QUARTET

Until 03 November, together with the host theatre, theatres from Hungary, Check Republic and France will present their drama and national elements to the audiences in Novi Sad.

Photo exhibition of French photographer “Novi Sad – Through Foreign Eyes of Ludovic Giraudon” and drama by Háy János “Čika Pićukin sin” (“UNCLE PITY`S SON”) presented by Theatre Gárdonyi Géza Színház from Eger, tonight at SNP, will officially open the first international theatre festival “Quartet”.
West Bohemian Theatre, Cheb will tomorrow, on “Pera Dobrinović” stage present their play “Zaverenici” (Conspirators) by Vaclav Havel, and on Sturday will perform the visiting theatre from France “Rictus” with play by Sylvain Levey “ASPHALT JUNGLE”.
The host theatre, SNP, will present its “Vision of Europe” with play “Brod za lutke” (Ship for Dolls) by Milena Marković.
Each day of the festival will be organised workshops and public drama readings, meetings with audience and national evenings during which the guests will be able to present parts of their cultural heritage.
The festival will last until 03 November, and it will be closed with a public discussion on the topic: “Options for international theatre cooperation - possibilities it may open to theatres of different organisation types”, and play by Maja Pelević “Ja ili neko drugi” (Me, or somebody Else) performed by the Serbian National Theatre troop.
J.L.

30.10.2008 - Blic Newspapers

Hungarian Theatre Opens the “Quartet” Festival

“Quartet” festival opens with play “Čika Pićukin sin” (Uncle Pity’s Son) presented by Theatre Gárdonyi Géza Színház from Eger at 19:30 hours on “Pera Dobrinović” stage in Serbian National Theatre. This play tells a simple story of a rural family that comes to live in Budapest in the seventies, and focuses on the consequences it suffers from the move, and the entire story is filled with love and good humour.

30.10.2008 - Danas Newspapers

First International Festival ”Quartet” in Novi Sad Starts Tonight

Vision of Europe in Cooperation of Four European Theatre Houses

“Quartet” Association comprising four European theatres- theatre Rictus from Ancenis (France), Theatre Gárdonyi Géza Színház from Eger, West Bohemian Theatre, Cheb, and Serbian National Theatre from Novi Sad starts with the first international festival tonight in Novi Sad and the audience will be able to enjoy in performances prepared for this project. Each “Quartet” country member prepared one play on the previously agreed topic – “Vision of Europe”, in similar production backgrounds, and domestic audience will see them first, since the festival in Check Republic will take place in March next year, in October in Hungary and only in 2010 in France.
The festival will open tonight with the National day of Hungary beginning at 17:00 hours on the Theatre Square in front of the SNP, where the national stand of Hungary will be set up, and half an hour later, in the upper foyer of “Jovan Djordjević” stage will commence public reading of the play “Mali Geza” (Little Geza) by Háy János. In the “NS Nova “gallery, the Hal of SNP will be opened a photo exhibition by the French photographer “Novi Sad – Through Foreign Eyes of Ludovic Giraudon”at 18:30 and at 19:00 hours will start the Grand opening of the Festival. Theatre Gárdonyi Géza Színház from Eger will perform the play “Čika Pićukin sin” (Uncle Pity’s Son) on “Pera Dobrinović” stage, and after the performance will start the “Hungarian Evening” with traditional Hungarian dance at the Club “Trema”.
Tomorrow will follow the Check Republic National Day, and the play “Zaverenici” (Conspirators) by Vaclav Havel will be performed by the West Bohemian Theatre, Cheb, accompanied by numerous ancillary programmes. On 01 November, Saturday, will be the French National Day. Theatre Rictus from Ancenis will perform play by Sylvain Levey - “ASPHALT JUNGLE”.
“The festival will close domestic play “Brod za lutke” (Ship for Dolls) by Milena Marković on Sunday, and on Monday, 03 November, from 17:00 hours will be held public discussion on the topic: “Options for international theatre cooperation - possibilities it may open to theatres of different organisation types”, and play by Maja Pelević “Ja ili neko drugi” (Me, or somebody Else), performed by the Serbian National Theatre troop will be performed in the honour of the Festival on the “Pera Dobrinović” stage. G.D. Nonin

30.10.2008 - Dnevnik Newspapers

Novi Sad Hosts Theatre Festival “Quartet” Which Starts Today at SNP
Performances from Hungary, Check Republic and France

Today at SNP begins theatre festival “Quartet”, during which ,n the following five days, until 03 November, will be performed plays by theatre troops from Hungary, the Check Republic and France, as well as a domestic play, and the audience will also have the opportunity to visit other accompanying programmes from these countries. Workshops will be organised, also public readings of plays from the guest countries, and the countries will represent their national heritage during the “National Evenings”, with music, food and films, since each day is dedicated to one of the theatres. First day is dedicated to Hungary, second to the Check republic, third to France and on the fourth day, SNP, as the host, will perform its play, and another play on 03 November, in honour of the Festival.
This Festival is organised by the Association of the same name comprising the four European theatres: theatre “Rictus” from France, Theatre Gárdonyi Géza Színház from Eger, West Bohemian Theatre Cheb and the Serbian National Theatre from Novi Sad. The idea was that each theatre produces a play on the previously agreed topic – “Vision of Europe”, and that all four are performed during Festival performances in the towns where the theatres are located. The first Festival performance is just about to begin in Novi Sad, and until 1010 the performances will take place in other three towns. Theatre Gárdonyi Géza Színház from Eger will officially open the first international theatre festival “Quartet” with a play by Háy János “Čika Pićukin sin” (Uncle Pity’s Son), directed by Menyhert Segvary. “Háy’s play is simple: a rural family visits Budapest in the seventies. What are the consequences of this visit? Jaj tells the story with love and a lot of humour. His characters are also simple, giving us lots of reasons to burst into laughter. The performance will be followed by the “Hungarian National Evening“. West Bohemian Theatre, Cheb will on 31 October present their play “Zaverenici” (Conspirators) by Vaclav Havel, directed by Filip Nuckolls. Theatre “Rictus” from France, Ancenis, will on 02 November perform a play by Sylvain Levey - “ASPHALT JUNGLE”, directed by Laurent Mandon. The host, SNP, will perform its play “Brod za lutke” (Ship for Dolls) by Milena Marković, directed by Ana Tomović on 03 November, and on 04 November, at the closing of the festival will be performed, in the honour of the participants play by Maja Pelević “Ja ili neko drugi” (Me, or somebody Else), directed by Kokan Mladenović.
During the Festival will be organise workshops, conducted by Laurent Mandon, director from France, and participants will two actors from each member theatre, and three playwrights (Peter Jonasz from Eger, Aleksandar Milosavljević from SNP and a representative from Cheb), together with Marika Sremac, set and costume designer of SNP. The results of this workshop will be a special theatre performance.
Students of French, Check and Hungarian languages will also take part in the Festival, as well as students of the Academy of Arts in Novi Sad as part of the project “Education in University, schools and cultural centres”. Exhibition of French photographer Ludovic Giraudon where will be displayed his photographs of Novi Sad taken these days, during his visit to our home town.

