Where will you be from June the 15th til June the 18th, 2017? If the answer to that question is Dubrovnik, then this is not to be missed.
Here’s the tenth attempt at writing this, and about the subject I know so well! No self conceit here, but I made it possible for this little jewel to start living on stage while still director of the Marin Drzic City Theatre here in Dubrovnik back in 2004. Why the heck is this so difficult then?
The reason is that Le Petit Festival du Theatre was just a dream of a very, very special soul, a soul that mostly lives somewhere in the clouds, that prefers to perceive feelings, rather than the feel them in the flesh. I am not kidding. His name is Vinko Prizmić. A once creative kid from one of those small squares right under the City Walls, like all children there, he absorbed the energy and the subliming, carefree life on the sun heated stone pavements.
This dreamer, in love with love, a globe trotter, even an owner of a furniture factory in the Phillipines at one time, a poet, a writer, a playwright and jack of all trades, showed up one day at my office with the idea of a ‘’small thing in the theatre’’ as an addition to the cultural life in town. The idea I liked, although honestly, the names he was talking about were totally unknown to me. It is not easy to describe this truly special piece of art named Le Petit Festival du Theatre. That it is not mainstream, might be the easiest thing to say, and the thing that takes up the least time, although nothing really does it justice. It respects art, and, especially, the artist; those who act, sing, play or dance with soul, who, like Vinko, perceive life is some way that is out of the ordinary.
It respects creation, creativity, those invisible threads of beautiful energy that reach the hearts of others. Everything is always clad in the most aesthetic clothes and robes imaginable. As an illustration, the festival’s poster, always designed by Slovenian designer Radovan Jenko, has won a number of internationally relevant design competitions. Please, have a look at the programme of this year, opening on Thursday, the 15th of June! Just click here.
Notice the main theme of water as life, the Dubrovnik Vision that features children, a dance programme by one of the leading ballerinas of l’ Opera du Paris, I could go on. This ”petit thing” is actually so big, it definitely requires a separate piece dedicated to it. As does Vinko’s permanently enamoured soul and endlessly creative heart. As does his unusual life, of course.
For this occasion, just a short notice to all who are in love with art itself: Le Petit Festival du Theatre is on again. Do not miss it.
