Irina Niculescu
Director - The Dragon

Irina received her MFA in theatre directing from the Academy of Theater, Film and Music at Charles University in Prague.  She began her professional career at Tandarica Theater in Bucharest, Romania; she has since directed shows at: Riksteatret, Agder Teatr, Hordaland Teater in Norway, Marionnettes de Geneve in Switzerland and numerous theatres across Europe and the USA. Recently, Irina directed De Falla’s opera Master Peter’s Puppet Show with the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, Madcap Productions and Bowling Green State University. As assistant professor Irina taught at the Academy of Theatre and Cinema in Bucharest. She has also taught at The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center in Connecticut, Instituto de Actores in Seville, L’Ecole Superieure Nationale des Arts de la Marionnette in Charleville-Mezieres, and Theatre du Grutli in Geneva. In the United States she has offered master classes and conferences at the University of Michigan, Eastern Michigan University, and Xavier University. Irina is currently teaching puppet theatre directing at the University of Quebec in Montreal.