31.10.2008 - Dnevnik Newspapers

International Theatre Festival Opened in Novi Sad

Noting the Differences and Establishing Communication

Last night at the Serbian National Theatre opened with a grand opening ceremony the International Festival “Quartet” in which participate four theatre groups from Hungary, Check Republic, France and SNT. In the opening part, the Minister of Culture, Mr. Nebojša Bradić, pointed out that culture belongs to everyone, and that it is a common concern regarding development of national heritages, as well as the major influence in establishment of intercultural dialogue, which is our mutual goal. In his address at the opening ceremony, the Provincial Secretary of Culture, Mr. Milorad Djurić, expressed his strong belief that culture has always been an important means of integration of every community, and that it is reflected in the concept of this festival.
This festival was organised by the Association with the same name to which these four theatres belong: Theatre “Rictus” from Ancenis (France), Theatre Gárdonyi Géza Színház from Eger (Hungary), West Bohemian Theatre from Cheb (Check Republic) and Serbian National Theatre from Novi Sad (Serbia). This Association was created based on the idea that each member theatre produces a play on the previously set topic (Visions of Europe), and that all four are performed in festival performances in the home towns of the participating theatres. The first festival performance opened in Novi Sad last night, and by 2010 they will be organized in other three cities.
Apart through performances, member countries will be presented through so called “National Evenings#, in the atmosphere of music, films and national food and drinks, considering that each day of the festival is dedicated to one member country. Hungary was presented yesterday, on the national stand set up in the foyer of the SNT, followed by the play “Uncle Pity’s Son”, performed by Theatre Gárdonyi Géza Színház from Eger. Before the play began, in the Gallery „NS Nova“ was opened the ehxibition “Novi Sad – Through Foreign Eyes of Ludovic Giraudon”, a photographer from France. The exhibition was opened by the Deputy Mayor of Novi Sad, Mr. Vladimir Kopicl.
He stressed that photography of Ludovic Giraudon is incorruptible and that it sheds a sharp, yet bitter-sweet light on some of the outposts and margins of our urban lifestyle, places and testimonies of our urban momentum of which we may not be always aware of – at least not in the sense in which almost surgical camera lens highlights them.
N.P-j

31.10.2008 - Glas Javnosti Newspapers

International Theatre Festival Opened in Novi Sad
Association “Quartet”
Last night at the Serbian National Theatre opened the International Festival by “Quartet” Association which will last until 03 November.
Each day for the duration of the Festival will be performed one play by theatres from Hungary, Check Republic, France and Serbia, founding countries of the Association which aims to more firmly establish cooperation and exchange of various theatrical experiences.
The Festival, opened by the Minister of Culture, Mr. Nebojša Bradić and the Provincial Secretary of Culture, Mr. Milorad Djurić, began with the play “Uncle Pity’s Son” by Mr. Háy János, performed by Theatre Gárdonyi Géza Színház from Eger in Hungary.

1.11.2008 - Vecernje Novosti Newpapers

International Theatre Festival “Quartet” Opened in Novi Sad
Actors - Visionaries of Europe
“Vision of Europe” by Serbian, Hungarian, Check and French actors

Last night’s performance “Conspirators” by Vaclav Havel, performed by theWest Bohemian Theatre from Cheb, marked the second day of the theatre festival by the “Quartet” Association. The Festival was opened at the Serbian National Thetre with exhibition of photographs by the French photographer Ludovic Giraudon, and play “Uncle Pity’s Son” by Mr. Háy János, performed by Theatre Gárdonyi Géza Színház from Eger in Hungary.
In the opening ceremony speech, Minister of Culture, Mr. Nebojša Bradić stressed its multileveled significance, not only due to the plays on the programme, but also the idea that will be realised through the Festival.
“The authors of this project, aided by the European funds dedicated to cultural cooperation, put a lot of effort and resources so that the Festival can be held” – Bradić pointed out. “Drama workshops, which are held on daily basis, provide education that is very important in all segments of theatre life, and forms one of the important conditions for the future development of theatre.”
It took two years to bring “Quartet” to life, and as Mr. Milivoje Mladjenović, the Director of SNT pointed out, its main goal is exchange of dramaturgical experiences.
“The brightest point of this event is in communication whereby four different languages have the same treatment, which is by no means an easy task”-Mladjenović stressed. “Novi Sad, being a centre of multiculturalism is the right starting point for creation of such magnificent theatrical achievement.”
Numerous visitors enjoyed in the exhibition of photographs “Novi Sad – Through Foreign Eyes of Ludovic Giraudon”, who through his lens eternised some very interesting angles of the urban scenery.
Guests from Hungary performed their “Vision of Europe” by the play “Uncle Pity’s Son”. This play set from a very private angle, embroidered with humour, shows in the best manner the gap between rural and urban settings, peacefulness of a Hungarian farmer contrasted by alienated and tragic Uncle Pity, who lives in the heart of Budapest, as well as the excitement and distrust towards new technological wanders such as X-ray machine, subway or escalator.
J.Lemajić

31.10.2008 - Borba Newspapers

Dialogue of the Four Theatre Cultures
International Theatre Festival “Quartet” Opened at SNT

International Theatre Festival “Quartet” opened last night at the Serbian National Theatre with play by Háy János “Uncle Pity’s Son”, directed by Menyhert Segvary, performed by Theatre Gárdonyi Géza Színház from Eger in Hungary.

