Tivat: "Silencing Socrates" premiered on Thursday in the large hall of the Culture Center

Director Nebojša Bradić explains that his new play, based on the text of one of the most popular modern British playwrights, Howard Brenton, takes viewers to ancient Athens, "at a time when democracy was still fragile and fragile, and when asking questions was a mortal sin."

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From the press conference, Photo: Siniša Luković
From the press conference, Photo: Siniša Luković
Disclaimer: The translations are mostly done through AI translator and might not be 100% accurate.

This season's fourth theater production of the Tivat Culture Center - the play "Silencing Socrates" directed by Nebojša Bradić based on Howard Branton's text, will be premiered on Thursday, August 22 in the large hall of the CZK Tivat, as part of the international Mediterranean Theater Festival "Purgatory" which is being held in that city.

"Silencing Socrates" was done by the Tivat Culture Center in co-production with the Bitef Theater from Belgrade. As the director of CZK Tivat Goran Božović said at the press conference held before the prime minister, it is about a respectable play, a serious philosophical drama that is multi-layered and which is based on a serious dramatic text and acting bravado with a minimalist scenography.

"The issues that this play deals with are very contemporary even though the plot is set in a long time ago, 400 years BC. So the issues of society are almost the same. Faith or doubt, sacrilege or questioning, what is more important, family or state, how different systems are formed values, whether to choose honor at the cost of life or corruption... Numerous questions, very interesting and current, and I believe that every viewer will be encouraged to think and question," said Božović.

Director Nebojša Bradić explains that his new play, based on the text of one of the most popular modern British playwrights, Howard Brenton, takes viewers to ancient Athens, "at a time when democracy was still fragile and fragile, and when asking questions was a mortal sin."

"That fatal habit, as well as the inability to turn off his critical spirit, led Socrates to the point of loss. Speaking of the era before the new era, 'Silencing Socrates' undoubtedly refers to the present time, when it is still not known what justice is, what is more important - public or private, how democracy can be preserved from populism, how to defend against 'easy certainty'", says Bradić, adding that this is a classic but timeless theme, characterized by both tragedy and humor, "and tragedy and comedy belong to both ancient and Mediterranean theater".

the play Silence of Socrates
photo: Siniša Luković

"They say the classics have died, but the classics, because of their timeless themes, are constantly resurrected and come back to us," underlined Bradić, who sees "Silencing Socrates" as a revitalization of a great classic story, but a story that in its own way can concern everyone us.

"The piece deals with ideas and it is a whole score of ideas that are both philosophical and religious and various others, but it also has something that I am very glad we managed to find, it also has that fine humor that successfully intertwines and I think it will please the audience," said Bradić.

Actor Bojan Dimitrijević says that working on the play and the role of Socrates is something that, he believes, greatly surpasses him.

"In a way, I am very grateful for the fact that I have the opportunity to research a person who set some standards and values ​​that we, almost two and a half thousand years later, cannot even touch. That is why it is valuable to me as an artist and important because the process and work is tiring, difficult and constantly confronts me with my limitations and limits," Dimitrijević pointed out.

His colleague Jugoslav Krajnov points out that Socrates is "the embodiment of freedom, free will, morality, love and faith".

"With his life, he constantly forces us, the present ones, to reconsider. I have no doubt that in today's society, I would survive for less than half an hour if I tried to live in the spirit of Socrates and his values," Krajnov pointed out.

In the play "Silencing Socrates", in addition to Dimitrijević and Krajnov, Jelena Stupljanin and Sanja Ristic Krajnov also play.

The costume designer is Marina Vukasović Medenica, the composer and author of the drawings is Aleksandra Vrebalov, the proofreader is Dijana Marojević, while the lighting design was done by Radomir Stamenković.

After tonight's premiere, the piece "Silencing Socrates" is also on the "Purgatory" program on Friday, August 23, starting at 21 p.m.

Bonus video: