KOSOVO THEATER SHOWCASE 2020
We are thrilled to announce the final program for this year's Kosovo Theater Showcase. We have made sure to curate an electrifying and diverse program in terms of plays and other events. 

We are looking forward to our four-day theatrical feast! 
 

PROGRAM

 

27 October – Tuesday

 

20:00 – 21:00 | ODA Theater, Prishtina

Theater performance: BALAVA

(Guest performance from Serbia)

In Serbian with English Subtitles

 

28 October – Wednesday

 

11:00 – 12:00 | ODA Theater, Prishtina

Panel Discussion: Jasna Đuričić and Mirjana Karanović

Moderated by Agron Bajrami

Discussion in Serbian with English and Albanian translation

 

15:00 – 16:00 | Meeting point: Bill Clinton Statue, Prishtina

Florent Mehmeti: Trails of the ‘90s Underground Culture: A storytelling journey in the trails of the ‘90s underground culture of Prishtina.

In English

 

17:00 – 18:30 | Dodona Theater, Prishtina

Theater performance: I AM MY OWN WIFE

In Albanian with English Subtitles

 

20:00 – 21:30 | National Theater of Kosovo, Prishtina

Theater performance: ARTURO UI

In Albanian with English Subtitles

 

20:00 – 21:30 | City Theater “Adriana”, Ferizaj

Theater performance: BALAVA

(Guest performance from Serbia)

In Serbian with English Subtitles

 

 

29 October – Thursday

 

11:00 – 12:30 | ODA Theater, Prishtina

International Theater Market

In English

 

16:00 – 17:30 | City Theater “Adriana”, Ferizaj

Theater performance: CONTROL AND THE LOVE MACHINE

In Albanian with English Subtitles

 

19:00 – 20:00 | Gjilan City Theater, Gjilan

Theater performance: a.y.l.a.n

In Albanian with English Subtitles

 

30 October – Friday

10:00 – 12:00 | ODA Theatre, Prishtina

Panel Discussion: KOSOVO THEATERS – BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER THE PANDEMIC

Panelists: Vlora Dumoshi, (Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports), Erson Zymberi (Executive Director, City Theater of Gjilan), Florent Mehmeti (Manager, ODA Theater)

Moderator: Shaban Maxharraj (Journalist, Research Author)

Discussion in Albanian with English Translation

 

15:00 – 16:30 | ODA Theater, Prishtina

Theater performance: REFUGE / Screening + discussion

In English

 

17:00 – 17:30 | ODA Theater, Prishtina

Dance performance: LET’S GO

 

20:00 – 21:30 | National Theater of Kosovo, Prishtina

Theater performance: THE RETURN OF KARL MAY

In Albanian with English Subtitles

 

31 October – Saturday

 

15:00 – 16:10 | ODA Theater, Prishtina

Theater performance: IN FIVE SEASONS: AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE

In Albanian with English Subtitles

 

17:00 – 18:00 | Dodona Theater, Prishtina  

Theater performance: Monodrama “02.08.1944” by Edis Galushi.

In Roma with English Subtitles

 

20:00 – 21:40 | National Theater of Kosovo, Prishtina

Theater performance:  Naten, Ma

(Guest performance from Albania)

In Albanian with English Subtitles

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THEATER PERFORMANCES

 

BALAVA

(Guest performance from Serbia)

Produced by: Heartefact Fund (Belgrade, Serbia)

 

27 October | 20:00 – 21:00 | ODA Theater, Prishtina

 

28 October | 20:00 – 21:30 | City Theater “Adriana”, Ferizaj

 

By: Dunja Matić // Directed by: Andrej Nosov // Cast: Mirjana Karanović, Jasna Đuričić, Jovana Belović, Isidora Simijonović // Composer: Draško Adžić // Stage Design and Costumes: Selena Orb // Stage Movement: Damijan Kecojevic

 

A play by the young author Dunja Matić and director Andrej Nosov that questions whatwe (still) perceive as the traditional form of family.

