PLATO
Socrates’ defense
( trailer )
22.9.2012 at 8.30 pm Mini Theatre Ljubljana, Slovenia
Directors: Dritero Kasapi & Dino Mustafic
Socrate: Bajrush Mjaku
Plato: Besfort Idrizi
Cameraman: Ibrahim Xhemaili
Set design: Krste S. Dzidrov
Costumes: Bllagoja Micevski
Music: Samir Durguti
Camera: Fejmi Daut
Editing: Betim Zeqiri
Production: Theatre of an actor – Skopje & Intercult – StockholmChildren's Theater Center - Skopje Theatre contact: tel +38923290111, email info@ctc.org.mk Str. Evlija Celebija nr. 1, Old Bazaar, Skopje, F.Y.R.O.MWhy Socrates as a theatre?
The apology of Socrates is Plato’s masterpiece and one of the most valuable apology of a critical views, moral responsibility of citizens to society and freedom of mind.
Socrates was the first scholar for whom we know that was sentenced to death for « corupting the youth, misbelief and sabotaging of the government. » In this way Socrates was the first known dissident of the western European history.
This brilliant speech that Socrates held before being sentenced to death is his attempt to defend himself against the charge and explained that he had no evil intentions but just looking for the truth. Those who are afraid of the truth are those who have sued him. But who are they?
The reality of the young Athenian democracy that suffers from corruption, nepotism, race of fast profit of money in which appears the new wealthy elite who effectively manipulate the fragile Athens’ democracy is very similar to the reality today.
The difference is that Athens had Socrates and his followers as Plato, Xenophon etc.. who stood for an intellectual alternative to the social and moral depravity. While other philosophers wrote treatises and speeches, Socrates was chating with citizens in the Agora – a public space where people of all backgrounds meet with eachother.
Today the public space is fragmented and usurped by politics, media corruption and narrow ethnic, partisan and personal interests of the « new elite ».
The space for real intellectual critique of modern life – Agora today hardly exists. The only hope is that theater as the Agora is a space in which citizens of all backgrounds can meet and where rules the dialogue, the spoken word – Socrate’s favorite form of communication for the search for truth, justice and moral responsibility.
Dritero Kasapi
SOCRATES DEFENSE OF FREEDOM
Freedom is, in general, the starting point for everything we do in life, it is not given to us not even established forever, every day we need to keep an eye on, to review and keep it in ourselves and the in the government that we choose.
We must never claim that we live in a flawless democracy that was established forever and has no end. Freedom without democracy is not possible. Therefore the need to nurture it and to react immediately when it is threatened. About this warns us the experience 20th century through the scenes of the holocaust, concentration camps and wars, exile and the liquidation of those who thought differently against majority. Pluralism of opinions is a fundamental prerequisite of human freedom, because if there isn’t, then dominate the apparent imbalance, ideological terrorism, racism or nationalism. Intellectuals have developed a sense to feel aove all the spiritual discomfort when freedom disappears, when appears radicalism and totalitarianism as a historicall refrain of the horror of authoritarian countries. The true thought has always resisted such regimes, the only space of freedom that gives thoughts and feelings by which we discover and listen to the world around us.
Dino Mustafic
I dedicate the performance « Socrates’ defense » to the great Albanian intellectual, Ukshin Hoti, whom even the powerful arm of the destructive forces (Miloshevich’s) could not silence his righteous mission to fight for human rights and freedoms …
Similarities between Socrates and Ukshini Hoti are visible not just in their defense before the court and their tragic end, but their understanding of the free world and the vision for the future of humanity makes these men alike.
I’m saying that dedicating this performance to Ukshini Hoti, actually I dedicate this performance to all that generation of schollars who sacrificed their lives fighting against injustice and wickedly in the country, says Socrates.
Bajrush Mjaku
ABOUT THE PRODUCTION
« Theatre of an actor » – Skopje, with its activities has started since 2001, and has so far produced four performances: « Diary of a madman » by Gogol, directed by Ivan Popovski (2001), « The father » by Strinberg, directed by Slobodan Unkovski (2003), « Zoo Story » by Edward Olby, directed by Bajrush Mjaku (2005), « Uncle Vanya » by Chekhov, directed by Slobodan Unkovskit (2006) as well as a TV movie 60 min. « Father’s Books » by Luan Starova, directed by Rusomir Bogdanovski.
With performances « Diary of a madman » by Gogol and « The father » by Sryndberg, « Theater of an actor » has been introduced successfully in many theater festival as:
- Fair of chamber theatre in Krakow, Poland in 2001 - Festival of Experimental Theatre in Cairo, Egypt 2003 - Budva City – Theatre, Budva, Montenegro 2003 - Exponto 2003 International Festival in Ljubljana, Slovenia - Festival of monodrama and pantomime 2003 in Pristina, Kosovo - Festival of European Actor 2004 – Prespa FYROM - Festival of the actor in Fier, R. Albania - Festival of classical Butrint 2004, in Butrint, Albania - Kosova in Fest 2004 in Pristina, Kosovo - Winter of Sarajevo, Sarajevo 2005, BH - 4 presentations of the show "Diary of a madman" in the theater "P. Fomenko" in Moscow, Russia 2004 - Week of Albanian Culture in Paris 2004, 2005 - Days of FYROM culture in the Russian Federation, Moscow and St. Petersburg in 2005, etc. - International Theatre Festival Istanbul – Space – Stage, in Istanbul, Turkye 2005Awards:
– In the Festival of Monodrama and Pantomime in Pristina in December of 2003, Ivan Popovski was declared the best director for directing the « Diary of a madman », and Bajrush Mjaku was declared the best actor of the festival for the interpretation of the role of Poprishchin;
– In the Festival of the Panalbanian Actor in Fier, Albania 2003, Bajrush Mjaku was declared the best actor of the festival;
– In the Festival of European Actor 2004 in Prespa, Bajrush Mjaku proclaimed « Actor of Europe 2004 »;
– The International Festival of Mono-spectacles in Kiev, Ukraine, Bajrush Mjaku was awarded with The Grand Prix
– In the 39th edition of the Festival of the Professional Theatres in FYROM “Vojdan Chernodrinski” – Prilep, in 2004 the performance “The father” – Strindberg, won those prices: best performance, best director (Slobodan Unkovski), best actor and actress (Bajrsuh Mjaku and Arta Mucaj) and best set design (Blagoja Micevski).