The third drama premiere of the summer is Masks, a monodrama by Dražen Šivak co-produced by the Dubrovnik Summer Festival and the UO Groupa (Art Organization Group) and in cooperation with Scena Ribnjak, on the Festival schedule tomorrow and the day after tomorrow, 12 and 13 August, starting at 9:30 p.m. at Bokar Fort.
Thinking about how some things disappear over time because they may no longer be interesting in a stylistic sense for people to know how to use them, and considering them a great knowledge and wealth for actors, Dražen Šivak came up with the idea of presenting masks to the audience through a small trip or lecture, wherein he discovers them together with the audience.
The monodrama Masks represents the revival of the tradition of commedia dell'arte, a theatrical form that was born in Italy during the 15th century, and with which, thanks to Dubrovnik and the literature of Marin Držić, we share a tradition. In the form of a lecture performance, the play takes us through the symbolism, history and skills that are closely related to the mask as a performance element. An actor on stage explains the meaning of masks and archetypes that are presented in the commedia dell'arte technique through the form of a lecture and traveling through the classical dramatic literature of Croatia and the world, the audience connect archetypal stories about human relationships and create parallels with the characters of our contemporaries.
Along with Dražen Šivak, the creative team consists of Patrik Gregurec and Karla Leko who wrote the dramaturgy, the costume designer Petra Pavičić, creative associate Maja Posavec, the lighting designer Bartul Pejković, Željko Vukmirica who is the author of the song, while Ida Klemenčić oversees the production by the UO Group.
After earning his degree in acting from the Academy of Dramatic Art in Zagreb, Dražen Šivak joined the ITD Theatre. In addition to his numerous roles in theatres in Zagreb, Budapest and other Croatian towns, he has directed four plays, including Zijah A. Sokolović’s Birth. His collaboration with the Sankofa Theatre Company included working in Colombia, and he also worked with Árpád Schilling’s famous Krétakör Theatre Company in Budapest for several years. In Hungary he started the Thearto Project at the invitation of the Mu Szinhaz Theatre from Budapest. He took part in establishing the first clown scene in Croatia, in collaboration with the director and clown teacher Lee Delong. In 2019 he attended the Nouveau Clown Institute in Barcelona, led by the clown Jango Edwards. In recent seasons he has played a number of acclaimed roles in Dubrovnik Summer Festival’s productions.
The play was realized with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Media of the Republic of Croatia and the City Office for Culture, International and Intercity Cooperation and Civil Society of the City of Zagreb.
Tickets for the third premiere of the 74th Festival season are available via the festival website www.dubrovnik-festival.hr or the service www.ulaznice.hr, at the box office in the Festival Palace (Od Sigurate 1) every day from 9:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. and in front of the DTS building (Vukovarska St) from Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.