By confronting two generations of female characters on stage, Dunja Matić raisesimportant questions about the role that women play in today’s society. The author alsocourageously confronts the problems of pregnancy and abortion, portraying them through the vision of heroines who treat these issues in accordance with their social roles. The author shows how, even in the absence of men, the heroines create relationships with them and build their identities through that relationship, whether as mothers, sisters, girlfriends or wives. At various levels, the issues of motherhood and mother-child relationships intensify throughout the play, which leaves many unsolved problems and raises awareness about the need for an urgent reaction.

 

 

 

I AM MY OWN WIFE

Produced by: Integra (Prishtina, Kosovo)

 

28 October | 17:00 – 18:30 | Dodona Theater, Prishtina

 

By: Dough Wright // Directed by: Kushtrim Koliqi // Ass. Director: Bashkim Ramadani// Cast: Adrian Morina // Translation into Albanian: Artur Lena // Composer: Trimor Dhomi // Stage Design and Costumes: Njomeza Luci // Videos: Lum Citaku // Light Design: Skender Latifi

 

Directed by Kushtrim Koliqi and with Adrian Morina as the only actor who plays over 30 personages, the play tells the story of the extraordinary and challenging life of transgender Charlotte von Mahlsdorf from Germany who survived the Nazi and Stasi regime. The winning play of the ‘Pulitzer Prize’ and the ‘Tony Award’ is based on Doug Wright's conversations and interviews with the German transgender and antique dealer Charlotte von Mahlsdorf, as well on Charlotte’s 1992 autobiography, also titled ‘I Am My Own Wife’.For the full portrayal of Charlotte, during the Nazi period and the subsequent Communist regime, while living openly as transgender, the play requires its sole actor to play about thirty different roles. The play’s title is from an anecdote Charlotte tells: when she was forty, her clueless mother asked “Don’t you think it’s time you settled down and found a wife?” to which Charlotte answered, “But, Mutti, don’t you know that I am my own wife?”

 

 

 

 

ARTURO UI

Produced by National Theater of Kosovo (Prishtina, Kosovo)

 

28 October | 20:00 – 21:30 | National Theater of Kosovo, Prishtina

 

By: Bertolt Brecht // Directed by: Bekim Lumi // Ass. Director: Bashkim Ramadani // Cast: Bujar Ahmeti, Afrim Kasapolli, Afrim Mucaj, Labinot Raci, Faris Berisha, Valmir Krasniqi, Edon Shileku, Ismet Azemi, Ylber Bardhi, Kushtrim Qerimi, Shpetim Kastrati, Muhamed Arifi, Alban Rexhaj // Choreography: Majlajdo Gala // Music: Dren Suldashi // Stage Design: Mentor Berisha // Costumes: Alma Krasniqi

 

In our universe, the 21st century is the century of Arturo Ui. Besides the disturbance it may cause, you know his face very well. Before seeing him in the theatre, you see him every day on TV. Tragically, you also see him in our everyday life. For years, you have gotten used to his weird face. To the point, that it no longer impresses you. You see the face of Arturo Ui and his gangsters not only in Kosovo, but all around the world. In their original form, or in a fetch form.  

Arturo Ui was written in 1941 by the renowned German and international playwright and director Bertolt Brecht (1898-1956) during his three-week migration in Helsinki (Finland). At that time, he was prosecuted by fascism and was expecting his USA visa to move there. Even though the events of this drama focus on Chicago and Cicero, USA, in fact, they are a metaphorical suggestion on the dramatic events of that time in Austria and Germany. As such, with the way, content, its spirit and characters, in a symbolic way this play describes, treats and reflects the violent history of the occupation of economic and political power by the gangster Arturo Ui (alias Adolf Hitler) and his successors in the ‘30s of the 20th century. Physical violence, robbery, burnings, pressure, taxes and threats against marketers, politicians and journalists, and even their murders. Their fake trials, alibies, violence and blackmailing against crime witnesses are only a few among the tabloids of this play.

This play participated in the Bursa International Theatre Festival 2020.