The first day of the Festival, which was at the same time the National Day of Hungary, began with the workshop in the morning, and in the afternoon the delegation of the “Quartet” was received in the City Hall and the Executive Assembly of Vojvodina, and at the SNT was set up the National Stand of Hungary, and public reading of Hungarian play was also organised.
During the second day, the Check Republic National Day, the audience will be entertained by the play “Conspirators” by Vaclav Havel, performed by the West Bohemian Theatre from Cheb, to be followed the next day with the French performance of the “ASPHALT JUNGLE” by Sylvain Levey, performed by the actors of “Rictus” Theatre from Ancenis.
Last performance on the Festival will be “Ship for Dolls” by Milena Marković, directed by Ana Tomović, performed by SNT Drama, on Sunday, and the following day the same group will perform play “Me, or somebody Else” in honour of the participant in the Festival.
After two years in preparation by the four European theatres, this Festival, after Novi Sad, will present performances in Cheb and Eger the following year, and will finish in 2010 in the French town of Ancenis.
Performances and numerous ancillary programmes “will present - in the view of the Drama Director, Mr. Aleksandar Milosavljević - a unique exchange of workforce which in the field of theatre becomes art.”

He believes that that will be an opportunity to perceive what a dialogue of four different cultures looks like (Serbian, Hungarian, Check and French), to pinpoint common problems “with a sacred goal to work together in order to realise the new mission of the National theatres”.

04.11.2008 - Dnevnik daily paper

Troubling Visions of Europe

Theatre festival “Quartet” closes tonight with performance of the play “Ja ili neko drugi” (“Me or Somebody Else”) by the Serbian National Theatre and with the summary of impressions from the festival. The festival has gathered together theatres Gárdonyi Géza Színház from Eger (Hungary), West Bohemian theatre from Cheb (Czeck Republic), and Theatre Rictus from Nantes (France). Both visiting and the host theatre, SNT, have had a task to present national cultural heritage (and cuisine), current theatre productions on the topic: „Visions of Europe“(the “Quartet” is a part of the European Union Cultural Programme), and in addition, to become familiar with theatrical scenes of the towns/country members, public readings of Hungarian, Czech and French plays have been organised. General impressions is that the company, exchange of experiences and widening of the horizons of both theatre staff and public from Novi Sad have been the main and most valuable achievements of the Festival, which has been visited, interestingly enough, mostly by younger audience rather than by the older as it is usually the case.
Hungarian theatre performed the play “Uncle Pity’s Son” by Háy János, directed by Menyhert Segvary on the first evening. It is a comedy in which the writer tackles the rural-urban relationship on technological level, or the level of human “development”/”advancement” in the period after WWII. When relatives from a rural area come to see the underground (Metro) in Budapest and the escalator, they become introduced to brutality of urban life towards which the young certainly strive, while the older find it as lacking of freedom, space and emotions. The director, Segvary, in an unusual three-part set-up (with two intervals), underlines the strong drama accent with a song by Jimi Hendrix - “Changes”, while in the acting he insists on a bizarre hollowness (absurdity) of a person in the fast-moving world, a helpless, inactive person who, by his curious nature, seeks to find the answers to many, seemingly senseless questions that torment him.
The West Bohemian Theatre performed the play “Conspirators”, by Vaclav Havel, directed by Filip Nuckolls, which is set in the early seventies of the last century, and it deals with everlasting struggle and pandemonium which occurs in the (political) fight for power. The West Bohemian Theatre performs the play as a hilarious burlesque where farcical democracy/care, for the people/nation is in action.
Theatre “Rictus” from Ancenis (France) with its play “The Asphalt Jungle” (not the one by John Huston from 1950) written by Sylvain Levey, directed by Laurent Mandon, on the other hand, portrays the contemporary society as hollow, which randomly and without motivation conducts evil deeds, recognising itself in its spectacularity as a perverted value on its own – overloaded with fun and other compensations for the lack of the traditional values such as friendship, love… The unique neo-noir theatrical version by the French attempts to impose itself as a worrying version of the consequence of corporative lifestyle, senselessness that has stiffened and corrupted the very core of what is essential part of a human being.

