Theatre: the “Primorska Character” of the Repertoire
The repertoire of the Nova Gorica theatre encompasses a wide range of genres; seasons include both titles from the dramatic canon and works by contemporary authors, while also remaining open to more exploratory approaches. Among its distinctive features is a tendency toward a “Primorska” (Littoral) character in the repertoire. Throughout the theatre’s history, this has manifested in various ways, whether in the staging of original satirical cabaret—such as Prepih by Andrej Jelačin in 1967—or in productions of comedies by Carlo Goldoni, whose vividly drawn characters and rich language capture the Mediterranean temperament with remarkable immediacy.
Goldoni’s example in the use of dialect—along with other theatrical influences, especially the principles and elements of commedia dell’arte—is reflected in the dramatic works of one of the more prominent members of the acting ensemble and a popular singer-songwriter, Iztok Mlakar. In 2007, the first of his plays was staged: the “farce with singing and shooting” Duohtar pod mus! was based on motifs from Molière, the author of The Doctor in Spite of Himself, as well as two other one-act plays from which Mlakar drew inspiration. His later works are likewise inspired by well-known authors and texts—for example Shakespeare, whose famous idea in Mlakar’s version becomes: “the world has completely gone mad.”
The Primorska character of the Nova Gorica theatre is also shaped by its engagement with works by other local authors and by its focus on historical figures. The name of France Bevk has appeared repeatedly in the repertoire, whether through stagings of his plays—such as Krivda in 1960—or through prose works that served as the basis for later productions, such as the 2023 devised project The Dying God Triglav. Creators have also been drawn to Ciril Kosmač, who never wrote for the theatre: through his novel or novella, which inspired the films Ballad of the Trumpet and the Cloud and On That Beautiful Day, or through texts that formed the basis of the production Dialogues, Monologues. The poetry of Srečko Kosovel has been brought to the stage, and the story of Simon Gregorčič has been reconstructed for theatrical performance. And more besides…
Avtor: Ana Perne