It was awarded the annual prize for the best play of 2018 and the annual prize for the best director 2018 (post-mortum prize for BekimLumi) by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports in Kosovo.

It was also awarded the Grand Prix prize from Skupifest in 2020, Skopje, Macedonia.

(The text above, with very little cuts, is taken from the word of Bekim Lumi about the play)

 

 

 

CONTROL AND THE LOVE MACHINE

Produced by the City Theater Adriana (Ferizaj, Kosovo)

 

29 October | 16:00 – 17:30 | City Theater Adriana, Ferizaj

 

By: Besim Ugzmajli // Directed by: Besim Ugzmajli // Ass. Director: Sovran Nrecaj // Cast: Mevlan Saraci, Urate Shabani, Valdrin Osmani, Blin Syjejmani, Dardane Mehmeti, Grese Gashi, Milot Salihu, Sherif Bega, Jajush  Ramadani, Kushtrim Emerllahu, Leonora Hasani, Kushtrim Ugzmajli // Stage Design: Bekim Korca // Costumes: Eleonora Gagica // Light Design: Hajrullah Elezi // Graphic Design: Ngadhenjim Ismani

 

Control and the Love Machine brings existential dilemmas that take place in a dystopian environment. Even though taking place in a dystopian environment, the play seeks to build upon the classical structure of drama in general.

 

Since the story does not have a specific time and place, it opens horizons that aim towards a timely non-defined future but that is connected to fictive environments of a post-apocalyptic and post-anthropological future.

The play as a subject of suspicion, questions the human moral and values upon which today’s society functions. The society of the future that is presented in the Control and Love Machine play, functions upon a new moral which has been imposed by the technological development through an invisible transformation on the human nature.

Ela and Oso have decided to get married, they find out that they must pass a few important tests in order to do that. Ela and Oso have to take the tests of Dr.Guan who is accompanied by the Person and Zaza. Dr.Guan has designed an institute that tests couples who have decided to get married in various ways. The tests that prove the love of Ela and Oso keep getting complicated. The space becomes even more hermetic and the pressure unbearable. Ela and Oso are expecting to get out of the hermetic institute soon. They do get out, but feels like it was not worth it.

 

 

 

 

a.y.l.a.n

Produced by the Gjilan City Theater (Gjilan, Kosovo)

 

29 October | 19:00 – 20:00 | Gjilan City Theater, Gjilan

 

By: Jeton Neziraj // Directed by: Blerta Neziraj // Ass. Director: Avni Shkodra // Cast: Aurita Agushi, Ernest Zymberi, Kushtrim Qerimi, Tringa Hasani, Gani Rrahmani dhe Alban Shahiqi // Stage Design and Costumes: Mentor Berisha // Choreography: Gjergj Prevazi // Music: Tomor Kuci // Light Design: Yann Perregaux 

 

 

In Roccalumera, a small town in Sicily, where nothing happens, and the residents are afflicted by boredom and desperation, everyone is pinning their hopes on the arrival of refugees. They hope a refugee boat might draw attention to their town, as well ensuring that its residents benefit from foreign aid. But the refugee boats pass them by as they sail toward the big cities, and they don’t stop at Roccalumera. But one day, everything changes when the sea washes up a man’s corpse on the beach…

 

a.y.l.a.n is an ironic theatrical performance about the actual story of refugees in Europe, and the efforts of many unscrupulous people to profit from their tragedy. The play forces us to see the story of the other in ourselves, at a time when in many European countries, anti-migrant feeling is on the rise, and empathy for their story and suffering is declining. The present tragedy of the other is our tragedy of yesterday and could be our tragedy of tomorrow.

