54th STERIJINO POZORJE FESTIVAL 2009

Directed by LENKA UDOVIČKI

Adapted by BORISLAV VUJČIĆ

Set Design
RICHARD HOOVER, DAMIR MEDVEŠEK

Costume Design JAGODA BUIĆ-WUTTKE

Music NIGEL OSBORNE

Light Design MILjENKO BENGEZ

Choreography KATE FOLEY, ANI UDOVIČKI

Sculptures MATKO MIJIĆ

Assistant Director MARIN LUKANOVIĆ

Premiere: 17th August 2001

CAST
Lear, King of Britain	RADE ŠERBEDžIJA
King of France	JURE IVANUŠIĆ
Duke of Burgundy	MARKO JURAGA
Duke of Cornwall, Regan's husband	SLAVKO JURAGA
Duke of Albany, Goneril's husband	MILE RUPČIĆ
Earl of Kent	JOSIP PEJAKOVIĆ
Earl of Gloster	BOŽIDAR OREŠKOVIĆ
Edgar, Son to Gloster	JASMIN TELALOVIĆ
Edmund, Bastard Son to Gloster	DEJAN AĆIMOVIĆ
Oswald, Steward to Goneril	OZREN GRABARIĆ
Fool	MLADEN VASARY
1st Knight, Physician	ZORAN GOGIĆ
Goneril, Daughter to Lear	KSENIJA MARINKOVIĆ
Regan, Daughter to Lear	LINDA BEGONjA
Cordelia, Daughter to Lear	IVANA ROŠČIĆ
Tenant to Gloster	MILICA ŠERBEDžIJA
Musicians	MOSTAR SINFONIETTA

P E R F O R M A N C E......

KING LEAR

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The idea to set Lear on Little Brijun, an island, on the Fortress, a former Austro-Hungarian fortification structure, during the finale of World War II and the demise of Austria-Hungary, is the intention of the theatric answer to the questions when and where. It is the time when a new map of Europe is being drawn. Out of a dream or madness? What is madness to rulers and what are they to madness, this Lear questions. Madness as a profession (Fool), choice (Lear), suffering (Kent, Edgar) as a shield of an exile, castaway and the search for a hideout, a harbour from the everyday, pragmatic madness of the greedy and the intrigue-prone. What does it mean to run away for cover and turn around before the crumbling behind you? Who will assume the throne after Lear? What is European throne after 1918, where in time is this staging set?

T H E A T R E......

ULYSSES THEATRE - BRIJUNI

Ulysses Theatre is a theatre space where spiritually similar artists intertwine. It welcomes the cooperation of all those broadening aesthetical and spiritual horizons.
Movement in art, progress and voyage mark the active attitude towards reality and history. Voyage is one of the ways of not accepting the inevitable fate, so typical of the Mediterranean culture, from Homer onwards. Each man is destined to wander, outside or inside. Everyone is in search of his own Ithaca. Individuals and characters travel, whereas Ulysses is to all a symbolic figure. And a reminder never to give up hope and work, in search of new expressions in order to avoid withdrawing into the egocentric world that turns its back to reality and others. Ulysses is a cunning mythical and poetic figure (Greek metis, American Indian trickster) that easily travels through different language and cultures, connecting the differences. Actor-director Rade Šerbedžija and writer- playwright Borislav Vujčić founded the Theatre. The activity of the Theatre is closely related to the area around Vodnjan, Fažana, Brijuni and Pula in Istria. By its name it is homage to James Joyce, writer whose biography and work testify to the presence in this area. Joyce lived in Pula as an English language teacher in the Berlitz School of foreign languages from November 1904 to April 1905.
Besides Theatre production, in the years to come it would have a school and workshops for film, dance, writing, acting, directing, set design where internationally recognized theatre and film artists would convey part of their experience and knowledge to participants through a creative atmosphere.
Productions: King Lear, Medea, Marat-Sade, Play Beckett, Hamlet, Tesla Electronic Company, Caligula (co-production) ...

