The epic play Under the Free Sun is coming to the big stage of SNG Nova Gorica, which was directed by Aleksandar Popovski based on the historical novel of the same name by Fran Saleški Finžgar, or based on the original stage text by Goran Vojnović.
The performance was a co-production of the Slovenian National Theater in Nova Gorica, Drama of the Slovenian National Theater Maribor, Cankarjev dom Ljubljana and the Institute Dwarf. A play with a subtitle The epic in question will have its first premiere trees at 8 p.m in Nova Gorica, followed by premieres in Ljubljana (December 18) and Maribor (January 19).
An epic show with a comic aestheticA great Slovenian historical novel Frano Saleški Finžgarja (1871–1962) is one of Slovene’s fundamental literary works, not only because of its strong national awakening value, but also because of its superb novelistic splendor.
A novel with a subtitle The story of ancient ancestorswhich was published in 1912, has seen several literary and radio adaptations – and more recently, a depiction in comics Goran Vojnović and Damian Stepančič, who is also the author of the artwork for the present performance. And also the performance basically “comes from a comic book and although the text is slightly different from the comic book, we will try to introduce certain elements of the comic or comic aesthetic into it“, said Vojnović.
Today it is no longer clear who is Byzantine and who is barbarianFinžgar’s masterpiece combines the epic about the breakthrough of the Slavs into the Balkans with a romantic love story between Iztok and Irena. Vojnović, however, provided a modern interpretation of the myth by taking into account historical and political experiences from the time of the creation of the novel to the present day. The performance thus raises interesting questions, which, according to Vojnović, are still relevant, “but the answers are more complicated, often indeterminate and even ambiguous, because in today’s world it is already unclear who is a Byzantine and who is a barbarian“.
The announcement also states that the play will also try to answer the questions: “Are we barbarians on the outskirts of a mighty empire or are we Byzantines protecting Byzantium from invading barbarians? And what about our freedom? Are we living today under the free sun or not?“
To destroy Byzantium or not?A director Aleksandar Popovski, who also took care of the scenography, did not intervene in the work by updating it. He is aware of the times we live in and what it means to live in peace and freedom – but he adds: “Unfortunately, I think we can forget about peace for a while. No one is talking about peace processes, everyone is only talking about how many more weapons do we need? There is no peace option. Sorry. In the play, I am most interested in this phenomenon: to demolish or not to demolish.“
According to the artistic director of SNG Nova Gorica Marko Bratuš means this show”the realization of the desire I have to be like national we are not satisfied with the production of smaller shows, which may be financially more rational, but to offer the audience larger shows, which is why we try to do at least one such show per season.“
They perform in the play Matija Rupel, Eva Kraš, Blaž Dolenc, Matej Zemljič, Iztok Mlakar, Gorazd Žilavec, Viktor Hrvatin Meglič, Gorazd Jakomini, Blaž Valič, Arna HadžialjevićRobert Korošec kg, Žiga Saksida (recorded voice) and Boštjan Gombač k. Mr (recorded voice), who is also the author of the music.
He signs the dramaturgy Martina Mrharshe is a proofreader Anja Pišotcostume designer Jelena Prokovićmask designer Played by Emma Veblechoreographer Rosana Hribaranimator and video designer Miran Bratus.
Source: Rtvslo