Balkan Plots: Plays From Central And Eastern Europe
Introduced by Gina Landor
This unique collection features four new plays about war, tyranny and discrimination by Eastern and Central European writers. Includes the plays: "The Body of a Woman as a battlefield in the Bosnian war" by Matei Visniec, "Cordon" by Nebojsa Romcevic, "When I want to whistle, I whistle..." by Andreea Vălean and "Soap Opera" by György Spiró.
The title of this volume alludes to the history of political double-dealing in a troubled region within southern Europe, surrounded by the Adriatic, Aegean and Black Seas. G.B. Shaw wrote "Arms and The Man" about a small Balkan plot in the 19th century. It's in this tradition, rather than in a geographical sense that we use the title "Balkan Plots". The plays in this volume are dramatic works which have emerged from, or which take as their subject matter, the struggle of individuals within societies affected by recent political upheaval. The writers explore aspects of freedom and rebellion, ethnicity and discrimination, loyalty and betrayal in situations where conventional attitudes and beliefs are severely tested. In some plays, the conflict is between traditional socialist attitudes and western capitalism. In others, the values and beliefs of the younger generation collide with and challenge those of the older generation. Within each of the plays, the way in which the personal and the political interacts, is very much in evidence.
The Plays
The Body of a Woman as a Battlefield in the Bosnian War by Matei Visniec, translated by Alison Sinclair: Two women meet in the aftermath of the Bosnian War. Both are struggling to find release from their inner battlefields.
"Incontestably one of the best, the most powerful plays of the Avignon Festival." La Gazette Provencale
Cordon by Nebojsa Romcevic, translated by Sladjana Vujovic: A group of Special Police in Belgrade incite a riot at a peaceful protest, maliciously beating a student. A harsh indictment of the brutality and corruption of the Milosevic regime. Banned throughout Yugoslavia. The film adaptation won the 2003 Montreal Film Festival.
When I Want to Whistle, I Whistle... by Andreea Vălean, translated by Cheryl Robson and Claudiu Trandafir: A female student visits a youth Detention Centre for a research project. Her interviewing of three young offenders has disastrous consequences for all involved.
Soap Opera by György Spiró, translated by Andrew Bock: A salesman wants to sign a woman up for a Jewish reparations scheme. The play raises questions about Western methods of compensation for war crimes.
