| Tena Stivicic - Interview - Time Out |
| Tena Stivicic is a Zagreb-
born playwright resident in
London who has written
award-winning plays in
English and Croatian. Her latest work, Goldoni Terminus, was featured at the 2007 Venice Biennale. Why theatre? My mum took me when I was little. I was mesmerised. I studied at the Academy of Dramatic Art right after the war when the country was in pieces, emotionally and economically. We felt isolated. Turbulent times reveal much about human nature however unfortunate they are to live in. My first play was about relationships and an inability to communicate. Later I became fascinated by ‘transition’, the concept and contradictions. For Zaposlena magazine I write about the bizarre double identity of being an Eastern European in London and a Londoner in Zagreb. How was London at first? The London I imagined was from ‘Four Weddings and a Funeral’ and I landed in ‘Only Fools and Horses’ – Goldsmiths’ College in New Cross. It was strangely liberating but difficult in many ways. It taught me about culture, race and identity. After two weeks I got mugged but even that was a valuable experience. Having to find your way through a new culture is like learning to walk. I became sensitive to the immigrant experience and its misrepresentation in the Western media. The multicultural model doesn’t try to integrate individuals but communities. And how is Zagreb now? In the immediate post-war period, society wants to get back to normal so it chooses denial rather than dealing with everything at once. Slowly Zagreb is becoming more open and tuned into Europe while retaining some of its old character. You can walk from one place to the next. The lifestyle is more laid back, less work-oriented and more spontaneous. There is still a sense of community that is both claustrophobic and reassuring. I have coffee in Booksa and around Bogoviceva. The anonymity of London can make Bogoviceva feel quite intense – everyone you know is likely to pass by. I have drinks in the BP Cluband I’ve been going to Noce , a lovely little restaurant at Kamenita Vrata. Eating out here requires commitment. People still enjoy time with friends and family. In London, it’s not a priority. And the future? The company Unique and I are adapting my play Fragile!, staged at the Arcola Theatre, to be broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on 9 May. I am developing an idea for a TV series and I should have a new play out in London in September. In Croatia I have a book of plays out this Spring. London was designed for those with endless drive. When I grow old I would divide my time between London, perhaps Blackheath, and have a little Vespa to drive around Istria if my bones still serve me well. Time Out Zageb City Guide - May 2008 |