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Rade Šerbedžija won the Best Actor/Marco Aurelio Award at the 2007 Rome International Film Festival for his role in Fugitive Pieces. His next films opening in early 2008 are Paramount Pictures’ and Cruise/Wagner Productions’ THE EYE and BATTLE IN SEATTLE directed by Stuart Townsend, for which he received an award at the Cancun International Film Festival. He also recently completed shooting LOVE LIFE, the directorial debut of wellknown German actress Maria Schrader, DreamWorks Pictures’ THE CODE directed by Mimi Leder and Screen Gems’ upcoming QUARANTINED.
Serbedzija has worked with many notable directors including Stanley Kubrick, Clint Eastwood, John Woo, Phillip Noyce and Guy Ritchie. Serbedzija's credits include Kubrick’s EYES WIDE SHUT, Eastwood’s SPACE COWBOYS, Woo’s MISSION IMPOSSIBLE II, Ritchie’s SNATCH and Phillip Noyce’s THE SAINT. He received the Angel Award for Best Actor at the 2007 Monaco International Film Festival for his role in SHORT ORDER directed by Anthony Byrne. The actor starred in many films in his home country of Yugoslavia, including Milcho Manchevski’s Oscar nominated BEFORE THE RAIN, for which Serbedzija won the Venice Film Festival Pasinetti Award.
Serbedzija's list of high-profile television credits includes the musical SOUTH PACIFIC opposite Glenn Close and Harry Connick Jr., and a series-regular role on SURFACE for NBC.
A published poet and musician, Serbedzija also has a strong theatre background and has performed in numerous stage productions in London, England. He also established a moving theatre company in London with Vanessa Redgrave. Serbedzija runs the Ulysses Theatre Festival in Croatia with his wife every summer.

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Lenka Udovički Studied at the Academy of Dramatic Arts, University of Belgrade, where she gained her Master of Arts Degree in Theatre Directing. She started her professional career in regional and major Belgrade theatres and in 1992 left her native country. Since than she has lived in London and Los Angeles and works as international director for theatre and opera. Her special interest is developing new work and exploration in musical theatre.
FOR ULYSSES THEATRE, CROATIA - AS CO-FOUNDER AND ASSOCIATE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR 2001-PRESENT
Ulysses Theatre started in 2001 as a Summer Theatre Festival on the Island of Brijuni, Croatia. The founders idea has been to create a space where international artists and artists from different parts of Former Yugoslavia can work, exchange ideas and creative energy. So far, it had seven successful seasons with artists from Croatia, Bosnia, Slovenia, Serbia, Italy, UK, USA, Germany, France, Chechnya collaborating in its big scale, site-specific productions on the remains of the biggest Austro-Hungarian fortress.
- KING LEAR by W. Shakespeare with Rade Serbedzija
- MEDEA by Euripides with Mira Furlan
- MARAT/SADE by P.Weiss
- HAMLET by W. Shakespeare
- CORE SAMPLE - (based on WAITTING FOR GODOT by S. Beckett and accounts of survivors from the Goli Otok prison Island) with Vanessa Redgrave, Lynn Redgrave, Amanda Plummer and Caroline Jones
- DRUNKEN NIGHT 1918 by M.Krleza and I. Stivicic - Audiences Award as Best Performance at the BITEF Theatre Festival 2007
FOR MOVING THEATRE COMPANY, LONDON - AS CO-FOUNDER AND ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR 1994-1999
- FIRERAISERS by M. Frisch - Riverside Studios, with Frances de la Tour
- BRECHT IN EXILE devised by company - Bridge Lane Theatre, with Vanessa Redgrave, Eckehart Schall and Rade Serbedzija
- WATERFALL by V Stevanovic - Riverside Studios, Critics Choice (Time Out), Hot Ticket (The Guardian)
- LEMONADE by E. Ensler- Kings Head, Chelsea Arts Center (rehearsed readings)
WORK AS THEATRE DIRECTOR INCLUDES
- THE TEMPEST by W. Shakespeare - Shakespeare’s Globe, London, UK with Vanessa Redgrave as Prospero, Jasper Britton as Caliban
- HAMLET by W. Shakespeare, California Institute of Arts, USA
- TAKING SIDES by R. Harwood, Atelje 212, Belgrade, Yugoslavia
- MOTHER COURAGE by B. Brecht, PPP, Belgrade, Yugoslavia, (best performance of the year by “SCENA” theatre magazine)
- ANTIGONA by D. Jovanovic - Kumanovo Macedonia
- CHAMBER MUSIC by C. Durang - BDP, Belgrade Yugoslavia
OPERA AND MUSIC THEATRE
- DIFFERENCES IN DEMOLITION composed by N. Osborne, libretto G. Simic WORLD PREMIERE, international collaboration between artists and performers from UK and Balkan countries, produced by Opera Circus, UK, toured Bosnia and City of London Festival in 2007, on tour in Scotland, Austria and Turkey in 2008. Lenka developed this opera with Nigel Osborne and Opera Circus through series of workshops and residencies between 2004-2007 in Croatia and UK, and ‘Sevdah Opera’ work in progress toured Dorset in 2005.
- A BETTER PLACE - composed by Marin Buttler, libretto C. Oswin, WORLD PREMIERE, English National Opera, Coliseum, London
- SHORELINE/STORIES OF LOVE AND WAR music by N. Osborne - co-production between Hebrides Ensemble, Opera Circus and Scottish Dance Theatre, toured Scotland
- THE CONSUL by G. Menotti - Leighton House, concert performance for Moving Theatre
- HISTORY’S RHYME - Limelight Club, London, for English National Opera Studio

