The Story of Books as performed by Croatian language pupils in Aarau was selected as the best play, second place went to the play Family Photos, while the third placed play was Purchased Friends.
Pupils attending Croatian language classes in Switzerland gathered in the town of Freienbach on the 25th of March to take part in the 11th meeting of youth theatre troupes, an event conceived by former language instruction co-ordinator and teacher Marijana Ćorluka. The event has been staged every year with the support of the Parents’ Association.
The event opened with the singing of the Croatian national anthem followed by welcome speeches from Croatian ambassador to Switzerland Aleksandar Heina, friar Slavko Antunović on behalf of the local Croatian Catholic Mission, Croatian language instruction co-ordinator in Switzerland Nataša Balić and Jasna Aničić, a senior expert advisor for international cooperation and European integration. Also on hand was Croatian consul to Switzerland Slobodan Mikac.
The welcome greetings were followed on the stage by Croatian language pupils from Naters who performed the play The Princess and the Pea under the leadership of their teacher Davor Kirić. This was followed by a performance by the pupils of Croatian language instruction in Uster of the play Changing Parents, which they rehearsed under the guidance of their teacher Mihaela Šafran. Teacher Lea Kranjčić and her pupils from Spreitenbach performed the play The Lion and the Mouse, while teacher Emilija Petričević Galinec rehearsed the play Family Photos with Croatian language pupils from Villars-sur-Glâne. Croatian language instruction pupils from Uzwil, led by their teacher Danijela Babić, performed the play Clothes (Do Not) Make the Man. Pupils from Zug performed Concerned Kekespear, diligently rehearsed under the guidance of teacher Aleksandra Šeremet. Pupils from Aarau, led by their teacher Zlata Maršić-Ferić, performed The Story of Books, while teacher Dunja Mljinarić and her pupils from Sarnen prepared a performance of Purchased Friends.
All the stage plays were carefully watched by the members of a panel of judges consisting of senior expert advisor Jasna Aničić, former Croatian language instruction teacher in Stuttgart Janja Runje, former Croatian language instruction teacher and co-ordinator in Switzerland Andrea Radman Komljenović, and former Croatian language teacher in Schaffhausen Helena Hrman.
The Story of Books as performed by Croatian language pupils in Aarau was selected as the best play, second place went to the play Family Photos, while the third placed play was Purchased Friends. Awards were also presented for best male and female roles. The best male role award went to Drago Radoš, a pupil from Villars-sur-Glâne, while the best female role award went to Una Čičić, a pupil from Spreitenbach.
The pupils were delighted with the commendations they received and the “mini-Oscars” they quite deservedly took home.
It is certainly worth noting that Kazimir, the theatre meeting mascot, was on hand for the entire event. The mascot is the brainchild of Gabrijela Terzić of Neuhausen and was sketched by Gabrijela Kovačević, also of Neuhausen. For this occasion the Kazimir mascot costume was worn by Croatian language pupil Lara Prskalo.
The Fale folklore ensemble junior group of Schaffhausen, led by Ivan Tominac and Ivana Pavletić, was on hand to perform, as was Croatian language instruction pupil Tatjana Ivanović, who sang pop singer Toni Cetinski’s Blago onom tko te ima (Blessed Is He Who Has You).
By: Helena Hrman; Photos: Nikola Studer
See more photos at the photo gallery at: www.moja-domovina.net


