Six amateur theatre troupes performed for audiences in Hercegovac from Croatia, Hungary, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia. The round table discussions and workshops will certainly contribute to the continuing and successful work of these amateur troupes.
The Croatian Folk Theatre Days, an event staged in the rural town of Hercegovac, saw its 25th incarnation this year, with audiences enjoying performances by six amateur theatre troupes from the country and from neighbouring Hungary, Bosnia-Hercegovina and Serbia. This festival event gathers Croatians from the country and abroad through stage plays and showcases the various local dialects of these communities. It celebrates amateur theatre among Croatians abroad and in the homeland. The event aims to nurture the full range of the Croatian language and to strengthen a sense of Croatian affiliation. It is supported by Bjelovar-Bilogora County, the culture ministry, and the Municipality of Hercegovac.
The event, a valuable contribution to creating links among Croats abroad, is jointly organised by the concept initiator and founder Croatian Heritage Foundation and hosting organisation the Croatian Reading Room in Hercegovac. There are no theatre critics at the event and no prizes awarded. The troupes perform both the stage plays of well-known domestic and foreign writers and those of lesser known authors, many from their own regions. This year’s event was opened by the hosting Pučka Scena troupe of the Hercegovac Reading Room with a quirky take on the play Pyjama Pour Six.
Speaking at the gala opening of the festival CHF director Mijo Marić noted that the Croatian Heritage Foundation feels entirely at home in Hercegovac. This festival is in its 25th year, he added, and it has spread news of both Hercegovac and the Croatian Folk Theatre Days across the European amateur theatre scene. It is a venue where friendships are forged and visit itineraries agreed on, and where our language and culture are showcased before enthusiastic audiences.
This is an international festival with three plays staged on the 22nd of February and another three on Saturday.
The Friday shows were:
Pyjama Pour Six (performed by Pučka scena Hrvatske čitaonice Hercegovac; writer: Marc Camoletti; director: Natalija Lacina)
Klupko (performed by: KSC Prozor-Rama, Bosnia-Herzegovina; writer: Pero Budak; director: Anto Bilić)
Faztazmeštrija: asistenta prosim! (performed by: Amaterska kazališna grupa Koljnof, Hungary; written by a group of authors)
The Saturday shows were:
Što te nam reć ljudi (performed by: Igrokazačko društvo Petrovo Selo, Hungary; writer: Joško Weidinger; director: Ana Škrapić Timar)
Skupština na ćosi (performed by: HKC Bunjevačko kolo of Subotica in Serbia; written and directed by: Marjan Kiš)
Ministri (performed by: Picollo Teatar of Stari Grad na Hvaru; writer: Jozef Banaš; director: Michal Babiak)
Along with the stage plays the festival also includes round table discussions and workshops at which the amateur troupes exchange experiences and support each other in their continuing and successful work.
By: Ivana Rora
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