Organized by Mini teater and the Jewish Cultural Center Ljubljanaas part of the TRAST project, the large street performance Jewish Life in Ljubljana 2 took place on 1st September 2024 on Križevniška Street in Ljubljana. This performance also served as the official opening of the European Days of Jewish Culture festival in Ljubljana, an annual event aimed at showcasing Jewish heritage and promoting dialogue, recognition, and exchange through various activities across the continent.
The performance was created as a result of three day workshop (August 30th - September 1st) Museum Theatre and Performance Based Interpretation. Participants (writers, actors, costume designers...) adapted historical and personal narratives of Jewish life before WWII and during the war addressing destinies of small Jewish community that lived on Križevniška street in Ljubljana - now the street where Mini teater and Jewish Cultural Center Ljubljana have its venues.
The performance Jewish Life in Ljubljana 2 was directed by Robert Waltl, who is also the author of the concept, with text prepared by Vinko Möderndorfe. It is based on the collection of personal artifacts, testimonies, and photographs collected for the Jewish Cultural Center’s exhibition Holocaust in Ljubljana. The production followed the principles of Museum Theatre, introducing a new storytelling method that integrates theatricality into cultural and heritage interpretation.
Actors portrayed real individuals who once lived on Križevniška Street, recounting their stories of Jewish life before and during World War II. Timotej Novaković and Nika Korenjak played the roles of Julijana and Vera Moskovič, Robert Korošec portrayed Oton Baumgarten, whose last residence was at Križevniška Street 7, and Barbara Vidovič played Truda Kapper. Nika Korenjak and Barbara Vidović also told the story of two aunts of composer Urban Koder, who hid a young Jewish man from Ljubljana, Fritz Wolfeiler. Both aunts were discovered and later murdered in the Ravensbruck camp. Robert Waltl masterfully connected the historical context and Jewish traditions and customs throughout the event.
The performance was accompanied by the Slovenian musical group Kontra Kvartet (Vesna Čobal – violin, Daniel Marinič – accordion, Domen Marn – clarinet, Petar Marić – guitar, Luka Dobnikar – double bass). They added a unique touch to the nearly two-hour event by performing klezmer music, the traditional music of Eastern European Ashkenazi Jews. With instruments including guitar, violin, clarinet, accordion, and double bass, they brought to life the charm of Eastern European dance rhythms with twenty rarely-heard songs. The music, full of passion, drama, melancholy, and positivity, captivated the audience.
The event attracted around 150 attendees, including diplomats, tourists, local residents, and especially members of the Jewish community in Ljubljana. Free guided tours were also offered at the Jewish Museum and the exhibition Holocaust in Ljubljana, providing further insight into the historical experiences of Jews in the city.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
