The drama program of the 38th Grad Teatar festival in Budva continued last night with the play "Blood Wedding" by Federico García Lorca, directed by Igor Vuk Torbica.
It is a co-production of the JU "Grad Teatar" from Budva and the Serbian National Theater from Novi Sad. The audience on the stage between the churches was once again delighted with the performance, and the atmosphere left a lasting impression on all present, confirming the strength of "Blood Weddings" as one of the most important dramatic achievements of the region.
"Blood Weddings" premiered at the 32nd "Grad Teatar" festival, after which it continued its rich theatrical life on stages throughout the region.
The premiere on the stage of the co-producer took place in 2018, and the play became part of the regular repertoire during the 2018-2019 season. Also, the play won the hearts of the audience and expert jury, as evidenced by numerous awards and recognitions.
At the 23rd Yugoslav Theater Festival "Without Translation" in Užice, Milica Grujičić received the "Ardalion" award for the best female role in "Blood Wedding".
The performance was also performed in Herceg Novi, organized by JUK Herceg Fest, on the occasion of the 50th Mimosa Festival, and at the MIT Festival in the Royal Theater "Zetski dom" in Cetinje, where the audience voted it the best.
The Slovenian audience had the opportunity to enjoy the play at the 26th Primorsko Polet Festival in Koper, and it was also performed at the "Bar Chronicle" and "Purgatorie" in Tivat.
The play achieved special success at the Biennial of the Montenegrin Theater in Podgorica, where Igor Vuk Torbica was awarded the award for best director, Varja Đukić for best female role, and Vladimir Pejković for best music.
Torbica was also awarded the "Grad Teatar" award for contribution to theater creativity for 2017-2018. year, while the author team of the play was awarded the 2022 Biennale of Stage Design Award for stage design as a whole.
At last year's festival, the play's ensemble celebrated five years since its premiere, and this year the situation was particularly emotional due to the recent loss of actress Ivana Mrvaljević, actress Branka Otašević said after the performance in Budva.
"I have never played with a new partner without that previous partner leaving and never seeing him again. It was very difficult, because Ivana's voice always echoed in our ears, but she watched over us, watched over us, both together. And that's why I'm sorry, maybe we could have played some more games, because Ivana really loved 'Blood Weddings,'" Otašević pointed out and added that the play continues despite many sad circumstances and obstacles.
"We would like this play to be played, as it used to be, for three nights in a row because it simply lasts and I believe it will continue. She survives and thus we kind of hug and hold her more and more, but it's not that suffocating and sick and possessive grip, but on the contrary, it's that very loving grip and we simply don't give this show. As long as we are there and as long as we breathe, we will take care of her," she said.
Actor Dušan Vukašinović also shared his impressions, stressing how much playing in front of the Budva audience means to him.
"It's always a pleasure to meet the audience in Budva. What is really interesting about this festival for me as an actor and meeting this scene again and again is that every time we meet a new audience, some people who are there for the first time and the very communication with them, and on the other hand there is a part of the audience that returns regularly and it's really a pleasure. It's a big challenge to play this show now, once a year. First, the dynamics of playing the play are unusual for theater conditions. Usually, the plays are performed regularly in the repertoire and in that way they are maintained and developed. This is a specific situation simply for production reasons. Maybe something could be done to make it a little more favorable for the show itself, but on the other hand, this specificity gives us opportunities to find new ways to develop the show in completely different conditions despite the break," he emphasized.
In addition to director Igor Vuk Torbica, the play's author team consists of Branko Hojnik, set designer, Jelisaveta Tatić Čuturilo, costume designer, and Vladimir Pejković, composer.
In addition to Otašević and Vukašinović, Varja Đukić, Milica Grujicić, Bojana Milanović Popović, Pavle Popović, Vukašin Ranđelović, Miroslav Fabri, Draginja Voganjac, Maja Stojanović, Filip Đuretić and Nenad Pećinar play in the play.
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