Domestic theater in front of foreign experts

Montenegrin theater has high artistic quality, but insufficient international visibility, noted theatrologist and theater critic Ivan Medenica. With the aim of changing this and ensuring greater (media) visibility and potential participation of Montenegrin plays at world festivals, the Ministry of Culture and Media of Montenegro (MKM) is organizing the first "Showcase of Montenegrin Theatre", whose selector is Ivan Medenica.

The event will be held from May 13th to 17th, in Podgorica, Cetinje, Budva and Tivat, and on that occasion a press conference was organized yesterday, at which the following spoke: selector Medenica, Minister of Culture Tamara Vujović, as well as representatives of MKM Svetlana Višnjić i Ognjen Damjanović with whom Medenica collaborated in that department, along with "external consultants" Danilo Milatović i Marko Šaranović.

Minister Vujović noted that the project is being implemented to mark the 20th anniversary of the restoration of Montenegro's independence, which also gives it a symbolic dimension. She assessed that Showcase represents an important step forward in the strategic and thoughtful international positioning of contemporary Montenegrin theater.

"For the first time, on a uniquely conceived platform, we are uniting artistic production, professional dialogue and cultural diplomacy, with the clear intention of presenting domestic theatrical creativity to the relevant international professional public, festival selectors, producers, theatre critics and representatives of European networks," she said at yesterday's press conference.

Medenica praised the engagement of MKM, emphasizing that it is rare for a line ministry to organize and cover an event of this type.

"The Showcase format implies a kind of mini-festival where the highest achievements of a national production are presented in a short period of time," he explained, emphasizing that the Showcase was designed and intended primarily for foreign guests, festival selectors, theater directors, and critics.

Performances on home stages, guests travel around Montenegro

The program includes ten performances of different poetics and productions, from national institutions to the independent scene. These are: “The Other Side” an author's project Boris Liješević (Montenegrin National Theatre (CNP), Podgorica), “The Case of the Virgin” based on the text Stella Miskovic in directing Dora Ruždjak Podolski (Royal Theatre Zetski Dom, Cetinje), “The Case of Medea” by Euripides in directing Diego de Brea (CNP and Bar Chronicle), “Death in Dubrovnik” author's project Petar Pejaković (Drama Studio Prazan prostor), “Jelena Savojska” based on the text Maria Sarap in directing Zoran Rakočević (Cultural and Information Center (KIC) “Budo Tomović” Podgorica, Corifej Theater Kolašin, Cultural Center “Nikola Đurković” Kotor), “Flower Girl” by text Mirjana Medojević in directing Mirko Radonjić (Podgorica City Theatre), dance performance “How Much to the End” author's project Julije Milačić Petrović Njegoš i Tamara Vujošević Mandić (Dance troupe Ballo and CNP, with the support of the Miloš Karadaglić Foundation), “Warm” by text Train Fosea in directing Philip Greenwald (production by Loft and the “Treći prostor” Theatre), “Đekna” author's project by Mirko Radonjić (Kraljevsko Theatre), “Contra mundum” author's project Veljko Mićunović (Tivat Cultural Center).

The program will open on May 13th with the play "The Other Side" at the CNP, while "The Flower Girl" will be performed immediately after the premiere, which, Medenica points out, emphasizes the exclusivity of the program.

When asked by "Vijesti" whether each of the plays would be performed only on the main stage of the theater in which it was staged, Medenica answered in the affirmative. This indicates that the domestic audience will actually be able to see productions that have already been seen. Touring plays would be expensive, Medenica explained, but travel will be provided for foreign guests.

"If we had tried to organize all the performances to travel throughout Montenegro, it would have been logistically almost impossible. The project is already very demanding and complex, so I think we have achieved a good balance between home performances and touring," he said.

Vujović commented that the trips were designed specifically for guests.

"We believe that our audience has mostly seen the performances in these cities, and if not, then they have the opportunity to buy a ticket just like in any other repertoire month. The point was for guests to see the most of Montenegro, the best of Montenegro, and in places where the theater scene is actually most present," said Vujović.

Guests from all over the world; domestic - according to MKM protocol

When it comes to guests, they come from: Argentina, Austria, Germany, Belgium, Portugal, Sweden, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Romania, Turkey and Thailand. Among them are critics, but also directors and selectors of some of the world's most important festivals, approximately 40 guests...

Medenica singled out, among others, the critic of the leading German and world theater magazine "Theater Heute", the selectors of the Kontakt festival from Poland and Nitra from Slovakia, as well as the selector of the Buenos Aires festival. The minister added that she will also host a reception for the guests, and that tourist tours and introductions to the country will be organized for them.

When asked by "Vijesti" whether the invitation was also extended to theater critics from Montenegro, it was stated that this would be implemented in accordance with the MKM protocol.

"The ministry has its own protocol according to which it will, at its discretion, invite guests to the opening ceremony on May 13. As for the Montenegrin colleagues, they will be included in that regard. There is great interest, and after each guest appearance, or rather after each performance, the theater directors will be there, they have all confirmed their attendance... At such events, informal gatherings are just as important as formal ones," added Medenica.

It has been announced that domestic critics and professionals will be involved in the Showcase through various (side) programs that will be announced soon.

Without the Nikšić Theater, but no insight into its production either

The main idea of ​​the Showcase was to make the artistic quality of Montenegrin theatre more visible on the international stage, the speakers agreed. The programme was designed on the basis of several principles, namely: decentralisation, diversity of themes and performance forms, balanced representation of the institutional and independent scene, explained the selector. He particularly highlighted the presence of contemporary dance, themes related to the position of women, as well as a strong critical discourse dealing with contemporary social issues, including issues from the recent past - the wars of the 1990s...

It is noticeable that out of the four theater institutions, only the Nikšić Theater is not represented in the program. When asked by a "Vijesti" journalist whether he was familiar with the productions of that institution and, if so, to comment on the work and repertoire, Medenica said that he had not seen the plays from Nikšić, but that he had been invited to a recent premiere.

"As for the Nikšić Theater specifically, they contacted me relatively recently with an invitation to see one of their premieres, but I have not been to Montenegro... If this event becomes a tradition, then there will be an opportunity for me to personally get to know the Nikšić Theater's production better, and for it to be included in the program," he explained.

Budget 37.400 euros

Responding to a question from "Vijesti" about the budget, the minister said that "one could get the impression that this is a megalomaniacal and very large and expensive project". That is why it is important to present precise data, she stressed. Thus, the total budget of the Showcase is 37.400 euros, of which 14.700 euros is intended for hotel accommodation for participants. MKM does not cover the arrival of guests, nor any fees or per diems.