PrizrenFest 2024, the third edition of the international open-air theatre festival, will be held in Prizren between 21st-28th July.
The festival will feature a diverse, international line-up of theatre performances by artists from Kosovo, Albania, North Macedonia, Greece, Italy, France, Bulgaria, and Iran. Venues for the performances include several cultural and historical open spaces in Prizren such as Kino Lumbardhi, Prizren Castle, and the League of Prizren.
The festival’s opening night on July 21 will be at Kino Lumbardhi. Migjeni Theatre from Shkodra, Albania and Sardegna Theater from Italy, supported by Istituto Italiano di Cultura in Tirana, will present The Visit, based on H.G.Wells’ The Wonderful Visit, directed by Davide Iodice and written by Fabio Pisano. The show tells the story of a visit by an angel, exploring how we welcome those who are not like us, even if they are angels.
On July 22, there will be a performance of DNA from North Macedonia, directed by Fatos Berisha will be performed at “Loyola ” Elementary School. Audience by Václav Havel, produced by “Bekim Fehmiu” Theatre – Prizren and directed by Bashkim Ramadani, will also take place on the same day at DestiLL Caffe.
Voyage A Zurich, a performance from France will be staged at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour on July 23. Produced by DontActe and directed by Franck Berthier the play is inspired by a true story and stars albanian actor Arben Bajraktari. A one man show Lucifer by Boyan Arsov from Bulgaria will be performed the same day at Autostrada Biennale which is one of the new collaborators of PrizrenFest.
On July 24, La Gioia from Italy will be presented at Kino Lumbardhi, conceived and directed by Pippo Delbono, production of Emilia Romagna Teatro ERT – Teatro Nazionale (Italy) Co-production of Théâtre de Liège (Belgium), Le Manège Maubeuge – Scène Nationale (France).
On July 25, The Child from Iran will be performed at League of Prizren by Shieveh Theatre Company, directed by Afsaneh Mahian and written by Naghmeh Samini. The play tells the story of three women together with a new-born baby, they are immigrants who are detained on the coast of a western country (in Europe). Lule Sajza, a production by National Experimental Theater “Kujtim Spahivogli”, directed by Endri Çela will take place on the same day at Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour. Supported by the Institute of Studies on Crimes and Consequences of Communism in Albania the show is based on the personal stories of the survivors of the Tepelena camp, as well as the writings of Agron Tufa, Lekë Pervizi and the research facts of Kastriot Dervish.
On July 26, Music in Between from Italy will be performed at Sinan Pasha Key, a dance theater show conceptualized by Gjergj Prevazi. Catastrophe from Greece by Efamillon Theatre, written and directed by Dimitris Bampilis, will be staged at Kino Lumbardhi the same day.
On July 27, Medea’s Burqa from Greece will take place at the Halveti’s Tekke, directed by Kyriaki D. Spanou and featuring Marsela Lena in the role of Medea. A Streetcar Named Desire from Bosnia & Herzegovina will follow at League of Prizren, produced by Sarajevski Ratni Teatar and directed by Dina Mušanović.
On the last night of the festival, on July 28, A Beggar’s Opera from the Czech Republic will be performed at Kino Lumbardhi by Prague Shakespeare Company, directed by Daniel Brown and produced by Glen Emery and DivadloMiloco.
From July 22-26, children’s theatre productions will be showcased at Sheshi i Lidhjes së Prizrenit and Shadërvan. These include adaptations of works by L. Frank Baum and S.J. Marshak, a performance by Festivali i Teatrove Ferizaj dhe Dora Xhemajli, and a presentation by Shadows and Clouds – Shkup, catering to various age groups.
Additionally, the festival will include a workshop for children, as well as conferences and exhibitions, all free for spectators.
For more information, visit the PrizrenFest Facebook page
Further reading: review of Lule Sajza
Flamur Dardeshi is a freelance writer based in Tirana. He has contributed in the areas of translation, analysis, and poetry. His main fields of interest are literature, cinematography, and theatre.