The Theatre Times: ZELJKA TURCINOVIC (Zagreb, Croatia) graduated from the School for Rhythmics and Dance. She is a member of Studio for Contemporary Dance, the first professional contemporary dance ensemble in Croatia. She has a B.A. degree in Croatian and Comparative Literature from the Faculty of Philosophy and a B.A. degree in Dramaturgy from the Zagreb Academy of Dramatic Arts.
3 comments:
I really enjoyed this interview as it gave me more of an international lens on the theatre industry. I was especially interested in Turcinovic's commitment to international collaboration and traveling, something I personally hope to do someday. I found her belief in theatre's ability to connect cultures and create a shared experience to be inspiring. Starting out can be super overwhelming because of how competitive and uncertain the arts are, but it was really nice to hear her thoughts on the topic and think more positively. I really liked the point she made about the significance of things like the International Drama Colony, which helps provide playwrights with an opportunity to see their work fully realized. I also appreciated how she was transparent about the challenges they have faced within the ITI network, but still focused on addressing it practically through the valuable means of fostering personal relationships with experienced translators and international showcases. I was especially connected to her last statement; even in emergency situations, theatre never dies.
I have recently found myself in a crisis and deep fear for the industry. I came to a point where I questioned theatre and its impact. Everyone talks about how we need to do these shows that call out the issues we are having. And while I agree I think it is scaring people off. We are seeing this right now with the Trump administration. I agree that we need to tell unheard stories but we cannot scare people because it feels like it is dying. This was a good article for me because it forced me to think outside of the US and outside of my spiral with the US and its current view on the arts. Thinking internationally helps because what is happening here is not happening everywhere. It has also happened in other places and it has worked out to be fine. It made me feel less worried. I have also been thinking about international work because I am someone who wants to move around as often as possible and see different places and how they function.
I am glad I stumbled upon this article because recently I have been struggling immensely with thinking about the future of theatre and the entertainment industry. I think this is such a good reminder for me that the arts will survive no matter how hidden we have to become, theatre has always been a space where people go to escape and now more than ever, that escape is necessary. I feel like understanding that this is not the first time that this has happened and that knowing that this will not be forever makes the uncertainty of theatre so much less scary but still I find it hard to grasp. I really appreciate the international perspective that this article gives because I feel like being in SOD, I really only gain an American perspective on theatre and there is so much more to the entertainment industry, and theatre especially, than just Broadway.
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