The 16th edition of the regional contemporary theatre festival, Desiré Central Station will include work by Tomi Janežič, Jernej Lorenci, Kokan Mladenović and festival director Andraš Urban.
The festival will take place between the 19th -24th of November at multiple locations in Subotica and the programme will consist of a selection of 9 performances on the Jadran stage of the National Theatre Subotica, Children’s Theatre Subotica and in the Deže Kostolanji/ Kosztolányi Dezső Theatre. The slogan for this year’s edition is: Theatre is Victory.
On the opening day, 18th November there will be two performances – the play Full moon, by Atelier 3+1 (Paris), choreographed by Jožef Nađ, and Studio K Theatre from Budapest will present The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart. Based on the text by Scottish playwright David Greig, and directed by Danijel Kovač D., it is a tale of folklore and fate following Prudencia Hart on a surreal journey of self-discovery. On the following day Belgrade Drama Theatre brings The Elephant Man, directed by Kokan Mladenović, a profound exploration of identity and humanity inspired by the life of Joseph Merrick and based on the play by Dimitrije Kokanov.
Eichmann in Jerusalem
On the 21st, the National Theatre Sarajevo performs Peasant Opera, a darkly comedic fusion of folklore and social commentary by Benedek Darvaš and Béla Pintér, directed by festival director Andraš Urban. Later in the evening, MILF, directed by Kristijan Gerđe, will challenge societal norms and expectations with a bold and dynamic narrative. The festival continues with Arrhythmia – A Love Accident Between Budapest and Vásárhely by Žofija Muhi and the Academy of Arts Târgu Mureș, a contemporary love story exploring urban-rural contrasts and complex relationships.
On 23rd Novi Sad Theatre presents 1981, directed by Tomi Janežič. This production dives into the social and political landscape of the titular year, reflecting on memory, nostalgia, and change, and forms part of Janežič’s larger ‘dodecadology’ project that forms part of the Gorizia-Nova Gorica European Capital of Culture programme. The festival’s final day opens with Yankee Rose by Belgrade Drama Theatre, written by Slobodan Obradović and directed by Miloš Lolić. Closing the festival is Zagreb Youth Theatre’s Eichmann in Jerusalem, directed by Jernej Lorenci, an intense look at the nature of justice and humanity’s darker impulses
This year, the Desire Academy will be held with Branislav Filipović, who will conduct workshops for high school and college students. The workshops will focus on understanding theatre and performances, as well as how to discuss and write about them.
All performances will have translations into Hungarian and Serbian languages.
Main image: The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart
For more information, visit: desirefestival.eu
Further reading: review of 1981
Divna Stojanov is a dramaturg and playwright. She writes mainly for children and young people.
