Viewing posts from: mess

11.07.2012.

REALITY OF WAR

Memory Module of the 52nd International Theatre Festival MESS Sarajevo, Dejan Vekić, Danilo Krstanović, Zoran Kanlić: Reality of War, Contemporary Art Gallery Java, 7th April — 21st April, 2012

By: Slađana Golijanin

Memory Module is an off-programme of International Theatre Festival MESS that has been taking place for 16 years in Sarajevo. This project presents art that symbolises occupation of capital city of Bosnia and Herzegovina, from 1992 to 1995. During the past few years, this concept has extended to war experiences taking place today, like in Egypt or Syria, with emphasis on how to read and interpret these conflicts. Most importantly, it serves as a reminder of the past in order to face it on a psychological level through reconstruction, reading and interpretation.

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26.12.2011.

THE MELODRAMATIC SEARCH FOR IDENTITY

Igor Štiks: Elijah’s Chair, directed by Boris Liješević, produced by Jugoslov Drama Theatre and MESS

By: Vanja Nikolić

Elijahova stolica (Elijah’s Chair) premiered exactly one year ago. Created in co-production of Yugoslav Drama Theatre and Sarajevo-based MESS Festival, it lived its modest life on Yugoslav Drama Theater’s small scene. It wasn’t much written about, it was not “the hit of the season”, it wasn’t even listed for this year’s Sterijino Pozorje Festival. And then it was selected for Bitef Festival as part of the Region in Focus Program, as yet another play dealing with the heritage of history and the understanding of one’s own identity. To the surprise of many, it was exactly Elijah’s Chair that won Mira Trailović Grand Prix Award and thus earned all the attention. And so it happened that in only three years, Bitef’s main prize was twice awarded to Yugoslav Drama Theatre and its directors. First to Miloš Lolić for Sanjari (Dreamers) and now to Boris Liješević, the author of Čekaonica (The Waiting Room) produced by Atelier 212, which two years ago won the Sterijino Pozorje Special Award, and the collaborator on several projects by Tomi Janežič whose influence is visible in several plays directed in Novi Sad. more >