects, Moldova could build a distinct cultural brand capable of attracting significant tourist flows, private investments, and public funding dedicated to the creative sector. Thus, theatre becomes not only a means of artistic expression but also a strategic resource for increasing the region’s visibility and competitiveness in the European cultural landscape.
