 The founder of the National Theatre of Cluj, as well as his first director, was Zaharia Bârsan, actor, stage director, playwright and animator.Some of the famous first members of the National Theatre include Olimpia Bârsan, Stănescu-Papa, Dem Mihăilescu-Brăila, Neamţu-Ottonel, Jeana Popovici, Stanca Alexandrescu, Ion Tâlvan, Ştefan Braborescu etc.Between 1936 and 1940, the directorship of Victor Papilian meant a more profound opening towards modernity.