The German State Theatre Timisoara is organising in December a photo exhibition featuring the make-up of the artist Bojita Ilici from the show "The Jungle Book", directed by Răzvan Mazilu. The exhibition, which will open on Thursday, 8 December 2022, starting at 17.00 in the TGST entrance foyer, and will accompany the performances of "The Jungle Book" for a month, which is being remade this year by the German Theatre with a changed cast including actors Robert Bogdanov-Schein, Marc Illich and Bülent Özdil.

The make-up of the actors in the show is the creation of the artist Bojita Ilici, a graduate of the High School of Fine Arts in Timișoara, of the Bachelor and Master studies at the Faculty of Arts and Design in Timișoara, Graphic Design Department, and currently a PhD student at the same faculty. Bojita is the author of several national and international exhibitions, both personal and collective, for which she has won several national and international awards in fine art competitions. In addition, she collaborates with the publishing industry, being the author of illustrations and graphics for several books. She has done make-up for music videos, commercials, TV commercials, fashion campaigns and editorials, as well as make-up published in local and international magazines.

The photographs are by artist Ovidiu Zimcea, a graduate of the Film Production Faculty at the University of Westminster, England. Ovidiu is a musician, photographer and documentary filmmaker, founder of the band Exit Oz, as well as a collaborator of Paperjam, Everybadea and Alexandrina. Alongside his work in theatre and music, he has made short documentaries and his first feature film, Swamp City, a documentary about underground music in Timișoara in the 1990s, which he worked on with Bogdan Pușlenghea. The documentary has been selected at film festivals both in the country and abroad - Ceau, Cinema!, Transilvania International Film Festival, Cottbus Film Festival.

The Jungle Book, based on the children's book by Rudyard Kipling and directed by Răzvan Mazilu, is one of the German Theatre's most popular productions. This year it has re-entered the repertoire and was performed to a full house. The Jungle Book evokes the story of the human cub Mowgli, raised by wolves in the Indian jungle. His friends, the wise panther Bagheera and the funny bear Baloo, warn Mowgli of the danger that awaits him: the tiger Shere Khan has returned. Despite Mowgli's desire to continue living in the jungle, Bagheera and Baloo plan to take him to a nearby village. An adventurous journey ensues, as Mowgli has to face Louie, king of the apes, and the cunning snake Kaa. The musical, directed by Răzvan Mazilu, with a colourful set design by Dragoș Buhagiar, speaks charmingly to children and grown-ups alike about friendship, love, loyalty, and the spirit of sacrifice. The show is an adaptation of Rudyard Kipling's stories, including hits from the eponymous cartoon, such as The Bare Necessities and I wanna be like you.

About the art of make-up and her work on this show, Bojita told us, "The Jungle Book opened the 'doors of theatre' to me, it revealed the mysteries of the stage, the elements and emotions that bring it to life. I discovered the stage in a different way than I knew it before. The Jungle Book was for me a testimony to the immeasurable power of the performing arts, to the richness of directing and to the power of the actor to metamorphose according to the setting, the emotions, and the demands of the director.

The director Răzvan Mazilu has drawn a world that I have tried to understand and, through the make-up, to translate into the vision of the audience. I wanted to create make-up that just suggested the idea of animals, make-up inspired by elements of fashion make-up, treating a modern and minimalist line through make-up, but very well embracing the specific features of each actor. Through The Jungle Book I have entered the heart of the stage; I have lost my way and I don't think I'll escape this mythical world anytime soon."

We look forward to seeing you at the opening and the exhibition!