 

 

 

REFUGE

Produced by Blessed Unrest (New York, US) and ODA Theater (Prishtina, Kosovo)

 

30 October | 15:00 – 16:30 | ODA Theater, Prishtina

 

By: Matt Opatrny // Directed by: Jessica Burr, Florent Mehmeti // Cast: Eshref Durmishi, Daniela Markaj, Nancy McArthur, Becca Schneider, Ilire Vinca, Perri Yaniv and The Band! Eve Sicular, Ismail Butera, and Debra Kreisberg // Production Stage Manager: Darielle Shandler // Set Design: Teddy Jefferson, Sonya Plenefisch // Costume Design: Caitlin Cisek // Lighting Design:  Jay Ryan // Sound Design:  Adrian Bridges // Assistant Director & Fight Choreographer:  Benjamin Peterson // Dramaturg: Julia Levine

 

A young Jewish woman embarks on a journey of discovery to a remote Albanian village. What she finds reveals both the truth of her family’s escape, and those who risked everything to provide them with refuge. Blessed Unrest teamed up with Teatri ODA from Kosovo and musicians from Metropolitan Klezmer for this world-premiere play based on real events in which thousands of Jewish World War II refugees were harbored by families in Albania & Kosovo. Despite Nazi occupation, no Jews were taken to concentration camps from Albania, and it was the only country in Europe with more Jews at the end of the war than at the beginning.

We have been collaborating since 2005, touring our original plays six times in the Balkans, Western Europe, and New York. We were the first-ever joint US/Kosovar theatre project in the USA and we won First Prize at the 2016 Secondo Festival in Zurich, Switzerland. 

 

 

 

LET’S GO

Produced by: Albanian Dance Theater Company (Tirana, Albania)

 

30 October | 17:00 – 17:30 | ODA Theater, Prishtina

 

Concept & Choreography: Gjergj Prevazi // Co – choreographers & Performers: Fjorald Doci, Robert Nuha.

 

An object that is part of our everyday lives and two dancers are enough to transmit to the audience the idea of wandering towards a new path, a new direction, one more opportunity, an alternative or an ever-questioning adventure…Fjorald Doci and Robert Nuha, performers and co-choreographers, seek to communicate through dancing the current phenomenon of young people migrating in search for a better life.

 

 

 

 

THE RETURN OF KARL MAY

Produced by: Volksbühne Berlin, (Berlin, Germany) National Theater of Kosovo, Qendra Multimedia (Prishtina, Kosovo)

 

30 October | 20:00 – 21:30 | National Theater of Kosovo, Prishtina

 

By: Jeton Neziraj // Directed by: Blerta Neziraj // Cast: Arta Muçaj, Adrian Morina, Armend Smajli, Ylber Bardhi, Shpetim Selmani // Stage and Costumes: Jelisaveta Tatić Čuturilo // Choreography: Gjergj Prevazi // Music Composer: Gabriele Marangoni // Dramaturge and Artistic Collaborator: Alban Beqiraj // Collaborator for Scenography: Mentor Berisha // Video: Ilir Gjocaj // Stage Manager: Lendita Idrizi// International Outreach: Maud Dinand // Coordination: Beqir Beqiri // Translation into English: Alexandra Channer // Lights: Mursel Bekteshi, Yann Perregaux // Technical Director: Fatlum Idrizi

 

Kara Ben Nemsi, the famous character in the works of Karl May, flees the East and heads toward German lands with a group of actors from Kosovo. On this almost epic journey, he encounters Slavoj Zizek, Peter Handke, a member of the National Socialist Underground, and a host of other characters. The play confronts the audience with Western Europe’s almost demonizing approach toward the East—its supposed cultural, political, and intellectual superiority—which, according to Aleksandar Hemon, is deeply rooted in colonialism and racism.

 

 

 

IN FIVE SEASONS: AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE

Produced by: Qendra Multimedia (Prishtina, Kosovo)

 

31 October | 15:00 – 16:10 ODA Theater, Prishtina

 

By: Jeton Neziraj // Directed by: Blerta Neziraj // Cast: Armend Smajli, Shpetim Selmani, Egzona Ademi, Kushtrim Qerimi, Afrim Muçaj, Verona Koxha // Stage and costumes: M. Nurullah Tuncer // Music: Irena Popovic- Dragovic // Choreography: Gjergj Prevazi // Director of International Outreach: Maud Dinand // Ass. director: Ermal Sadiku // Stage manager: Lendita Idrizi // Video: Ilir Gjocaj // Technical Director: Fatlum Idrizi // Lighting design: Mursel Bekteshi // Translation into English: Alexandra Channer // Interpreter: Sara Sulejmani // Tailor: Shemsi Avdiu // Executive Producer: Bernard Berisha

