The program marking November 1st - the Day of the Montenegrin National Theatre (CNP) began with the presentation of annual awards and recognitions to members of the collective, associates and partner institutions, CNP announced today.
The statement added that, at the proposal of director Ilija Subotić and artistic director Marija Sarap, the CNP Council unanimously decided to award the Grand Prize for the most significant artistic result in the year of importance for the high artistic reputation and raising the reputation of CNP equally to Aleksandar Radulović, actor - for the main role in the play "Naličje" and Boris Liješević for directing the play of the same name..
The President of the Theatre Council, Vasko Raičević, explained the decision to award the Grand Prize, emphasizing the artistic strength and social relevance of the play "The Other Side".
"Working on the play 'The Other Side', together with the rest of the ensemble, they created a full-fledged theatrical event that accurately reflects our reality, and Aleksandar Radulović's acting does not satisfy the viewer's conformism with any expression and prevents him from looking away from the unpleasant truth. His expression fits perfectly with the aesthetics of Boris Liješević's theater, which persistently searches for the roots of the problems of our society, those forces that eternally keep us stuck. Reactions from the region, wherever the play was performed, as well as the awards they brought, do honor to this theater," Raičević emphasized.
Radulović thanked his colleagues and the audience, emphasizing the importance of theater as a place of truth and spiritual growth.
"When you feel a base, when you feel that you have feet where you can stand, then this is just a consequence of the immense love and togetherness that we really have here. This theater has given me a lot and given me the opportunity to meet wonderful people and given me the opportunity to forgive, and I hope that a lot of that is at least tolerated for me," said, among other things, Radulović.
In a video address, Liješević pointed out that in all these years of his career, he had never been as accepted anywhere as he was in the CNP.
"It's like entering my parents' home where they hug and caress me and don't expect anything in return, they are very careful not to hurt me in any way, and I tell them: You can't hurt me, you won't hurt me, because I am yours, you are mine. We grew up on the same food, were raised with the same sentences, according to the same role models... And after my second directing at CNP, I realize that CNP will never be one of the theater places I work in, CNP will always be just a place for me where brothers and sisters are," said Liješević.
The annual CNP awards for outstanding artistic achievements were presented to actors Ana Vujošević for the roles of Mrs. Injacija in the play "We Improvise Tonight", directed by Paolo Mađeli, and Stojanka in the play "Naličje", Nada Vukčević for the roles of Medea in the play "The Case of Medea", directed by Diego de Brea, Doctor Vera in the play "Naličje" and Ljubica Rossi in the play "Princess Xenija of Montenegro - Exiled Mourner of the Petrović House", directed by Radmila Vojvodić, then to Milovoje Mišo Obradović for the role of Leon Glembaj in the play "Gospoda Glembajevi" directed by Danilo Marunović, Kristina Obradović for the roles of Heather Clark in the play "Gideon's Knot" directed by Ivan Vanja Alač, Baroness Kasteli Glembaj in the play "Gospoda Glembajevi" and Snežana in the play "Naličje", as well as Ana Vučković for the roles of Princess Xenija in the play "Princess Xenija of Montenegro" and Momine in the play "Tonight we are improvising".
Actress Kristina Obradović thanked all her colleagues, because, as she pointed out, the theater needs to be supported on its shoulders when the curtains open and the lights come on - both when it's hard and when it's easy.
For exceptional results and merits in all areas of business, Predrag Radulović, driver-courier, Predrag Pavićević, props designer, Dragan Rašović, stage decorator, Mira Đurđević, hygienist, Miloš Vukić, personal and property security guard, Ana Markuš, material accountant, Stefan Radivojević, bartender-waiter, Dragoljub Janković, business secretary, Danilo Milatović, executive producer and Milica Causević, ticket agent were awarded.
"We are privileged to work in theater, because theater is still one of the most powerful instruments of human and social emancipation. The privilege is all the greater because we support one of the most talented acting ensembles in the former Yugoslavia," said producer Danilo Milatović on behalf of the awardees.
The status of honorary member of the CNP, which, among other things, can be acquired by prominent creators and collaborators of the theater for significant work and results achieved in the field of culture, was awarded to actors Svetozar Cvetković from Belgrade and Izudin Bajrović from Sarajevo.
"I am not Montenegrin, but you have made me feel, through everything I have done in Montenegro over the last thirty years, as part of this people, as part of this theater that has done me a great honor today by accepting me, along with Izudin, as an honorary member," said actor Svetozar Cvetković.
"I am very grateful to the Montenegrin National Theatre, as one of the most agile, most active, highest quality and most awarded theatres in the region, for deciding to grant me this status, which I will jealously guard," said actor Izudin Bajrović, the leader of the Drama Department of the National Theatre in Sarajevo.
The "Velibor Bucko Radonjić" scholarship, which is awarded for exceptional results in the field of theater set design, costume design and fine arts, was received this year by Maša Mirković, a costume designer from Podgorica.
Certificates of appreciation for their contribution to the affirmation of CNP were awarded to the Cultural Editorial Office of the Television of Montenegro and the Montenegrin Commercial Bank.
Also at the ceremony, an award was presented to writer Barbara Delac, whose play "Walls - Let's Say an Exhibition" won this year's national theater competition for the best contemporary domestic play.
The explanation of the decision was read by the president of the jury - professor and window producer Janko Ljumović.
"The program of celebrating November 1st - the Day of the Montenegrin National Theatre continues at 20 pm when an opera gala concert by the Accademia Teatro alla Scala will be held on the Main Stage - for the first time in the history of our national theatre. The following will perform: Mariapaola Di Carlo (soprano), Hyeonsol Park (mezzo-soprano), Zizhao Chen (tenor) and Xhieldo Hyseni (bass), accompanied by one of the world's most renowned pianists, Maestro Vincenzo Scalera from the Teatro alla Scala," the CNP statement reads.
Bonus video:
