Theatre Nijinski
17 August 2025

NIJINSKI with Filip Ristovski - Performance in English

Director & Choreographer: Malina Andrei
Scenario: Ema Nicolae
Music: Jonathan Alexandru
Video: Jadranka Aceska
Production: L'Amphiteatro 

The one-man show NIJINSKI distills the essential moments from the 200-page diary written by the legendary dancer and choreographer Vaslav Nijinsky — an artist caught between the forces of creation and despair.

Born in Kiev in 1889, Nijinsky became one of the most influential artists of the 20th century and is widely regarded as one of the greatest dancers of all time. He revolutionized classical ballet with his bold, unconventional expressions and was idolized for his groundbreaking performances. His contemporaries revered him as the "God of Dance."
In this performance, Nijinsky is portrayed at the tipping point between sanity and madness. Aware of his impending psychological collapse, he writes with relentless urgency over the course of two months — a desperate attempt to preserve both his identity and his artistic legacy from the abyss of oblivion.
Less than three months later, Nijinsky was institutionalized in a psychiatric hospital, where he remained confined until his death 30 years later.

Background and Evolution
NIJINSKI began as a student exercise that evolved into an independent one-man show, receiving awards and recognition in Romania and across Europe. The solo performance later developed into a duo, hosted by the Experimental Studio of the National Opera in Bucharest.
Almost 20 years later, the same director and actor reunited to create a new version of the performance. While largely based on the original scenario, this updated work incorporated the first Romanian translation of The Diary of Vaslav Nijinsky. The revitalized production featured original music and video, resulting in a fresh artistic vision grounded in its foundational concept.
The premiere of this new version took place on February 19, 2021, at the Nottara Theater in Bucharest, as a co-production with L'Amphiteatro.

International Reach
Over the past four years, NIJINSKI has been performed in Romania and internationally, including appearances at:

• Lithuania – COM•MEDIA Festival (Alytus)
• Mongolia – SAINT MUSE Festival (Ulaanbaatar)
• Sweden – 2 VECKOR I MAJ Festival (Stockholm)
• Nigeria – ABITFA – Abuja International Theatre Festival & Awards
• India – IAPAR International Theatre Festival (Pune)
• Sri Lanka – International Theatre Festival (Colombo)
• North Macedonia – ITF Skupi Festival (Skopje)

 Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Nijinskipiesa