There are few actors who dare to take on the roles of actor and director at the same time, and even fewer who have the courage to hold the audience's attention for more than an hour alone, without a partner on stage.
Montenegrin actor Slavko Kalezić is one of the few who not only knows how to do it, but also finds a special kind of artistic and personal freedom in it. He is an actor who is equally at home in large ensembles and demanding theater productions, but also in intimate formats such as monodramas in which he bares his emotions and reveals the most honest parts of himself. With each new role, Kalezić confirms that he does not see acting just as a profession, but as a process of learning and self-discovery, as a personal ritual that shapes and heals him.
For him, he says, acting is therapy. That is precisely the power of his latest original play, "Letter of Love," which premieres tomorrow on the small stage of the Montenegrin National Theatre. The play is based on the book Žane Pliakov "I am love", and Kalezić emphasizes that in this work he finds a new level of inner healing and understanding of himself. The fact that with this monodrama he will mark two decades of work on stage - twenty years of passion, discipline, self-reflection and the courage to always go one step further is also particularly symbolic.
As he himself says in an interview for "Vijesti", everyone will be able to recognize themselves in "Letter of Love", because through it he wants to encourage the audience to turn to themselves, to recognize the power of introspection and tenderness towards their own being. The meaning of theater, Kalezić believes, is not only to entertain, but to refine, shake and encourage thinking.
The artist left his mark on every detail of the play, from the text and stage expression, to the poster, which is dominated by the symbol of the phoenix, a sign of rebirth. He did not choose this motif by chance, because Slavko Kalezić is an artist who has always risen like a phoenix throughout his career, always persevering in his desire to remain true to himself.
He talks about all this in an interview with "Vijesti"...
Slavko, this is your second monodrama based on the novel by Žana Polijakov. And while “Solufood” was a healing therapy, what does “Letter of Love” bring?
“Letter of Love” brings a new level of healing. All my productions start from the concept of psychotherapy. I choose themes and materials that are so vital that every individual, in their own unique way, can identify with them. I believe that this is necessary for today's individual and that the meaning of theater is to constantly refine.
As you mentioned earlier, Žana always writes about what she experiences and from her own perspective. You yourself found a lot of yourself in what she wrote, and I can recognize you in the sentences “I don’t like laws or rules and I don’t like being shaped by society. That’s not me,” with which she describes her book. How difficult was it to stubbornly stick to who you are, regardless of the reactions of others, and always be yourself and different, and not give up on yourself?
Every challenge is an incentive for me. I can't say that it was difficult for me, but rather that it was strange. If I were to make a special expertise regarding my perception of society from year to year, that would be a great satire. A part of society that would be merciless towards me, made me just be a better version of myself. Mostly, this refers to some negative comments that came to me, which had nothing to do with my artistic engagement. I have always emphasized that my unwritten laws are above all written ones.
The previous play focused on women. This time, through your monodrama, you want to encourage people to focus on themselves and their lives. Your authenticity inspired you. How much role does self-love play in the message you want to convey?
Self-love is crucial. Unfortunately, people don't differentiate between genuine self-love and narcissism. I never thought I was the best, the smartest, but I always thought my soul was special and that my art had a higher meaning. Authenticity is acquired at birth, I'm convinced of that, and it's nurtured over the years. "Love Letter" is synonymous with pure self-love. There's a line: "I'm the dearest person to myself, and therefore all other people are dear and lovely to me." How true that is.
Your creativity leaves no one indifferent, and that is precisely the essence of art - to provoke, admonish, criticize. How difficult is it to maintain artistic integrity today, when almost everything is called art?
It's not difficult. Especially when you realize that you have built an authentic artistic style based on the knowledge you gained during your studies. Ethics is my strong point; I am guided by it. The essence of art is to change. For the better.
The poster features a phoenix - a symbol of rebirth. How many times have you, as an artist, had to rise from situations that broke you, but in the end made you stronger?
Many times. In those situations, the saying “Patience of a saint, strength of two” would always come to mind, which has been an inspiration to me throughout the years. It will continue to be so, of course. Every unpleasant situation has made me stronger. I believe that growing up is a lifelong process.
In one of your interviews, you indicated that artists rarely show respect for their own work. But you celebrate every anniversary. “Soulfood” just celebrated 15 years on the stage, and “Letter of Love” will arrive in two decades. All circumstances affect and change us, but to what extent have all the roles you have had the opportunity to play influenced and changed Slavko as a person?
In every role, I looked for the noblest thing that could come to the fore. Art is a way of life and a job. The former has always been more important to me. We are all just passing through. I want to be the best version of myself in this passing time called life. Roles, i.e. art, contribute invaluablely to that. And I am grateful.
Bonus video:
