Oliver Frljić
BALKAN MACHT FREI
Residenztheater Mnichov

TUE 16 May — 8.00 pm Moravian Theatre

…A spectre is haunting Europe… No, it is no longer communism, but what is left of it: The Eastern Europeans. They migrate to Germany, taking the jobs of German people… Even the Residentztheater hires the cheap labour force! Hired from Croatia, the director and author of the play Oliver Frljić presents himself as part of this problem. As the main character –  the congenial actor's creation of Franz Pätzold views the current character of Germany. The result is a greatly furious offending of the audience. Which of Frljić's reproaches of latent racism and political indifference speak to us? And is theatre able to break this lack of involvement?

Balkan macht frei in its rawness shows how topical, bitter, and painful theatre can be. This originally captured issue of economic migration to the “dreamed-of and prosperous” country of Germany is a typical demonstration of Frljić's controversial political theatre.

Franz Pätzold was nominated for the actor of the year 2016 at Faust Award for his performance of the director's alter ego.

The production was voted the fourth most powerful theatre experience of last year in the prestigious survey of Nachtkritik Theatertreffen 2016.

directed by Oliver Frljić
dramaturgy and translated by Marija Karaklajić, Götz Leineweber
stage design and music Oliver Frljić
costumes Katja Kirn
light design Barbara Westernach

premiere 22 May 2015

cast
Leonard Hohm, Alfred Kleinheinz, Jörg Lichtenstein, Franz Pätzold

Oliver Frljić (1976) was born in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but fled abroad to Croatia at the age of 16. He studied directing at Academy of Dramatic Art in Zagreb and also focused on philosophy and religious studies. After graduation he worked as director, actor and playwright. In 1995 he founded a theatre ensemble Le Cheval. Between 2014 and 2016 he held the post of director at Croatian National Theatre in Rijeka. He resigned in protest against the Croatian cultural politics. Frljić regularly cooperates with theatre in Gratz, but he has also been a host director in Düsseldorf, Ljubljana, or Polish Krakow and Warsaw. His productions are often invited to prestigious festivals of European renown such as Wiener Festwochen. His works are considered provocative or even scandalous and Frljić often quite uninhibitedly touches taboo themes, shakes the national pride and identity, questions interpretation of recent history and brings repressed traumas and social crimes to light. The production Balkan macht frei (2015) is his Munich debut in which he touches the “Nazi heritage” of the contemporary German society as the title suggests.

Residenztheater Munich or the Bavarian State Theatre is one of the most renowned theatres in the German-speaking world. It consists of three scenes in the heart of Munich: the main building, the rococo hall Cuvilliéstheater, where mostly contemporary drama is staged, and the experimental scene called Marstall.

The successful history of the theatre associated for example with Frank Baumbauer and Dieter Dorn is now followed by the Austrian director Martin Kušej, who has been its intendant since the 2011/2012 season. He invites renowned German directors to work there such as Frank Castorf, David Bösch, Andreas Kriegenburg, and Ulrich Rasche. However, the young and promising talents and internationally well-respected directors such as Milo Rau and Oliver Frljić are given a space here as well. The drama ensemble which belongs to the biggest in Germany with their 50 members relies on distinctive theatre stars – to name a few: Bibiana Beglau, Sibylle Canonica, Sophie von Kessel, Thomas Loibl, Franz Pätzold, Manfred Zapatka, Aurel Manthei and many more. The top quality of the scene can be proven by their regular appearance at the prestigious Theatertreffen festival.