Entertainment

Saving Romania’s Village Architecture, One Mud House At A Time

Published

2 years ago

November 22, 2023

Staff Reporter

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The small town of Corbeanca has a reputation for expensive luxury villas and a well-off population of around 11,000 who live within easy commuting distance of Bucharest. But a century ago, Corbeanca was a typical country village of whitewashed mud houses inhabited by farmers who spent their days toiling in the fields.

In January 2023, the life of one old house in Corbeanca, looked set to come to an end. The owner of ‘Casa Frusina,’ named after the family who lived there, had put the house up for sale along with the now valuable land it sat on.

Casa Frusina photographed before its removal

The ‘for sale’ sign displayed outside the 100-year-old house caught the eye of Radu Ștefanescu. A local man who is neither an architect nor a construction specialist but loves old buildings that define the identity of Romania’s regions and has restored several historic houses across Romania.

‘I was lucky, because the owner also wanted to preserve the house but he’s an elderly gentleman and didn’t have the financial or physical ability to do so,’ Ștefanescu explained.

At the end of the 19th century, Corbeanca was home to 1,000 people who lived in 254 houses much like the one Stefanescu spotted for sale. Almost all of them are now gone.

Radu Stefanescu (right) with the former owners of the house

Ștefanescu grew up in Bucharest but holidayed as a child with his grandparents in the countryside. Memories of distinctive Romanian villages stuck with him and as an adult he made it his mission to save old houses that were fast disappearing across Romania.

On condition it would be restored and made available to the public, the house owner agreed to donate his former home. All Stefanescu needed was a place to move the house — since the land it stood on was being sold for development — and a team of people to help restore the building.

Volunteers coat up the exterior of Casa Frusina.

When the call was put out for volunteers to help restore the building, the response was overwhelming. One hundred and seventy people, including lawyers, university professors, businessmen, and pilots came forward.

Many of the volunteers had no experience in construction, let alone the specialized skills needed for adobe mud building or decorative woodworking, but they learned on the go.

Philip, a young volunteer, coats wooden panels recovered from the house in a preservative solution.

Larisa, who runs a travel agency in Romania, volunteered with her husband, Stefan, and two children, Philip (pictured above) and Marc. The family saw news about the restoration project on Facebook and began helping once the house — which was effectively a wooden skeleton — had arrived in the park.

The family learned to fill in the walls the same way as villagers of old, with mud and straw. One son, Marc, carved wooden decorations.

‘We started making corners and ornamental panels for the window. Marc learned to use a circular saw and, together with an English neighbor, he started making simple heart shapes, then cutting out window sills,’ Larisa recalled.

A heart-shaped decoration destined for the awning of Casa Frusina

The ornamental carvings around the awnings of the original house could not all be recovered, so under the guidance of a ‘village elder’ who had grown up in Corbeanca, they learned to remake the decorations.

Radu Ștefanescu received many questions from volunteers during the project. Some children asked about the crossbars that split windowpanes into quarters. ‘Did they only have a structural role to strengthen the windows, or did they serve another purpose?’ the children wondered.

The answer, Stefanescu says, came from Charlie Chaplin’s 1921 movie The Kid, in which a glazier during the Great Depression conspires to break, then repair windows for a fee. Four small pieces of glass were cheaper to buy than one large pane.

A volunteer works on whitewashing the house on November 11.

Work on the house is now largely complete, aside from some of the woodwork, which is on track to be finished in December. After that the house will be officially donated to the Corbeanca community. Various activities for children are being planned inside the building.

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Staff Reporter

Entertainment

Canada Super 60 set to dazzle with star-studded concert line-up at Vancouver’s BC Place

Published

1 week ago

October 9, 2025

Michael Gomes

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The Canada Super 60 isn’t just changing the game; it’s creating North America’s newest entertainment spectacle. From October 8 to 13, Vancouver’s iconic BC Place will transform into a full-fledged cultural carnival, blending high-octane cricket with back-to-back music concerts.

Get ready for six nights of non-stop entertainment, headlined by some of the biggest names in Punjabi, Desi, and global fusion music. From the infectious beats of Harrdy Sandhu and Jassie Gill to the international flair of Mickey Singh, each night promises a festival atmosphere both on and off the pitch.

Concert Line-Up Highlights

Oct 8 – Harrdy Sandhu (9pm)
Oct 9 – Jassie Gill (9pm)
Oct 10 – Mickey Singh (9pm)
Oct 11 – Parmish Verma (9pm)
Oct 12 – Raf-Saperra (9pm)
Oct 13 – GirlsLikeYou x Indo Warehouse (6:15pm)

The entertainment bonanza runs alongside thrilling cricket matches featuring international stars and fan favourites. With Yuvraj Singh backing the league and legends like Shikhar Dhawan and Suresh Raina on the field, Canada Super 60 is shaping up to be the ultimate blend of glamour, game, and groove.

