June 29, 2020 - The exhibition Montenegrin Theater History and the promotion of a special issue of the magazine Pozorište, entirely dedicated to the centuries-old theatrical tradition of Kotor, will be held in the Atrium of the Cultural Center "Nikola Đurković" on Tuesday, June 30, starting at 11 am. The organizer is the Cultural Center "Nikola Đurković" Kotor with the support of the Municipality of Kotor.
Drama artists Tihana Ćulafić and Marija Sarap and the author of the exhibition and editor from the "Nikšić Cultural Scene" will talk about the importance of the exhibition, which consists of thirteen panels and the magazine Pozorište. The exhibition will be open until July 7. The program is also a part of the repertoire of the Nikšić Theater, held within the Nikšić Cultural Scene, the Cultural Center "Nikola Đurković" Kotor informs.
The project "Montenegrin Theater History through the Centuries" is conceived as an exhibition, taking an illustrative-narrative character. The original documentary material collected by the method of selection, in modern graphic-design technique, was presented on 13 panels. Of that number, 12 boards, photographs, documents and accompanying text illustrate the development of dramatic art in the municipalities: Nikšić, Cetinje, Podgorica (history and production of two theaters: CNP and City Theater), Kotor, Budva, Bar, Tivat, Pljevlja, Bijelo Polje, Berane and Herceg Novi. The title - the 13th panel - is the central one, where the Montenegrin theatrical history is presented.
According to well-known Montenegrin theater theorist and academician Sreten Perović, the project "Montenegrin Theater History" is a valuable effort to give deserved recognition to the theater and to all institutions, societies and production groups that built and realize this kind of art."
"Such a project, in the context of the priorities of the development of Montenegrin culture, can truly be seen not only as unique but also as very important. This is all the more so due to the lack of cultural content that indicates trends in the development of theater art and production in Montenegro from early forms of stage expression to the contemporary theater at the local and national level," stated film and theater advisor at the Ministry of Culture Montenegro, Ilija Subotic.
For the literary historian and publicist Dragan B. Perović, the exhibition "represents a real little holiday and a cultural time machine."
"It is admirable with how much energy and knowledge the approach to the realization of this project has been carried out. We have the opportunity to see a rich heritage, tradition, continuity in one place in an important cultural and artistic area such as theater. Of course, for various reasons, there was a blow to continuity, professional life was disrupted, and attempts were made to mold it. But despite these efforts, the theater survived. After all, it is no coincidence that the performing arts have lasted from ancient times to the present. The creators of this exhibition managed to show us in the best way why this is so, sublimating and presenting strikingly the development phase of theatrical activity in all Montenegrin communities. From the cities from the Montenegrin coast, which inherited various influences, to those in the north, which managed to replace some limiting factors with their enthusiasm ", said Perović. He sees this project like a scrapbook, which includes all important actors in their places. By developing professional activities, they brought a touch of culture, regardless of whether they were professionals or amateurs. We received a lexicon of theatrical life and performing arts, where each theater house has its special stamp. Each of the panels is a gem in the exceptional mosaic of theatrical life in Montenegro, which, placed together like this, give a harmonious picture. Practically, we already have one diorama, which encompassed all epochs of the development of theatrical art in our country ", wrote Perović in the catalog of the exhibition. At the opening of the exhibition in Nikšić (May 7 last year), he expressed his belief that "this exhibition will help us break away from stereotypical representations of cultural activities only on the occasion of festive days." It is a document of a time, a history, a monument to duration. On the other hand, this is a gentle reminder to understand that investing in culture and theater is not a cost, but a real investment that pays off many times over. It returns through the education of theater audiences, through the development of a culture of critical thinking and primarily through the nurturing of a culture of remembrance and respect for traditional values as a pledge for the future, "concluded Dragan B. Perović.
Montenegrin Theater History, Publishing Activity of the Nikšić Theater, was realized with the support of the Ministry of Culture of Montenegro. The exhibition's design is the work of academic painter Darko Music, and Ranko Radulović signed the graphic processing of manuscripts and photographs. Niksic firms also supported the exhibition's preparation: "Drvex" d.o.o. and Milić plus d.o.o.
Apart from the main theater, the exhibition has been held in Bijelo Polje, Pljevlja, Bar, and Tivat.
Source: Radio Kotor
