Photo: Béla Ilovszky

Place and date of birth: Târgu Mureş, August 8, 1957

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. He has staged more than 60 plays and produced another 60.

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.

Works worldwide:

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:

2009
András Visky: Born for Never – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj
E. Ionesco - The Bald Prima Donna – 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
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
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
Shakespeare: Troilus and Cresida – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj
1997
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: The Intrigue of the Hypocrites – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj
1994
Molière: Tartuffe – Theatre Academy, Tg-Mures, ROMANIA
1993
Camus: The Misunderstanding – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj (Nominated by UNITER for Best Performance of the Year 1993)
1992
Shakespeare: A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj
Ionesco: The Bald Prima Donna – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj
1991
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 Tg-Mures
1988
Caragiale: A Tempestuous Night – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj
1987
Shakespeare: Hamlet – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj
Sütő A.: Blithe Wailing – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj
1986
Poliakoff: City Sugar – Theatre Academy, Tg-Mures
1985
Mrozek: Tango – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj
1984
Caragiale: A Tempestuous Night – National Theatre, Tg-Mures
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 Tg. Mures
1982
Albee: The Zoo-Story – National Theatre, Tg-Mures
Bulgakov: Ivan, the Terrible – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj
Blaga: Master Manole – Hungarian Theatre of Cluj
1981
Mrozek: Tango – Theatre Academy, Bucharest
1980
Büchner: Woyzeck – Hungarian Theatre, Sfîntu-Gheorghe
1979
Beckett: Happy Days – Theatre Academy, Bucharest

Teaching Experience:

1990–1995 - Head of directing at the Theatre Academy in Tg-Mures, Romania
1991 – Founder of the Theatre and Drama Faculty in Cluj, Romania

Classes for actors at the State Theatre School in Freiburg, Germany, 1995
1999 – Theatre Academy, Barcelona
1999–2000 – classes at Institut del Teatre Barcelona and Terrassa, Spain

Workshops for directors:

International Workshop Festival, Manchester, UK 1993
International Workshop Festival, Glasgow, UK 1994
International Workshop Festival, Belfast, UK 2000
Festival de la Francophonie, Limoges, France 2003
Workshop on Shakespeare, Palma de Mallorca, Spain 2003
Brunel University, London, UK 2005 (directing MA programme)

Movies:

Behind the Mask - director (short film, Romanian Television, 1978)
Fugue - director (short film about János Jagamas, Romanian Television, 1978)
Chinese Defence – director (Hungarian-Romanian-French coproduction, 1999)

Published works:

A hűtlen színház – The Unfaithful Theatre An essay on stage direction, Bucharest, 1987)
Óra, árnyékok – Clock, Shadows (poems, Bucharest, Romania, 1989)
Készenlét – Alertness (poems, Budapest, Hungary, 1990)
Romániai magyar négykezesek – Four-handed Pieces (poems, with A. Visky, Pécs, Hungary, 1994)
A késdöfés gyöngédsége – The Tenderness of Stabbing (studies, Cluj, Romania, 1995)
Aki nem én – Not I (poems, Tg-Mures, Romania, 1996)
Depressio Transilvanyae – (Four-handed sonnets with A. F. Kovács, Csíkszereda, Romania, 1998)Noé Színháza – Noah’s Theatre (selected poems, Pallas Akadémia, 2004)
Lidércbánya – Mine of Nightmares (selected poems, Pallas Akadémia, 2004)
A tatu hozománya – Father's Dowry (poems for children, Pallas Akadémia, 2007)

Books about his work:

TOMPA GÁBOR színházi világa / Viziuni scenice/ Theatrical Visions - Koinónia, Cluj, Romania, 2007
Conversation in Six Acts by Florica Ichim – Bucharest, Romania, 2003

Awards:

UNITER (Romanian Theater Union)
  - Nominated for Best Performance Award, 2005 (Waiting for Godot)
  - Nominated for the Best Performance Award, 2003 (Jacques or the Obedience)
  - Award for Excellence – 2002
  - Best Director of the Year in Romania (1984–ATM, 1987–ATM, 1993, and 1997, 2008)
  - Best Performance of the Year (1989, 1992, 2008)
Best Performance of the Year in Yugoslavia (1990)
EMKE-Prise (1992)
I. L. Caragiale National Theatre Festival – Best Directing (1992, 1996)
Best Foreign Performance of the Year in England (1993)
International Theatre Festival - Kisinov (1994)
  - Best Director
  - Best Performance
Theaterpreis, Stuttgart (1995)
Hungarian National Theatre Festival (1996) – Best Director
"Interference"- Prize of Romanian Culture Foundation, 1996
Cuvântul- Prise (1996)
Critics' Award (ITI Romania, 1997)
Open Society Foundation Romania - Prise for Contemporary Arts • theatre, 1997
Kriterion-Prise (1997)
Award for French Culture (1997)
Best First Feature Award, International Film Festival, Salerno, Italy, for his “Chinese Defence”, 1999
Nomination for The Irish Times Award - 1999 for Waiting for Godot
The Distinction of the Romanian President, Emil Constantinescu, 2000
Artist Meritorious of Hungary (2002)
The Festival of the Romanian Dramaturgy (2004) – Best Directing
Szabadság Prise (2004)
Nomination for the Best Performance of the Zear 2005 (Waiting for Godot, Tamási Áron Theatre, Sf. Gheorghe)
The Festival of the Romanian Comedy (2007) – Best Directing
Golden Apple Award (2007)
Media Excellency Prize (2008, 2010)
Ambassador of Hungarian Culture (2009)


Spoken Languages:
Hungarian, Romanian, English, German, French, Catalan