Volunteer Profile: Meet Mihai Ciotinga

A key to The Cultch’s success is the support we receive from our volunteers. Assisting us with everything from greeting and seating patrons to preparing and distributing programs, volunteers play a critical role in ensuring our season runs smoothly. Meet Mihai, one of these aforementioned volunteers. He has volunteered over 120 hours during the 2009-10 season and with his enthusiastic support continues to be an asset to The Cultch!

Full name: Mihai Ciotinga

How long have you been a volunteer at The Cultch?

I am junior volunteer at The Cultch, with only 8 years under my belt.

What motivates you to volunteer at The Cultch?

It is a great honour and a privilege to be able to serve as part of an incredible team of artists and art professionals. These days, more than ever, volunteering at The Cultch is enlightening, exciting, intriguing and rewarding.

What makes The Cultch unique?

Show me another theatre with a brand new building that’s 100 years old, with a 21^st century management team fit to operate in Shakespeare’s time, that runs shows out of this world and is humbly put together around The Drive!  The Cultch has established itself on the artistic and cultural map of Canada as a bastion of civic and artistic consciousness, wit, creativity and beauty.

Most anticipated show of the 10/11 Season:

1984

Your childhood nickname:

Jordache, after Rudy Jordache, the main character of  the American series “Rich Man, Poor Man” (played by Peter Strauss).

Your hobby:

Cooking, collecting stamps and running up the Grouse Grind (thank God they invented the gondola).

Your dream:

Internet access and cultural events free in Vancouver by 2020!

Your background/home town:

Bucharest, Romania, Eastern Communist Block

Favorite musician(s)/bands you’ve seen in concert:

Joe Trio

Where did you last go on vacation?

1895 Venables is my favorite vacationing place – when it’s closed, Eastern Europe.

Favorite saying or quote:

“The universe is made of stories, not atoms.” – Muriel Rukeyser

What three things can always be found in your refrigerator?

Cold air, light (when the door is open) and eggs (most of the time).

If you could go back or forward in time, where would you go?

Noah’s flood, after the ark rested on Mount Ararat – that would be a good time to start a real estate portfolio with land investment.

What’s the strangest talent you have?

Being me.

Habla espanol or parlez-vous français?

I have studied at various levels and for various durations in school: English, French, German, Greek, Hebrew and of course, Romanian. Caught by curiosity some Italian, Spanish and Latin. Many thanks to Dave for speaking French with the bilingual volunteers whenever possible, while the rest of us feel pressured to add mechanically: mais oui, bien sur, oh, la, la!

Favorite thing/place in Vancouver:

If I say The Cultch again it is going to look suspicious, so I am going to say Steveston Village.

If you’re looking for a great way to get involved in the community, meet new people, stay informed about the local arts scene and, of course, see great live shows, then The Cultch, with our newly renovated and restored facility, is the place to be. For more information about volunteering, please contact Dave Deveau at dave@thecultch.com