Rehearsals have begun at the National Theatre in Belgrade for the play “Andrić and Jelena”, written and directed by Ivana Žigon, who also plays the title character.

The premiere of this theatrical drama, inspired by the life and works of Ivo Andrić, is scheduled for 26 December on the “Raša Plaović” Stage.

The cast also includes Nebojša Dugalić (Ivo Andrić), Miloš Đurović (Young Ivo Andrić), Marta Šćekić (Jelena, the Woman Who Is Not There), Elizabeta Đorevska (Milica), Suzana Petričević (Ikonija), Zoran Ćosić (Ljubo), Vesna Pećanac/Darinka Marković (Aunt Ana), Sofija Uzunović (Rifka), Nataša Lasica (The German Woman), and Teodora Tomašev/Jovana Jelić (Mara the Merciful).

Zoran Stefanović, Artistic Director of the Drama Department, believes that this is a project of exceptional significance in several respects.

“First of all, this is the moment when the Žigon family name returns to our theatre scene and cultural life, and this in the year in which we mark the centenary of the birth of Stevo Žigon, a man who contributed so much to our culture and civilisation. Secondly, Ivana Žigon is making her return with a text of outstanding dramatic quality, allowing us to bring before audiences something that has rarely been presented before – a different side of Ivo Andrić, who, at many times in our recent history, stood as the last line of defence against global slanders about who we are and what we are like. We know ourselves well, but his greatness and influence on geocultural and geopolitical trends cannot be underestimated.
However, in creating this original dramatic work, the author has made another important contribution: she has offered an exceptional insight into the psychology of relationships between men and women, something which is rarely seen on our theatre stages. We also have the opportunity to work with an extraordinary, distinctive and somewhat unconventional cast, alongside a creative team that brings together our beloved doyens and the newest generation of artists,” Stefanović says, who is also the production’s dramaturge.

Ivana Žigon points out that, when it comes to our great cultural figures, we somehow always seem to think that we know absolutely everything about them.

“And yet every great man, especially Ivo Andrić, who shied away from prying eyes, journalists and publicity, remains an eternal mystery. There is no greater inspiration for an artist than mystery. And there is no greater mystery for Andrić than the woman who, in fact, is not there. Was she truly the only woman he ever loved? Was she the woman who inspired all his female characters? Was the fiery flower in her eyes a reflection of the very sun he longed for and wrote about? Was this why Ivo Andrić spent longer writing his Jelena than he did writing The Bridge on the Drina?
So many questions arise as we prepare to begin work at the National Theatre. Realising that, for Andrić, the world beyond what the eye can see was far richer, theatre gives us the opportunity, through the light of the spotlights, but above all through the light of our souls, to illuminate that seemingly invisible world of his which he so persistently sought to conceal. We wish to evoke everything he left unsaid – not in order to expose him, but hoping that we may elevate each of his truths to that one truth... which is more faithful than life itself. As for the cast, I could not even have dreamed that such faces, voices and an undiminished faith in art would gather around one table,” Ivana Žigon emphasises.

Suzana Petričević, together with Aleksandra Vuković, is also credited as a collaborator on the play. The creative team also includes Miraš Vuksanović (set designer), Dušica Knežević (costume designer), Predrag Radisavljević (composer and sound designer), Milica Jević Drndarević (choreographer), Anja Jovanović (stage movement/acrobatic direction), and Ljiljana Mrkić Popović (stage speech coach).

The producers are Jasmina Zotović and Nemanja Konstantinović, Sandra Rokvić is the stage manager, and Gordana Perovski is the prompter.