SNT presented to the guests and domestic audiences, apart from he play “Me or Somebody Else” by Maja Pelevic, directed by Kokan Mladenovic, “Ship for Dolls” by Milena Markovic, directed by Ana Tomovic. The first play, due to its themes – kidnapping, alienation, perversion, may be characterised as belonging to the discourse of the “Visions of Europe”, whereas “Ship for Dolls” can be hardly related to it, since it presents an extremely individualised and poetic story of (one) woman’s destiny. During the “Quartet” festival, SNT, by quality of production, has sprung above the foreign production, and it became very obvious that, without entering into the matters of the country it represents, this theatre has a better standing on the Serbian scene than it is the case with the theatres from Eger, Cheb and Ancenis, in comparison to their respective theatrical scenes and artistic achievements. However, on the level of international theatrical cooperation regarding the European Union Cultural Programme and future projects (the festival in question and joint work on one special play), the quality of performances is not vital or a representative component of such festival and the association such as the “Quartet”.

06.11.2008 - Dnevnik newspapers
Impressions from recently closed Theatre Festival “Quartet”
Language of the Theatre Above Differences
Recently closed Theatre Festival “Quartet” organised by the Association with the same name consisting of four theatres - Theatre „Gárdonyi Géza Színház“ from Eger, Theatre “Rictus” from Ancenis, West Bohemian Theatre, Cheb and our Serbian National Theatre as the host – showed its purpose and true value by establishing communication channels among these theatres coming from different backgrounds, cultures, organizational structures and sizes of theatres- it was concluded, amongst other issues, during the meeting with the participants at the SNT yesterday. The festival indicated the need that the theatres from different cultural backgrounds, civilizations and mentalities do not start using the same language, as stated by the Director of SNT Mr. Milivoje Mlađenovic, but to search for and establish communication through some other means. Although language barrier presents an obstacle, this obstacle is not impossible to bridge, as Mlađenovic stated further, by use of the theatre language to significantly narrow the gap.
Convinced that the festival should not be held in the spirit of competition, but rather to open up space for cooperation, staff of SNT, according to the Drama Director Mr Aleksandar Milosavljevic, believed that its goal should be to show that the four theatres from four towns with completely different organizational models could work together. The festival was jointly organized by all four theatres, Milosavljevic pointed out, and SNT merely put life into it, as the other three instalments will continue to do.
During the preparations for the festival, it turned out that apart from performances on the stage, Mr. Milosavljevic stated, some other accompanying contents were very important-such as the master class, for instance. The participants in the master calass talked about experiences from being a part of it, their involvement in the festival, visiting Novi Sad-previously unknown to them-stressing that they were not going back home the same persons they were before coming to the festival. French Director Laurent Maindron, who led the master class, talked about these issues, together with its participant, Mr. Peter Jonas, playwright from Hungary.
Adding to Maindron’s statement that it was difficult to organise this festival in such a short space of time, Mr. Jonas said that it was not any easier to work during the festival since all four theatres have different organisational structure. The French theatre is small and operates as a free theatre group, it does not have its own building; Hungarian theatre in Eger is somewhat bigger, but it could not be compared to the huge SNT, mentioned Mr. Jonas, pointing out that despite such organisational differences they managed to achieve something together. For Mr. Dominique Daheron, manager of the French theatre, this festival confirmed that culture is the means for mutual understanding of people and their cultural heritage.
This festival could have been organised with participation of the top national theatre companies from Prague, Budapest and Paris, Mr. Mledjenovic noted, stressing that the festival was not intended to represent such cultural profiles, but rather to unite theatres from various backgrounds and cultural traditions in order to conduct research related to their individual experiences. Full impact of this festival, according to Mr. Mladjenovic, will be felt only after it has been performed in all four towns-in 2011.
Certain remarks, considering that this stage represents only the initial milestone in realisation of the festival idea which, after Novi Sad, will be held in Eger, Ancenis and Cheb, remarked Mr. Milosavljevic, believing that it has become transparent that the organisation of the festival was extremely stressful, and that it has not been covered sufficiently by the media, the fact that shall receive due consideration in the coming festival performances.
Theatre critic, Mr. Dejan Pencic-Poljanski, being of the opinion that festivals are always a good idea, congratulating the idea of this festival as well, also stated some remarks regarding its concept. In his opinion the absence of common denominator in all performances was obvious-the link to the joint theme “Visions of Europe” and this left an impression that the plays were randomly selected, while the concept, according to him, should have focused on four different views of the same play, or four plays with four actors each only. But he also expressed his delight regarding the festival for being able to watch the plays by the four theatre groups.
N. Pejcic