 

“The strongest man in the world is he who stands most alone.”
― HENRIK IBSEN, An Enemy of the People

Post-war Prishtina, then administered by the UN, was threatened by powerful, illegal construction magnates who brutally built in every nook and cranny of the city, disregarding all rules of urbanism. In the name of neoliberalist market policies, the UN tolerated it and created a favorable environment for this destruction. This process also involved many producers of construction materials from other European countries, who had a vested interest in this “quick reconstruction.”

Architect and urban planner Rexhep Luci was attempting to bring the city under urbanist control. To the construction and manufacturing companies, corrupt political castes, opportunist media, wartime commanders, UN officials, and many others, he was “the enemy.” Rexhep Luci received several death threats and was later killed outside his apartment in Prishtina.

Winning the war but losing the peace, Prishtina today has the most polluted air in Europe. Construction companies continue abusing tens of thousands of workers employed in the construction sector by paying them low wages, making them work in extremely dangerous conditions, and not offering them health insurance. In a time span of one year, hundreds of workers of this sector are injured or die at the workplace. Their families are never recompensed.

IN FIVE SEASONS: AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE talks about “the hero compromised by the majority” and about “the responsibility of the majority as an enemy of truth and freedom” (Ibsen, via Stockman). Moreover, this play also talks about the hypocrisy of the UN’s peace missions who, in the name of political stability, peace, development, and reconstruction, turn a blind eye to Dr. Stockmanns, consequently becoming complicit in their murder.

 

 

 

“02.08.1944”

By Edis Galushi (Prizren, Kosovo)

 

31 October | 17:00 – 18:00 | Dodona Theater, Prishtina  

 

By: Edis Galushi // Directed by: Edis Galushi // Cast: Edis Galushi // Artistic Consultant: Xhevdet Doda // Coordinator: Malbora Krajku // Sound: Fikrim Menekshe // Music Effects: Ertan Galushi // Stage Décor: Hajredin Pacaku // Subtitles: Bardhyl Veshalli.

 

While the exact figures or percentages remain unknown, historians estimate that the Nazi forces and their allies killed up to 220,000 Roma people in Europe during the World War II genocide. In the Auschwitz camp alone, close to 23,000 Roma are said to have been imprisoned. The night of August 2, 1944 was known as the “final solution” for the Roma in Auschwitz. That night by the order of SS leader Heinrich Himmler a total of 2,898 Roma were exterminated in the gas chamber. After the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp in 1945, only 4 Roma people survived. Through the personal story of the only character of this play is told the horrible treatment of the Roma before and during the Second World War.

 

 

 

 

NATEN, MA

(Guest performance from Albania)

Produced by Metropol Theater (Tirana, Albania)

 

31 October | 20:00 – 21:40 | National Theater of Kosovo, Prishtina

 

By: Marsha Norman // Directed by: Ema Andrea // Cast: Ilire Vinca, Jonida Beqo // Music: Bojken Lako // Music Players: Endi Aaron Cekani, Rei Kondakciu // Stage Design: Enio Shehi.

 

“Natën, Ma” the Pulitzer and World Theatre prizes winner play by Marcha Norman comes as a premiere of Metropol theatre, directed by Ema Andrea with Ilire Vinca and Jonida Beqo as actresses. Telma, a woman around her 50s lives together with her 30 year old daughter, Xhesi. One seemingly ordinary evening, in the middle of conversations about manicure and groceries, suddenly Xhesi comes out of the cellar carrying her father’s pistol. She calmly communicates to her mother an important decision that is about to change their lives. In the upcoming hours, the extraordinary within life’s routine is discovered, the urgent within normality and desperation within love.

