A Lifetime Dedicated to the Stage: Remembering Mária Oravcová
Mária Oravcová, a deeply respected and long-serving member of the Andrej Bagar Theater in Nitra, has passed away, leaving behind a legacy built on four decades of dedication to the performing arts. Her career with the theater spanned nearly 40 years, beginning in the workshop of art and decorative workshops, where she worked until November 1965.She progressed to the position of props master in 1975.
Throughout her tenure, oravcová served as an inspicient, contributing to approximately 100 performances from the theater’s repertoire. Her final internal contribution was to the 2001 musical Greek zorba, directed by Jozef Bednárik – a collaboration she notably cherished. Bednárik consistently sought her expertise, affectionately referring to her as “Maru.”
Oravcová’s work graced many notable productions, particularly during the theater’s golden era of the 1980s. These included Titus Andronicus (1981), Fantasy (1981), Goat (1981), Shikuliad (1982), Trojanka (1983), Perikles, king Tyrian (1984), Libero (1984), the fairy tales Tsar Saltan (1983) and The Blue Bird (1988), as well as Eunuch (1987), Katarína from Heilbron (1988), Sadness Lands Elektra (1989), Winter fairy Tale (1989), King UBU (1990), and Jesus Christ (1990).
Following the opening of the new theater building,Oravcová embraced the challenges of large-scale musicals,leading the inspicient team for productions like Pacho Returns (1995),Mária Stuartová (1995),A Small Trade of Horror (1997),Fidlikant on the Roof (1998),Báthoryčka (2000),and Greek Zorba (2001). Even after her official retirement, director Jozef Bednárik requested her return, stating that no new musical in Nitra could succeed without her.
She continued to mentor and collaborate with younger generations, working with Adam Shangala on musicals like Adam Shangala (2003) and Kabaret (2004), and revisiting earlier works like Wild pot (2006) and Blue Rose (2008) with Bednárik. She also provided inspicient leadership for dramatic productions including Piargy (2008),Stories of Ordinary Madness (2002),and LAVV (2010). director Svetozár Sprušanský invited her to contribute to the unique production of The Holy Spring (2005), a performance featuring the theater’s senior actors, with Oravcová’s experience proving invaluable. Her final production with the Andrej Bagar Theater was Once Class (2011).
Colleagues remember Mária Oravcová as a highly skilled, reliable, and devoted professional, possessing both a precise approach to her work and a kind, understanding nature.
beyond the theater, oravcová maintained an active life, dedicated to her family – children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She remained a devoted audience member, attending premieres and events at the Andrej Bagar Theater, and actively assisted in compiling archival materials for the theater’s 70th-anniversary publication. She was a loyal supporter of her son, director petr Oravec, and never missed a premiere of his work.