“This is not just cricket; this is a lifestyle experience,” said a spokesperson for Canada Super 60. “Our entertainment line-up reflects the league’s ambition to unite cultures through music, sport, and community.”

Fans can expect full-scale stadium productions, food and cultural showcases, and plenty of Instagram-worthy moments, turning BC Place into Canada’s most happening venue this October.

About Canada Super 60

Canada Super 60 is the newest format in global cricket, a 60-ball showdown that delivers fast-paced action and festival-style entertainment. Backed by international icons and powered by music, sport, and cultural unity, it’s redefining how fans experience cricket in North America.

Entertainment

UAE students risk repeating a year if absences exceed 15 days, new rules state

Published

2 months ago

September 2, 2025

Michael Gomes

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Public school students in the UAE could be required to repeat an academic year if their unexcused absences exceed 15 days, under new rules announced by the Ministry of Education.

The updated guidelines exclude absences related to illness, medical travel, official event participation, emergencies, or family bereavements. Students will now be allowed up to five unexcused absences per term, capped at 15 across the year. Any excess will trigger a review, with the student’s file referred to the relevant authorities and child protection services.

The ministry also clarified that absences on Fridays, or on days immediately before or after official holidays, will count as two days. A warning system has been introduced to notify parents on the first day of absence.

Special exemptions will apply to students of determination and those with chronic illnesses. Parents may also appeal within five working days of being notified, ensuring fairness in implementation.

The initiative is aimed at tackling absenteeism, which the ministry said has a direct impact on academic performance. Citing studies, it noted that missing 10 per cent of school days equates to a loss of half an academic year, while absences beyond 20 per cent amount to a full year’s loss in achievement.

Schools have been instructed to create individual support plans for students at risk of frequent absences, including counselling sessions, parent engagement, and incentive programmes.

The ministry added that it will be up to educational boards to decide whether these rules will also extend to private schools.

Announcements

Tickets now live for Dubai’s first homegrown musical spectacle

Published

4 months ago

June 14, 2025

Staff Reporter

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A cultural revolution is about to begin. Tickets are now available for Once Upon A Time in Dubai, the most ambitious, emotional, and spectacular musical ever produced in the region. Opening this December at The Agenda in Dubai Media City, the show is already being called a once-in-a-generation phenomenon — and for good reason.

More than just a stage production, Once Upon A Time in Dubai is the first original large-scale musical entirely created in the UAE, blending Broadway-worthy storytelling with the energy and dreams of one of the world’s most iconic cities. Behind this bold vision is Stéphane Boukris, entrepreneur and cultural trailblazer, who has brought together an international creative dream team — including Universal Music Group MENA as co-producer — to craft a deeply emotional journey of love, ambition, and transformation, set in today’s Dubai.

“This show is a tribute to everything Dubai represents: ambition, diversity, and the power to build your own destiny,” says Boukris. “We are creating something people will never forget.”

A World-Class Team Behind the Curtain

The production brings together talents who have previously worked on global shows such as Céline Dion, Disney shows, and Arabs Got Talent (MBC). From lighting to choreography and technical design, every detail is crafted by artists and technicians at the highest international standards.

A Story That Speaks to a Generation

At the heart of the show is Will, a young English dancer who arrives in Dubai to search for Sophia, the woman he loves. Along the way, he meets artists, entrepreneurs, and dreamers from all walks of life, culminating in a celebration of courage, community, and reinvention.

The cast features rising stars Amanda Maalouf (X Factor) and Joe Woolford (The Voice UK) — with many of the lead vocalists and performers previously featured on international talent platforms, bringing an exceptional level of stage presence and vocal power. The musical includes over 20 original songs composed by Nazim Khaled, including already-viral hits like “Habibi”, “Stranger in the World”, and “Think Big”.

A City-Wide Movement

With over 150,000 spectators expected across 55 performances, the show is much more than an event — it’s becoming a movement. Once Upon A Time in Dubai is already making waves across the city with:

● Strategic brand partnerships: McDonald’s, Carrefour MAF, Careem, Accor, Mall of the

Emirates, Tilal Al Ghaf, GEMS Education, and more

● Immersive activations: Soundtracks in Hala taxis, QR codes in malls, music in retail

stores, and dedicated social media campaigns

● Youth engagement: Auditions and showcases for students across GEMS schools,

opening the stage to the next generation of performers

The show will be performed in English, and supported by a multicultural creative team led by stage director Johan Nus.

Exclusive Ticket Sale

Tickets are available exclusively via Fever, the global ticketing platform. Pre-sale access has already launched with selected partners such as GEMS, Muse by Chalhoub, and Accor’s ALL loyalty members — with thousands of tickets snapped up in just days.

🎤 Behind the scenes videos, interviews with the cast, and a full media kit are available upon request. 📸 Press passes for opening week are now being issued — be among the first to witness the birth of a new cultural landmark.