Festival of Croatian Drama – 35th Marulić Days

For the 35th edition of Marulić Days, 64 plays were submitted from Croatia, Serbia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Italy, Germany, and Portugal. Specifically, 53 plays came from Croatia, 2 from Serbia, 1 from Slovenia, 1 from Bosnia and Herzegovina, 1 from North Macedonia, 3 from Montenegro, 1 from Italy, 1 from Germany, and 1 Croatian-Portuguese co-production. Compared to last year, this represents an increase of 10 plays, further confirming—or perhaps even more strongly affirming—the vitality and relevance of Croatian playwrights and dramaturges. Their engagement with contemporary issues makes them compelling and confident choices for theatrical productions in institutional and independent settings.

Apart from a few productions by canonical Croatian playwrights such as Držić, Krleža, and Marinković, most of the submitted works are by contemporary dramatists or original projects developed through collective work or research-driven processes. These creations are deeply rooted in contemporary themes and reflect the realities of everyday life.

Given the increased number of applications and the higher artistic and production quality of many submissions, more plays have been selected for the festival compared to last year—a total of 13. These selections stand out primarily for their quality, as the primary and most evident criterion, and their courage in addressing profoundly personal and socially relevant topics.

This year, audiences will be able to see six dramatic texts, including three world premieres, two adaptations, and five original projects. While these original projects are often written through collective or research-based methods, they are grounded in strong dramatic structures. The thematic concerns of these works are deeply embedded in our contemporary reality—whether dealing with the long-lasting effects of war and post-war trauma that manifest as a transgenerational sense of sorrow, guilt, and helplessness, or exploring and dissecting family, romantic, friendly, and professional relationships, all of which are significantly influenced by various social and ideological pressures, constraints, and prejudices.