06.11.2008 - Gradjanski List newspapers
“Quartet” Festival Closed
Theatre artists gathered in the “Quartet” Association are very pleased with the outcome of the first instalment of the festival by the same name, and the remarks they have about the festival which will be corrected in the coming issues are really minor, it has been concluded yesterday during the recapitulation of the festival results at the Serbian National Theatre (SNT). “Quartet” Festival was held in the period 30 October – 03 November on the SNT stages, and it was the first gathering and realisation of the ideas that “Quartet” Association has been planning and considering during the past two years.
All members of the Association – SNT from Novi Sad, Theatre “Rictus” from Ancenis (France), Theatre „Gárdonyi Géza Színház“ from Eger (Hungary) and West Bohemian Theatre from Cheb (Czech Republic) – presented to the Novi Sad audience one play each with the common theme Vision of Europe. Apart from the plays were organized several ancillary programmes-public readings of plays, forums, discussions, national evenings of country members, and it is also important to mention that a master class which gathered artists from all four countries was launched. This master class is dedicated to a joint project, and it will be running for the next two years.
Director of Drama at SNT and one of the “Quartet” founders, Mr. Aleksandar Milosavljevic, stressed, at the beginning of the interview yesterday, that:” From day one we were clear about one issue: this festival will not be competitive in nature. When you assess and think about the scope of a festival, I am asking you to bear in mind that we have not gathered with the aim to compete, but to create space for cooperation. The goal was to show that four theatres from four European countries, theatres which have totally different organizational models, can work together. This festival was organised as a joint effort, and SNT was just the implementation tool. This is how it is going to be in the following instalments of “Quartet”.
Director of SNT, Mr. Milivoje Mladjenovic, apart from being one of the founders of “Quartet” and the Godfather of the Association’s name, believes that this theatre association conducts research in different theatrical traditions and cultures, and that the real impact of the Association will be felt only at the end, when all four issues of the festival have been completed. “In the end, the most significant results will emerge from the master class led by Laurent Maindron, since it will provide the answers to the question of what we can do together”, said Mr. Mladjenovic yesterday.
Laurent Maindron, director and first person of Theatre “Rictus” from France is also full of positive impressions, and pointed out that he was very pleased to be part of the “Quartet” festival, and to be in the Association by the same name. Playwright and manager of the entire project, Mr. Peter Jonas from Hungary, reiterated that last week would be remembered as a very special experience. “It was not easy organising such an association since the four theatres are completely different… Artists will go back home after these few days as changed persons.” remarked Mr. Jonas.
Christine Carmone from the French theatre “Rictus” thinks that the artists in Novi Sad have put to life something politicians only talk about. “I believe that theatre can provide basis for better getting to know each other. We have found ourselves in a position where no one envies the other for being better, or objects to somebody else’s ignorance.”, she said, and Dominique Daheron, director of the theatre from Ancenis, cooperating with Theatre “Rictus”, pointed out that French artists will bring the true image of Serbia and its theatre to France, since the French have an incomplete vision of Serbia.
Regarding negative remarks of the festival, organisers stressed that they may have exaggerated the number of programmes, i.e. that they were overambitious regarding the number of programmes and that they put a lot of effort into something that did not have the effect and expected audience. Therefore, one of the suggestions for the next instalment of the festival is to reduce the number of programmes.
S.M.P.