The program of the 30th anniversary edition of the Herceg Novi April Theater Festival HAPS will be officially opened today with the performance of the ballet spectacle "Who's Singing Over There", on the stage of the Park Hall in Herceg Novi, at 20.30:XNUMX p.m.
This year's edition of HAPS-and runs from April 14th to 30th, and the program will include performances that share the concept of "theater and music", confirming that music contributes to expressing the message of a theatrical play just as much as what is played and spoken on stage, the organizers previously stated.
The author of the ballet music for "Who's Singing Over There" is Vojislav Voki Kostic, while choreography and direction are signed by Stasa Zurovac. The libretto of this dance performance, inspired by the script of the cult film of the same name Dusan Kovačević and the director Slobodan Šijan, signs Ljubivoje Tadic.
"At the very beginning, there was a certain apprehension about how the cultural public would accept the fact that someone had the audacity to stage 'Who's Singing Over There' in ballet form, especially because of the anthology film from 1980. However, all doubts were dispelled at the premiere performance, on December 22, 2004. Fans of ballet art enthusiastically accepted it, and it was favored not only by journalists and critics, but also by those who had never attended ballet performances before," she wrote at the time. Brankica Knezevic who has been employed at the Ballet Directorate of the National Theatre in Belgrade since 1999.
She noted that "Staša Zurovac's skillful and lucid choreographic and directorial style" brought this performance closer to audiences around the world, as evidenced by its guest appearances around the world, from Colombia, Italy, Canada, Egypt, Romania, the regions of the former Yugoslavia...
The choreographer's assistant is Olja Jovanovic Zurovac, costume designer Katarina Radosevic Galic, stage designer George Drausnik, and all performed by the ballet ensemble of the National Theatre in Belgrade. The ballet director in the year of the premiere was Konstantin Kostyukov.
During HAPS, audiences of all generations will have the opportunity to watch top-notch performances on the stage of the Park Hall, ten in total, two of which are for children as part of HAPSić.
Thus, as part of the HAPSić program, the youngest audience will enjoy "Hedgehog's House", a cabaret for children aged six and over, produced by the "Jazavac" theater from Banja Luka, and the puppet show "Pomelo, the Little Pink Elephant" by the Podgorica City Theater, intended for those over three years old.
"The Hedgehog's House" by the director Aleksandra Spasojevic and composer Zlatan Mirić is on the program on April 22nd at 17 pm, and “Pomelo”, directed by Gosia Debska, and music Jelena Laban, 24th at 18 p.m.
Older people can expect some of the most popular performances in the region.
"At the beginning of the festival, we can safely say, two masterpieces from the repertoire of the National Theatre in Belgrade, the ballet to the music of Voki Kostić 'Who's Singing Over There' and 'Lullaby for Aleksija Rajčić', a dramatic play that has pushed aesthetic boundaries and defines a special genre of 'intimate spectacle' with a brilliant Vanjom Eidus in the title role. National Theatre Sombor with a great play Mata Matisic "'People of Wax' and the Knjaževski-Srpski Teatar from Kragujevac with the play 'Vrapčić', made in co-production with the 'Puls' theatre from Lazarevsko, reputable theatre houses that we are pleased to host with ensemble performances from their repertoire. The contemporary ballet 'Odustajanje', produced by the Music Centre of Montenegro and performed by the Montenegrin Ballet Ensemble, the provocative Montenegrin-Serbian co-production 'Utopia Today' and the documentary play of the independent production 'San o Milena' (Pavlović Barilli), are also on our list of recommendations, and we are proud to announce the 50th performance of the play in the domestic production 'Memories of Sarah Bernhardt'", announced HAPS.
“Lullaby for Aleksija Rajčić” by the National Theatre in Belgrade, based on the text Djordje Kosic, music Nevena Glušica and directed Jug Đorđević, Ejdus will perform at 20.30:XNUMX pm. All performances intended for adult audiences are performed at that time.
"The play is unique in numerous segments, and the theme is the inequality of women in society and the search for freedom beyond the law. It is a highly aestheticized, masterpiece of sublime theatrical expression that has no counterpart in known genres, and has won numerous awards," the statement said.
The play by JUK “Herceg Fest” and Herceg Novi Theatre, “Memories of Sarah Bernhardt”, performed by Tatjana Tanja Boskovic and Dejan Đonović, based on the text John Murrell, in directing Staše Koprivice, It will be played on April 17th, for the 50th anniversary.
Documentary about Mileni Pavlović Barili, Association of Artists "Artista" Požarevac, in direction and dramaturgy Jelena Bogavac A musical-drama play in the social fantasy genre, co-produced by the Tivat Cultural Center, Bitef Theater and partners from Belgrade and Novi Sad, "Utopia Today", whose authors are Marko Grubic i Milena Bogavac.
Award-winning play by the National Theatre of Sombor, "People of Wax", directed by Ivan Vanja Alač i compose Ana Krstajić, is a guest on April 26th, and on the 29th, it will be on the program "Sparrow" of Puls Teatar Lazarevac and Knjaževsko-srpski Teatar Kragujevac about life Edith Piaf, according to the text Natasa Ilic, in directing Miloš Jagodić. In the title role is Jasmina Dimitrijevic which performs cover versions of Piaf chansons, accompanied by an orchestra.
The Herceg Novi April festivities will close on April 30 with the play "Giving Up", based on the motifs of "A Novel about London" Miloš Crnjanski, performed by the Music Center of Montenegro. Directed by Mario Pavle del Monaco, music Dejan Božović, choreography Aleksandar Ilic, and is performed by the Montenegrin Ballet Ensemble consisting of: Ksenija Sinđić, Emmanule Masscati, Vladimir Sekulić, Tamara Radonjić, Staša Šćepanović, Staša Radenović, Tijana Dragović, Alina Tsoumou i Stasa Lazovic.
"The festival, thanks to the patrons of the Municipality of Herceg Novi and the Ministry of Culture and Media of Montenegro, numerous sponsors and friends, the perseverance of the Herceg Novi Theater and the bold approach to programming, especially in the field of theater culture, JUK "Herceg Fest" has grown to such a repertoire that, along with four accompanying programs, provides delight, laughter and tears. Proud of 30 years of our HAPS, a festival to which everyone wants to return, both spectators and guest theater creators, we are waiting for you in the PARK Hall from April 14th to 30th," say the organizers.
Bonus video:
