The play Michelangelo Buonarotti, based on the one-act play from Miroslav Krleža’s cycle Legends, will be staged at the Dubrovnik Summer Festival in coproduction with the Croatian National Theatre Ivan pl. Zajc, announced the Festival Artistic Director Dora Ruždjak Podolski, the Assistant Artistic Director Saša Božić, the General Manager and Artistic Director of the CNT Rijeka Marin Blažević and the Director of the Croatian Drama of the CNT Rijeka Renata Carola Gatica at the press conference held on 7 May in Rijeka.
The premiere of the play Michelangelo Buonarroti, directed by Sebastijan Horvat, at the 69th Dubrovnik Summer Festival will take place on the Island of Lokrum on 27 July, and it will be performed on the scene of the CNT Ivan pl. Zajc from 22 September.
The General Manager and Artistic Director of the CNT Rijeka Marin Blažević pointed out that this is a very significant cooperation in artistic sense and in terms of production. Dora Ruždjak Podolski said that the model of coproduction is becoming an important practice in Croatian theatre politics and strategy, not only as an opportunity for sharing experience and knowledge, as well as broader artistic engagements, but also because of its cost-effectiveness and financial viability. It is important for both Rijeka and Dubrovnik, while for artists it represents a challenge and an opportunity to push the boundaries.
Dora Ruždjak Podolski, Marin Blažević
‘At festivals, plays are performed five times a year, and we wish to tour other theatres and cities with this play, so that it truly comes to life,’ Ruždjak Podolski pointed out.
The Assistant Artistic Director of the Festival Saša Božić said that Krleža’s Michelangelo, an expressionist drama about the relationship between artist and power, is staged at the Dubrovnik Summer Festival for the first time.
Rehearsals start in June at the Croatian National Theatre Ivan pl. Zajc, and the international team of authors consists of director Sebastijan Horvat, dramaturge and author of the adaptation Milan Marković, set designer Igor Vasiljev, costume designer Belinda Radulović, composer Karmina Šilec, stage movement assistant Ivana Kalc and light designer Aleksandar Čavlek. The cast consists of the members of the Croatian Drama of the CNT Rijeka Olivera Baljak, Tanja Smoje, Jelena Lopatić, Marija Tadić, Aleksandar Cvjetković, Jasmin Mekić, Dean Krivačić, Nikola Nedić, Edi Ćelić, the member of the Italian Drama of the CNT Rijeka Giuseppe Nicodemo, Jerko Marčić (Kerempuh Theatre Zagreb) and Rakan Rushaidat (ZKM Theatre Zagreb) in the leading role. The DSF Choir will take part in the play, while the Opera Choir of the CNT Rijeka will be performing in Rijeka.
Saša Božić, Dora Ruždjak Podolski, Marin Blažević, Renata Carola Gatica
More information about the play is available here.