By Ersejla Murati
There is always a special place for Albanian dramatic productions on the national stage, but that is not always the case beyond the country’s borders. Actors from the National Theatre, however, successfully brought “Allegretto Albania” to the Theatre Biennale in Wiesbaden, Germany, and returned home with an award.
First prize for the “New Plays from Europe” competition was given to the work of Albanian playwright Stefan ȡpaliku. “Allegretto Albania” was directed by Altin Basha and interpreted by actors Mirush Kabashi, Olta Daku, Gazmend Paja, Vasjan Lami, Ahmet Pasha, Klea Rondo and Xheni Fama.
The tenth edition of the “New Plays from Europe” festival welcomed Albania for the first time this year.
The founder of the modern theater competition, Manfred Belhartz, said: “I liked this piece; I found the text very intelligent. And the artists were very good on stage, they had talent. This is the first time Albania has taken part and we are pleased with the turnout.”
The Albanian play, staged twice during the festival, which stretched from June 17 to 27, was well received by the theatre spectators.
“It was a wonderful satire. It’s the first time I’ve seen a theater piece from Albania and I am surprised,” said a director from a Bulgarian theater.
The actors, director, playwright and costume designer returned to Tirana proudly bearing the prize they won at the contemporary theater biennale.
“It is an extraordinary event for the Albanian theatre itself, because after 20 years it has finally been represented in a theatre bienniale of this kind. The award is given by the critics, which makes me even happier,” playwright Stefan Capaliku said.
Capaliku is the author of several successful plays, and has earned a number of national awards for his work. In 2008 “Allegretto Albania” won the award for best Albanian drama of the year.
For director Altin Basha, the award is a call for greater attention to Albanian theatre, which he says has been absent for years. “You cannot expect much from Albanian drama productions, so long as technology and financial support do not adequately meet the real needs of the theater. I hope that the success of “Allegretto Albania” will promote institutional support for our theater,” Basha said.
Meanwhile actor Mirush Kabashi, one of the most highly regarded artists in Albania, felt that the piece was worthy of the first prize in the contemporary drama competition. “In the 40 years of my career, I can tell you that this is one of the best roles that I have ever performed. I was convinced it would be recognised,” he said.
And what is the message of “Allegretto Albania”? A black comedy that uses the “Kanuni” of Leke Dukagjini, a set of traditional Albanian laws, as a background, the play shows how strict moral laws can make life absurd and continue to deprive people of freedom in the 21st century.
The family in the play lives in total isolation out of fear of revenge following the death of their relative, an act which did not actually involve the family itself. The problems associated with a life lived within confining walls provides both satire and absurd situations.
The use of quotations from the “Kanuni” book of laws makes it completely clear that the play is set in modern times, with advanced technology and the assumed right to move around freely. The presentation of the two worlds, which exist in a single place- northern Albania- is the key starting point of the play.
The Albanian piece was selected among 42 other performances at the “New Plays from Europe” festival, while participants in the competition represented 39 European countries.
“New Plays from Europe” is expected to take place in Tirana next year, as Albania won the 2010 competition.
