Critically acclaimed Slovenian director Jernej Lorenzi has gained international recognition and reached popularity in Bulgaria as well, after Varna Summer Theater Festival and World Theater in Sofia Platform presented four of his productions in recent years, including the famous Iliad based on Homer’s epic. This season, he also staged Orpheus at the National Theater in Sofia, which won the Icarus Award of the Union of Bulgarian Actors for best performance and best director, and also received an audience award. On this occasion, we also present a streaming of one of his earlier productions from the 2016/2017 season on the stage of the City Theater of Ljubljana.

The play is set in the Athenian woods during celebrations preceding the wedding of Theseus, the duke of Athens, and Hippolyta. In contrast to the strict and orderly Athens, the woods where four Athenian lovers are wandering are ruled by magical creatures that can control the events as they please. They live dissipated lives, and their quarrels and bickering is harsh and uncompromising. With the help of magic, many odd things can happen in this wild environment.

While asleep, the lovers of A Midsummer Night’s Dream are struck with something they would not dare to consider in broad daylight. Their eroticism strikes full blast, making them obsessed with desire and passion. However, since the play is a comedy, it is the Spring that has aroused their emotions and made them romp. Admittedly, their dreams were disconcerting, but the play is nonetheless a triumph of optimism and faith in life. Human beings are able to overcome unyielding rationalism which is initially advocated by Helena’s father Egeus and the dukeTheseus, and they can take control of passions and instincts, set free on the lovers and Titania by Oberon and Puck. A Midsummer Night’s Dream celebrates the world of imagination is an important component of human personality.

In Slovenian with Bulgarian and English subtitles.

The online streaming of a video recording of the production is accessible for free for 72 hours from 6 June, 7 pm till 9 June, 7 pm on the territory of Bulgaria on viafest.org.

The screening is supported by National Culture Fund under Annual Grant Programme 2022.