On Saturday February 2nd 2013 Mini teater is dedicating the performance DONKEY OF NAZARETH to great friend, artist and puppeteer ANJA DOLENC (1936 - 2013).
An outstanding artist, costume and puppet designer who has for her contribution to art in 2009 at 80th UNIMA’s anniversary received the Pengov award.
»Her costume solutions have always been in coherence with the author’s ideas. One of the most admired ones were the puppets for Robert Waltl’s performance the Donkey of Nazareth in 1996 where se “translated” the gothic wall’s creasing of the frescos of Vincent of Kastav to three-dimensional puppet that on stage gives out the impression of a sculpture. With her artistic opus she fulfilled and enriched the Slovenian theater and with her rebellious character she was an inspiration to all of us how to deal with problems in life.« Edvard Majaron, regular professor at the Pedagogue academy in Ljubljana, Slovenia
The performance The Donkey of Nazareth represents a dramaturgic collage of Christmas carol motives and specifically animated Christmas crib. It is performed by one actor and two assisting singers, who together act like three carol singers presenting the story about the birth of Jesus. They however retain a certain distance since the truth about this birth and the human hypocrisy of that time as well as of the present days is presented through the eyes of a donkey.
The visual concept created by Agata Freyer is based upon medieval frescoes by Vincent of Kastav. The performance makes use of marionettes - hand puppets on sticks deriving from the court-fool’s scepter. This is the first professional puppet interpretation of biblical motives after World War II, which for centuries has served as base to European puppetry tradition.
Text according to the carol motives: Robert Waltl
THE DONKEY OF NAZARETH
Directed by and dramaturge: Edi Majaron
Starring: Robert Waltl
Singers: Edo Strah/alt. Edi Majaron and Emir Jušič Piber
Guest singers at some realizations: Marko Cibej, Edi Majaron and Janko Fritz
Art idea: Agata Freyer Majaron
Puppet design and creation according to Vincent of Kastav: Anja Dolenc and Jože Lašič
Music selection: Edi Majaron
Set design and realization: Darije Herceg
Production: Freyer teater
Co-production: Mini teater
Puppet performance or adults and children from 5 years on.
Duration: 45 minutes
