President Milanović Receives Director and Actors of Independent Theatre “Planet Art” Celebrating 20 Years of Work

The President of the Republic Zoran Milanović received today the founder, artistic director and also actor of the “Planet Art“ Theatre, Marko Torjanac, and actors who performed in that Theatre’s plays. The meeting was held on the occasion of 20 years of work of this independent drama theatre “Planet Art“.

The “Planet Art” Theatre deals with contemporary, problematic, often taboo or neglected topics in its plays, and although the Theatre is independent, it is dedicated to professionalism and high standards of work, said Torjanac. In the “Planet Art” Theatre, actors perform on a project basis, yet they have still achieved some of the emblematic roles, often awarded, he added, pointing out that the Theatre features plays that have lasted for 20 years, some have been performed for 12 years, and there is also interest in bringing back some plays that are no longer performed. Torjanac says that “Planet Art” has popularized drama theatre in Croatia, which he considers a great success.

In the conversation with the actors, a number of issues that plague the independent theatre scene, as well as Croatian theatre in general, were raised. Since “Planet Art” does not have its own hall but performs in other spaces, the expensive rental of space and the lack of theatre infrastructure were noted. It is more important to solve the theatre infrastructure than to increase subsidies, Torjanac believes, and warns that small independent theatres are increasingly closing down because of this. Due to the lack of available space, “Planet Art” has also reduced the number of its plays’ performances.

The “Planet Art” Days, which will mark 20 years of work, will be held in Zagreb’s Histrionic Home from 22 to 31 January, when all active performances will be featured. Most of the titles of “Planet Art” have been performed a hundred times, the performances have been performed a total of about 1,800 times, have been seen by more than half a million viewers in Croatia and the region, and have been awarded 50 relevant domestic and international theatre awards.

Attending the meeting in the Office of the President of the Republic in addition to Torjanac were actors who performed in the Theatre’s plays: Lela Ljerka Margitić, Gordana Gadžić, Marina Uroić, Anja Šovagović Despot, Jasna Bilušić, Natalija Đorđević, Aida Bukvić, Nataša Janjić Medančić, Petra Kurtela, Nancy Abdel Sakhi, Branko Vodeničar, Miroslav Perica, Slavko Juraga, Darko Crnčević, Milorad Stranić, Luka Dragić, Franjo Dijak, Filip Juričić, Janko Popović Volarić, Robert Kurbaša and Paško Vukasović.

Alongside President Milanović was the Special Adviser to the President for Culture Zdravko Zima.

PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Filip Glas