| Tena Stivicic - Interview - Brijunski Shakespeare/ London Writer |
| Young Croatian playwright Tena Stivicic, permanently resides in London, where she has made an international literary career. She has been launching a new book in Zagreb and is collaborating on setting up a new production of a Shakespeare play for the Ulysses Theatre in Brijuni. NEW LIFE Playwright Tena Stivicic, who recently married Scottish actor Douglas Henshall, lives in London and is constantly preparing new projects there, but she is still connected with Zagreb. Never idle in London or Zagreb, the young and successful playwright is currently dramatizing "Oluja" (the Tempest) for the Ulysses theatre, and last week she promoted her new book “Vrag ne Spava” (The Devil does not sleep), published by Profile. According to the publicity her new book handles, "a battle against the general media, intellectual, aesthetic and moral superficiality” with humour and irony. After the book launch she went to Brijuni to rehearse for this year's premiere at the Ulysses Theatre. In the autumn she will be preparing for the premiere of her latest text "Invisible" in England. Tena Štivi?i? went to London seven years ago and gained a master's degree in dramatic writing at Goldsmith College. Three years ago she began to repeat the same success in England as she had in Croatia. Tena dramatized "Drunken Night 1918." for Ulysses in 2008 with her father Croatian playwright Ivo Stibicic,, best known for his scripts for the 1971 TV series “Kuda idu divlje svinje”. Her drama "Fragile" about the life of immigrants in London, written in English, premiered in a small but important London stage at The Arcola. It received positive reviews in the Times, The Stage and Time Out. This was followed by premieres in several cities in Germany. Afterwards came “Fireflies" and "Seven Days in Zagreb in Zagreb”, and recently her first visit to New York. She has written a dozen plays, published several collections of plays and columns and in the spring she married her long-time boyfriend, Scottish actor Douglas Henshall. Is your new collection " Vrag ne Spava”(The Devil does not sleep) a kind of continuation of your previous book, “Odbrojavanje” (Countdown) in which you wrote about the life of young women immigrants in London and the transition policy? "‘Vrag ne Spava’ is the title of a column in which I write about a woman’s right to choose, but it really concerns most of the topics it tackles. Human life is often forced into meaningless and absurd situations and it is far easier not to question the roles given to us by authorities, who are surrounded by myths. It should open up the discussion of uncomfortable topics.” What do your columns mean to you? "Columns are very dear to me. They are like small dramas. Many of the topics could be turned into a drama, and some of my ideas for plays grow in various ways from my columns. Sometimes, some of these topics transform into characters in a play. Columns are important because through them we develop our own opinions. If they were not written, we would not think deeply about certain issues, those issues would be left at the level of passing thoughts. " Why are you cooperating with the Theatre Ulysses for a production Shakespeare’s "Oluja" (The Tempest)? "Every year many extremely creative and inspiring people pass through Ulysses - it really is a pleasure to be part of it. Ulysses has developed a special friendship and a great creative understanding among different people. And every year, they are joined by new people with new energy and new and unpredictable challenges occur. " How have you adapted Shakespeare's text to our time? "We have made cuts, but not cold-heartedly. ................. What is wonderful about Shakespeare is that the more you read a piece the more beauty you discover in it but I am aware that each new performance requires a new adjustment. “The Tempest" is Shakespeare’s last piece, and although it is often treated like a fairy tale, it is actually a very painful and serious play which talks about injustice and the bitterness of life, of dealing with crimes from the past and ultimately all about forgiveness. " You have had premieres in Croatia, London, Cologne, Wiesbaden, Belgrade, have published two books, columns and a collection of drama, performed in New York and received two European awards. Have these successes, brought new responsibilities? Yes, even if it all happened gradually. The obligation is everywhere, I am constantly working on several fronts, always from some great curiosity and the desire not to miss something that I might find intriguing and interesting. I do not have to fear whether I will succeed and how to place my articles, but it develops a greater responsibility towards the job. Have your European awards - for writing and innovative texts - opened some doors in European theatres and publishing houses? "Yes, but doors are not opening just because of these awards. There is also my work with ZKM (Zagreb Youth Theatre) and tours with" Fireflies "and" Seven Days in Zagreb "abroad, then the production of my texts for Atelje 212 with the Belgrade Youth Theatre in Ljubljana and the activities at the Hrvatskog centra ITI i HDP (Croatian Writers Society) and the various people who have been recommended my plays by friends from around the world. This year I am waiting for three new premieres in Germany, one in Bulgaria, and a few others which are still being negotiated. This process takes time and is progressing slowly, and I am expecting some to be rejected. But, I also get to meet many generous people who are willing to help me because they believe in the quality of my texts. " How did you come to present your new drama "Invisible" in the New York in the Martin E. Segal Theatre? " Ivana Sajko and I called Ivan Talijanci, a director of Croatian descent who lives in New York, and Jasen Boko about the exchange of Croatian and American writers. It was my first real visit to New York and really impressed me. Maybe it's