For the first time on the stage of the Serbian National Theatre, one of the most important directors in the region, Haris Pašović, will stage the play ‘Mephisto’, based on the novel by Klaus Mann. The play is one of the most significant projects of Novi Sad as the European Capital of Culture, within the Fortress of Peace programme arch, and precisely this important artistic endeavour will close the magnificent 161st season of the oldest national theatre. The play ‘Mephisto’, which will be performed on 12 and 14 July, will gather over 40 actors and actresses, along with the great Serbian actress and actor – Mirjana Karanović and Miodrag Krivokapić, who will be on the stage of the Serbian National Theatre after 30 years alongside the young Aljoša Đidić in the lead role, Gordana Đurđević Dimić, the leading actress of Drama of the theatre, and many other members of the ensemble.
‘It is a great honour and joy for me to work in the city where I was artistically formed, where I graduated from the Academy, but it is also a special honour to work in the oldest theatre institution in the Balkans, with a really great artistic ensemble,’ said director Haris Pašović.
The ‘Mephisto’ play is part of the Fortress of Peace programme arch of the European Capital of Culture, which critically consider war conflicts and their consequences, seeking a culture of peace, promoting intercultural dialogue and reconciliation through theory and engaged art during June and July.
‘This is a theatrical spectacle in the artistic and production sense that must not be missed, and which befits the European Capital of Culture title year. The authenticity of this work never leaves anyone indifferent. Moreover, I am convinced that, thanks to the biggest regional artistic names of European class in the oldest national theatre, this will be a memorable play,’ said Nemanja Milenković, CEO of the ‘Novi Sad – European Capital of Culture’ Foundation.
The great season of the Serbian National Theatre, which began with the spectacular open-air opera ‘Aida’, with 12 premieres, two new festivals and countless theatre awards, will end with this specific project, which includes impressive cast, a large ensemble, current topics and significant co-production.
‘It is a huge challenge at this moment to set up such a large and complex production as the ‘Mephisto’. There are several reasons to take on this challenge. Perhaps the most important thing for me is that we unite generations, the one who founded Promena (En. Change Theatre) with Haris Pašović, a theatre that was once the initiator of something new in the theatrical life of the former Yugoslavia, and a generation of young actors who also drew attention to themselves through the renovated Change Theatre,’ explained Milovan Filipović, director of the Drama of the Serbian National Theatre.
In addition to actors Mirjana Karanović and Miodrag Krivokapić, who will play again on the stage of the oldest Serbian theatre after more than three decades, there is also a great ensemble of the Serbian National Theatre: Gordana Đurđević Dimić, Lidija Stevanović, Sanja Ristić Krajnov, Strahinja Blažić, Draginja Voganjac, Mia Simonović, Dušan Vukašinović, Stefan Vukić, Milica Grujičić, Dimitrije Dinić, Aljoša Đidić, Vukašin Ranđelović, Marko Savković, Lazar Jovanov, Gordana Kamenarović, Milorad Kapor, Miloš Lazić, Alisa Lacko, Tijana Maksimović, Peđa Marjanović, Bojana Milanović, Mina Pavlica, etc.
The playwrights are Aleksandra Pleskonjić and Nikolina Đukanović, the set designer is Nebojša Antešević, and the choreographer is a guest from Brussels, Zoltán Vakulya. The costumes are made by Marina Sremac, the composer is Marko Grubić, and the video was made by Enis Čišić.
Photo: Vladimir Veličković
