DRAMATURGY OF EUROPEAN PUPPETRY (FRAGMENTS), author: Vahid Duraković, publisher: Museum of Literature and Performing Arts, Bosnia and Herzegovina
The book deals with the history of puppet dramaturgy in Europe, practical and visual dramaturgy in contemporary theatre with emphasis on the animation of puppets (objects) as the dominant means of expression. In his research of materials and the analysis of contemporary puppetry dramaturgy, the author relied largely on scientific works on puppetry published in Croatia (Croatian authors, and books that have been translated and published in Croatia) as well as on contemporary puppet shows in Croatia. The meeting of different aesthetics, as well as professional theoretical reflections, make this book an important textbook intended primarily for students of art academies. Theatrical observations on puppetry texts and practical and visual dramaturgy show that Vahid Duraković is an excellent connoisseur of contemporary puppetry, analytically studious and critically competent.
Dubravka Zrnčić-Kulenović
Besides the author, the book will be presented by Assistant Professor Igor Tretinjak, PhD
SPACE OF UNDERUTILIZED FREEDOM – ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF PUPPETRY FOR ADULTS IN CROATIA, author: Igor Tretinjak, publisher: Croatia Association of Theatre Critics and Theatre Scholars
The Space of Underutilized Freedom – One Hundred Years of Puppetry for Adults in Croatia is the first critical and analytical review of adult puppetry in Croatia since its beginnings. In it, the author encounters, confronts and analyses the plays creating puppet worlds aimed at adult viewers, breaking down the boundaries of this form of expression traditionally associated with children and pointing out its endless possibilities. Besides the author, Assistant Professor Igor Tretinjak, the book will be presented by Katarina Kolega, theatrologist.
THE REVUES OF PUPPET THEATRES IN RIJEKA, 1996 – 2024, author: Maja Verdonik, publisher: University of Rijeka, Faculty of Teacher Education
The scientific book The Revues of Puppet Theatres in Rijeka, 1996 – 2024, is a valuable contribution to professional theatrical literature in the field of puppetry. The book is well grounded in theory, as shown in particular in the second chapter, in which the author focuses very precisely on the similarities and differences between puppet and live theatre and the relationship between puppet and man in (puppet) plays. The book is enriched with valuable theatrological material. It is written in a clear and understandable style. The author uses understandable and standard names. The presentation is systematic, logical, and easy to understand and read. The sequence of chapters is logically arranged, and the chapters form a homogeneous whole. The author has good insight into the relevant professional and scientific literature, as well as period and archival materials, and demonstrates good knowledge of Croatian puppet production and puppet festivals.
Full Professor Livija Kroflin, PhD
Besides the author, Full Professor Maja Verdonik, PhD, the book will be presented by Full Professor Livija Kroflin, PhD.
ODE TO THE MOON PUPPET, author: Hicela Ivon, publisher: Matica Hrvatska Split branch
Vlasta Pokrivka is undoubtedly a spiritual person. Born and raised surrounded by love, she readily gave love, empathy and understanding to children, pupils, and students, weaving it into gourds and puppets, creating a gallery of characters who “have no evil thoughts in their heads.” She discovered poetry within puppets, and managed to capture a fragment of the universe in her puppet miniatures, every single time.
The path of love and spirituality led her to the Moon. Or did the Moon find her? Together they went about the world spreading love, serenity, security, and confidence. In their encounters with the Moon, children and young people, adults and old people, students and professors have risen above, transcended themselves and their lives and, at least for a moment, walked into the beyond – an endless field of peace, love, and light. They would reach another reality and feel that “love is moving towards us,” as Vesna Krmpotić wrote.
Indeed, only poets can describe the encounter with the Moon, a being that connects the worlds, that may have grown out of a zucchini, but rises above the reality and limitations of this world. Testimonies of encounters with it show that it managed to bring out something they were unaware was within them, it opened them to eternity and some other world. This is something that is sorely needed in our world today.
A book about the Moon can only be written by a person who is herself spiritual. Hicela Ivon has woven knowledge, expertise, deep understanding, and her spirituality into this valuable book.
Full Professor Livija Kroflin, PhD
Besides the author, Associate Professor Hicela Ivon, PhD the book will be presented by Full Professor Livija Kroflin, PhD, and Ozana Iveković, theatrologist.
DIRECTORS’ AESTHETICS OF THE CROATIAN PUPPETRY SCENE, author: Zdenka Đerđ, publisher: Biakova d.o.o.
Alongside the authors of puppet plays, the repertoire of Croatian city puppet theatres is created or co-created by directors. Some twenty of them also have special puppetry director’s aesthetics. After a brief introduction on the role of puppet theatre in the upbringing of a child and the peculiarities of puppetry directing, the lecture covered, in chronological order, five different directorial aesthetics of the Croatian puppetry scene recognised in the performances of puppet theatres in Split, Zagreb, Zadar, Osijek and Rijeka. These are puppet performances directed by Vlado Habunek, Luko Paljetak, Zlatko Sviben, Edi Majoran and Tamara Kučinović. Besides the author Zdenka Đerđ, PhD the book will be presented by Associate Professor Ivana Bakal, PhD, Ozana Iveković, theatrologist and Zorka Jekić, writer.