because New York is like a whole range of different film sets, each image evokes memories of a movie that meant something to me at a certain moment of life. But there's something irresistible in cities where there are so many lives, day and night. In addition, I enjoyed having fun with Ivana Sajko we talked and walked as much as our legs could handle it. The presentation of my play was very well received and now I am slowly talking to people I met there, about the possibilities of working there" Does"Invisible" tells a story about immigrants as did your your sucessful play"Fragile"? And do you know when and where it will be premiered? This is a story that was initially about immigration, that is the 'migration' of this great ongoing stream that exists in the world from the very beginning humanity. However, somehow, this story has spontaneously transformed into a wider subject and has become the story of globalization - which, of course, involves migration, but also deals with some new neuroses in Western life, a privileged man and the soul in exile. It will be premiered next year in England, in co-operartion with-Transport Theatre and the New Wolsey Theatre supported by Complicite and the National Theatre Studio. Is the drama "Fragile" your most successful piece, where has it been performed and why has it not yet been produced in Zagreb? "" Fragile "has played in Slovenia, England and in Germany, in two productions, but next year will be back in one. It played in Croatia in the National Theatre in Osijek, was played on the radio in several countries and the Slovenian production toured throughout Europe. However, my first text “Can’t Escape Sundays" has experienced some five or six productions. And "Fireflies" has had three theatrical productions, two in Germany, and one performed on radio for the BBC. There was some discussion regarding the "Fragile" in Zagreb, but somehow it all died out. However, there's still time. And the moment I am more occupied with new texts. " Can you remember the first few months after arriving in London seven years ago and what was the worst thing about that environment? "The first months were great. I was in shock. Everything was interesting and crazy. My background and college helped the situation and provided security. Later, when I began to live alone without their help, I came across some difficult days. But it was precious. I don’t know how to put it, it was a combination of many conflicting emotions, desires, fears, doubt, fatigue, energy ... but all together it was very lively and in some ways deepened my awareness. " How do you cope now? Is it still the life of an immigrant or are you completely customized to London, especially after your marriage Do you now experience it as your city? “I have adapted. The city is nice to me now. There are things which I find deeply annoying, and permanently protest against, and write about in my plays and columns, but every city has its dark face. As far as everyday life goes, I have found a sense of belonging to people, places and customs, and also the opportunity to work in my new environment. I am beginning to find professional fulfilment and recognition. Today, in London, after a long time, primarily due to my husband, I feel at home. " What are the current literary and theatrical trends in London and how do you fit into that scene? "The advantage is that London is great and that there is room for a variety of trends and poetics. I do not know how I fit into some of the trends. What I write has become an amalgam of British influence, the Balkan heritage and sensibility ""national identity". This somehow does not fit in anywhere, yet all can find their place and their audience.” You have recently married and long-time boyfriend, Scottish actor Douglas Henshall, and Rade Serbedzija and Lenka Udovicki were at your wedding. Why did you choose Las Vegas! And was your wedding just as spectacular as the city? "It happened very naturally and it was quite intimate. I don’t think it was spectacular enough for me to talk about it in the press. " You began to write columns for the English edition of the magazine "Psychologies". What is that magazine about and what you write for it? "That is my favourite female magazine, the only one I actually read, which is free from sensationalism. I just wrote an article about some experiences of living in London, and I will wait and see what happens next." What encourages you to write - people, politics, the transition? "Every day brings some kind of information that slowly contributes to a new kind of awareness. .......................................................................................................................................................... I often carry a picture or a sentence in my mind and then wait for it to explain why it is important to me and what meaning it has when it starts to fit into dialogue. How often do you go to the movies or theatre in London, visit an exhibition or consume the rich cultural and club life of this city? "I often go to the theatre and exhibitions. Clubs and I are no longer on the same wavelength. I go to the movies quite often, but most films I see are at the London Film Festival. In Zagreb, I recently watched a beautiful performance of “Izlog” by Natase Rajkovic and Bobe Jelcica and I saw a fascinating exhibition of Jagode Bui?’s work. I read constantly, but most of it is theoretical literature related to what I do. I am currently reading Jung's "Psychology and Alchemy" and the novel Tudi zivot” by my friend Marine Vujcic." How often do you visit Zagreb and how much you miss it when you are away? "I visit Zagreb every few months. So I'm actually not missing it very much. When I begin to miss it, I come back.” This interview originally appeared in nacional (nacional.hr) on 6 July 2010 and has beenTranslated from Croatian for this website. |
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| Tena at book launch for Vrag ne Spava - Profile megastore, Zagreb - June 2010. |