Anna Stavrakopoulou, Professor of Theatre Studies, Head of the School of Drama, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

Martha Bouziouri, Artistic Director of the International Network of Documentary Theatre, Theatre Director, Adjunct Lecturer – School of Drama, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

Theodoros Kouledakis, Publisher of KAPA Ekdotiki

Zoe Ververopoulou, Associate Professor – School of Journalism and Mass Communications, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Author of “The Contemporary Theatre of the Real: From True Stories to Documentary Theatre and the Research-based Dramaturgies of the 21st Century” (Papazisis, 2023)

Zeljka Turcinovic, Dramaturg, Editor of the Croatian Theatre and Dance Magazine “Kretanja/ Movements”, Head of the Croatian ITI Center,  Croatian Theatre Showcase selector

What and whom are we talking about? What and whom are we looking at? What and whom do we (choose to) remember? This panel attempts to trace the sociopolitical imprints of documentary theatre. Drawing on the topics and focus points of contemporary dramaturgies of the real, the panel seeks to map notions of collective memory, conflict and trauma as well as other cultural repertoires across different contexts.

CHAIR: Philip Hager, Assistant Professor of Theatre Studies – Theatre and Politics on 20th century stages, School of Drama, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

DISCUSSANTS:

Dimitris Bampilis

Blagoy Boychev

Gianina Cărbunariu 

Endri Çela

This panel shifts focus to the modes of production within theatre of the real. By zooming in on practitioners’ methodologies, aesthetic strategies, and ethical negotiations, it explores how the tools and creative processes of documentary theatre-making inevitably zoom out to engage broader social and political questions.

CHAIR: Maria Ristani, Assistant Professor – Department of English Literature and Culture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

DISCUSSANTS:

Panayota Konstantinakou

Maja Milatović-Ovadia

Charis Pechlivanidis

Duska Radosavljevic

Taking its cue from Judith Butler’s recent book Who’s afraid of gender? this panel examines how contemporary dramaturgies of the real tap into questions surrounding gender at a time when gender is framed as an object of fear. We will discuss how theatres of the real dramaturgically and aesthetically intervene in normative perceptions of gender roles, gender-based violence, motherhood, writing the body and the role of gender in processes of theatre-making.

CHAIR: Marissia Fragkou, Assistant Professor of Theatre Studies – History and Theory of World Theatre, School of Drama, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

DISCUSSANTS:

Martha Bouziouri

Elena Marchevska

Sanja Mitrović

Boryana Yovcheva

In the early 90’s, the new-born state of Croatia was involved in a military conflict with neighbouring Serbia. One of the innocent victims was Aleksandra Zec, a 12-year old Serbian girl living in Zagreb. She was brutally murdered, alongside her family.  

A quarter-century later, renowned theatre director Oliver Frljic is working on a play about the case. The process brings out the hidden traumas, rehearsals become a collective psychotherapy, and for the twelve-year-old actress Nina, it seems as if the war never ended.

Director and screenwriter: Nebojša Slijepčević | Editor: Tomislav Stojanović | Cameramen: Nebojša Slijepčević, Bojan Mrđenović, Iva Kraljević | Sound designer: Tihomir Vrbanec | Sound mixer: Ivan Zelić | Graphic design: Šesnić & Turković | Producer: Vanja Jambrović | Executive Producers: Tibor Keser, Rea Rajčić | Associate Producer: Oliver Sertić | Production: Restart | Language: Croatian