The Serfs

Slovene Permanent Theatre in Trieste

Première 20. 3. 2015, Slovene Permanent Theatre in Trieste
Running time 1 hour 30 minutes. No interval.

Director Sebastijan Horvat
Authors of adaptation Milan Marković Matis, Sebastijan Horvat
Dramaturg Milan Marković Matis
Set designer Jürgen Kirner
Costume designer Belinda Radulović
Composer Drago Ivanuša
Language consultant Tatjana Stanič
Assistant director Žiga Divjak

Cast
Jerman Radko Polič
Anka Tina Gunzek
Lojzka Nikla Petruška Panizon
Minka Patrizia Jurinčič
Komar Matija Rupel
Senior Teacher Iztok Drabik Jug
Pisek Luka Cimprič
Vicar Jure Kopušar
Young Jerman Romeo Grebenšek
Kalander Primož Forte
Mother Maja Blagovič

The Serfs is a story of spineless people deprived of moral stance, people who in their lives and professions inconsistently (and irresponsibly) follow the current of interest and abandon their ideals. It was written out of personal distress, yet the universal circumstances and dynamics remain the same, as does the eternal ethical question on the relation between the authorities and the society. With its contemporary, unusual, engaged and pervasive reading of one of the most renowned and controversial Slovenian dramatic works – one that confronts the audience with a mirror of surprisingly acute questions – the performance directed by Sebastijan Horvat requires an active approach from the audience. It therefore makes sense to ask ourselves the questions listed by the dramaturg of this performance, Milan Marković Matis: "Who are the serfs? It made sense to ask this seemingly simple, even banal question one hundred years ago just as it makes sense nowadays. Is the serf someone who is afraid to raise his voice or someone who cooks and cleans for a rebel? Or are the serfs simply a result of the reality of the alienated work in the capitalist society?”

Foto: Luca Quaia

Foto: Luca Quaia

Foto: Luca Quaia

Foto: Luca Quaia