Theatre: the Path to Professionalisation, the Road to the PDG
The beginnings of professional theatre production in Nova Gorica can be traced to the Municipal Theatre Nova Gorica, which was established in 1955 as a semi-professional institution. However, theatrical activity in this geographical area dates back earlier; for example, a drama group was active in Solkan within the local cultural association. In the years before the theatre’s establishment, there was already an idea to relocate the Theatre for the Slovene Littoral (GSP), which operated in Postojna in the first half of the 1950s, to Nova Gorica. The relocation did take place, but to another town (Koper, and even then only for a short time), while the leadership of the newly established theatre in Nova Gorica was taken over by the former director of GSP, Rudi Hönn.
In the leading position of the Goriška Theatre, as the institution soon came to be known, several changes occurred before its professionalisation (Darij Bratoš, Andrej Jelačin, and then Stane Leban as acting director), while the ensemble was largely composed of amateur actors. Through touring, the theatre covered the wider Gorizia region, thereby fulfilling its founding mission. Aspirations toward full professionalisation were evident, although they encountered opposing views, partly due to insufficient material conditions for work.
Decisive changes came with the arrival of Jože Babič, an established theatre and film director who, prior to joining the Goriška Theatre, had contributed to the post-war consolidation of Slovene theatre in Trieste. With improved working conditions—such as the employment of actors and strengthened technical support—Babič, as director, led the theatre toward professionalisation: on 28 March 1969, the municipal assembly adopted a decision establishing the Goriška Theatre Nova Gorica and thereby granted it professional status. A few months later, a further decision followed to rename the institution, as the theatre sought to transcend strictly local frameworks in its activity… And thus the Primorsko Dramsko Theatre Nova Gorica was born!
Avtor: Ana Perne