 

 

 

PANEL DISCUSSIONS & NETWORKING

 

Panel Discussion: Jasna Đuričić and Mirjana Karanović

Moderated by Agron Bajrami

 

28 October | 11:00 – 12:00 | ODA Theater, Prishtina

 

On Wednesday 28 October a discussion with Serbian actresses Mirjana Karanović and Jasna Ðuričić will be carried out within the framework of the 3rd edition of Kosovo Theatre Showcase.

 

This discussion will focus on the role of theatre and culture in raising the issues of social importance, cultural networking in the region, challenges and responsibilities of being an actor in Balkans as well as the capacities of theatre to raise and promote issues like gender equality and equity, fighting homophobia or nationalism.

Mirjana Karanović (1957) is one of the most famous actresses of theatre and post-Yugoslav cinematography who is also a known activist for human rights. She was also quite voiced against wars in former Yugoslavia.

 

Jasna Ðuričić (1966) is a known Serbian actress who in 2010 won the Best Actress prize at the known film festival in Locarno, Switzerland.

 

Both actresses will be in Pristina for the theatre play “Balava” produced by Heartefact Fund, a drama written by Dunja Matić in the direction of Andrej Nosov.

 

This discussion is organized in the framework of the project Reconnection 2.0 that is funded by the EU Office in Kosovo and is implemented by Qendra Multimedia and Heartefact Fund.  

 

 

 

Florent Mehmeti: Trails of the ‘90s Underground Culture: A storytelling journey in the trails of the ‘90s underground culture of Prishtina.

 

28 October | 15:00 – 16:00 | Meeting point: Bill Clinton Statue, Prishtina

 

Come with your own smart phone and earphones to experience this journey. To prepare have a look at www.hapu.me/90

This audio journey has been created from memoires of the real life of the artist, Florent Mehmeti, during the nineties of the previous century, weaving an artistic experience that traverses the life of young people of Prishtina during this period, especially the life of young artists. It is based on real events, but empowered with artistic means of the artist himself. The journey that starts from Bill Clinton Statue and ends at Dodona theatre, the cultural resistance nest of the time, goes through streets and alleys that reveal moments and situations that rarely happen in history.

This journey can be experienced autonomously at any time using your own smart phone and earplugs, downloading 'the walk' in the application and following technical details at www.hapu.me/90

With the support of Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports - Department for Cultural Heritage  

The Festival of Arts in Public Space HAPU is organized by ODA Theatre and this year it has been conceptualized as HAPUDEMIA. The festival will take place in the remaining part of 2020 through many artistic interventions which invite the audience and the artists to meet with each other in ways that current circumstances allow in physical public space and digital public space - the internet and information technology tools.

 

 

 

INTERNATIONAL THEATER MARKET

 

29 October | 11:00 – 12:30 | ODA Theater, Prishtina

 

International Theater Market is designed to gather international theater professionals to exchange ideas and experiences from their work back home. Theater leaders, directors and producers unfold their work, they talk about the theater productions that they have been working on recently and their visions for the future. This is a good opportunity for new collaborations to be born and for the existing ones to be strengthened.

 

Among those who will present their work are:

 

 

 

 

 

PANEL DISCUSSION: KOSOVO THEATERS – BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER THE PANDEMIC

 

30 October | 10:00 – 12:00 | ODA Theatre, Prishtina

 

The panel derives from a report written recently that sheds light to the artistic, financial and administrative situation of the city theaters in the last decade. It unfolds data about theatres by collecting their work together with achievements and challenges. Details about their functioning are unfolded together with recommendations of theater leaders. After  the presentation of the report, the speakers will share their viewpoints on theaters during the pandemic. Public and indepentent theaters’ representatives together with those from the Ministry of Culture will share their opinions.

 

Panelists: Vlora Dumoshi, (Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports), Erson Zymberi (Executive Director, City Theater of Gjilan), Florent Mehmeti (Executive Director, ODA Theater), moderated by Shaban Maxharraj (Journalist, Research Author) 

 

 

 

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