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William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616) - William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon, in England in 1564. While his exact birth date is unknown, it is most often celebrated on April 23, the feast of St. George. He was the third of seven children born to John and Mary Arden Shakespeare. Shakespeare's father was a tanner and glove maker. He was also a fairly prominent political figure, being an alderman of Stratford for years, and serving a term as "high bailiff" (mayor). He died in 1601, leaving little land to William. Not much is known of Mary Shakespeare, except that she had a wealthier family than John.
William Shakespeare attended a very good grammar school in Stratford-upon- Avon, though the time period during which he attended school is not known. His instructors were all Oxford graduates, and his studies were primarily in Latin. Little else is known of his boyhood. In 1582 at 18 years of age, Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway, a lady seven or eight years older than he from Shottery, a village a mile from Stratford. Their first daughter, Susanna, was born in 1583, followed by twins in 1585, Hamnet and Judith. By 1592, Shakespeare was an established playwright in London. The plague kept the theatres closed most of the time, and it was during this time that Shakespeare wrote his earliest sonnets and poems. Shakespeare did most of his theatre work in a district northeast of London, in two theatres owned by James Burbage, called the Theatre and the Curtain. In 1598, Burbage moved to Bankside and built the famous Globe Theatre, in which Shakespeare owned stock. Around this time, Shakespeare applied for and got a coat of arms, with the motto: Non sanz droict (not without right). This gave him the standing of a gentleman, something that was not generally associated with actors, who were considered to be in the same class with vagrants and criminals. In 1603, Shakespeare's theatrical company was taken under the patronage of King James I, and became known as the King's Company. In 1608, the company acquired the Blackfriars Theatre. Shakespeare soon joined the group of the now famous writers who gathered at Mermaid Tavern, located on Bread Street in Cheapside. Among others, some of the writers who frequented the Tavern were Sir Walter Raleigh (the founder), and Ben Jonson. Shakespeare retired from theatre in 1610 and returned to Stratford. In 1613 the Globe Theatre burned down, but Shakespeare remained quite wealthy and contributed to the building of the new Globe Theatre. Shakespeare died on April 23, 1616 and was buried in the chancel of the Church of the Holy Trinity in Stratford. A monument to Shakespeare was set up on the north wall of the chancel, with a bust of Shakespeare. The bust and the engraving by Droeshout that prefixed the First Folio are the only renderings of Shakespeare that are considered to be accurate. In Shakespeare's will, he left most of his property to Susanna and her daughter, except for his "second-best bed," which he left to his wife.