Mogren Fortress confirms the power of ambient theater: The play "Waiting for Orestes" captivates the Budva audience

The play "Waiting for Orestes" by Lada Kaštelan, based on Sophocles' "Electra", directed by Livia Pandur, was performed at Mogren Fortress, continuing the drama program of the XL Grad Teatar festival. The play is a production of the Croatian National Theatre Varaždin.

The play "Waiting for Orestes" was based on the motifs of Sophocles' "Electra", but instead of a classic reading of the ancient tragedy, it focuses on the relationship between Clytemnestra and Electra, mother and daughter, whose conflict becomes a starting point for contemplating revenge, the legacy of violence, and responsibility.

The play premiered on June 28, 2024 at the archaeological site of Aquae Iasae in Varaždinske Toplice, where the ancient Roman complex became an integral part of the stage language of the play. After the premiere, it was included in the repertoire of the Croatian National Theatre Varaždin, and it has been a guest at numerous summer stages and festivals, including the Rijeka Summer Nights, the Dubrovnik Summer Festival at the Lovrjenac Fortress, and this year's Grad Teatar festival in Budva.

The ambient character of the play is particularly evident in open historical locations, so the Mogren Fortress proved to be an almost natural space for its performance. The stone walls, the open horizon and the immediate proximity of the sea further emphasized the feeling of the ancient space from which the play originates. The silence that accompanied the performance, occasionally interrupted only by the sound of the waves, together with the starry sky above the auditorium, created an atmosphere that strongly supported the stage illusion and enhanced the emotional intensity of the play.

The large auditorium of the Mogren Fortress allowed the audience to experience the performance as a unique combination of natural and stage space. In such an environment, the set design was not limited to the elements on the stage, but the stone of the fortress, the seascape and the night sky became an equal part of the stage expression, confirming once again how much ambient theater can enrich the encounter between a classic dramatic text and contemporary theatrical language.

The actress who plays the character of Electra, Dea Presečki, said after the performance that the scene at Mogren Fortress was beautiful and that it fit perfectly with the theme of the play.

"The play was created in an ambient setting and it is very important for us that this play is held in a place that is open, ambient, that has some magic in the sense of life that lives even through the boundaries of four walls. We also had a great audience tonight who followed everything nicely and we really enjoyed it," said Presečki.

Regarding working with director Livija Pandur, Presečki emphasized:

"There were a lot of guidelines because this is a demanding play that concerns the relationship between a mother and daughter, which has rarely been studied so deeply in our literature. I think that with this play we managed to reach the point that even today, despite all the other topics, it is possible to get to the core of the relationship between a mother and daughter. The relationship with the director was phenomenal because she insisted on that story that is rarely seen anywhere else. I am glad that we were able to express it through theater and art."

In addition to Presečka, the play also stars Nina Violić, Filip Eldan, Nikša Eldan, Beti Lučić and Elizabeta Brodić.

The production team, in addition to director Livija Pandur, includes playwright Lada Kaštelan, set designer Marko Japelj, costume designer Leo Kulaš, and composer Tamara Obrovac. The author of the video projections is Vanda Petrović.