Forget me not

Actors, masks, puppets, shadows, stage props and sounds present a life of Grandfather suffering from dementia.

Text by Peter Kus, Urša Adamič
Directed and music by Peter Kus
Dramaturgy by Urša Adamič
Art design by Natan Esku
Costumes by Zdenka Lacina
Choreography by Miha Arh
Light design by Igor Elek
Performed by Ivica Lučuć, Kristina Fančović, Aleksandra Colnarić

Produced by Dječje kazalište Branka Mihaljevića Osijek, Kuskus

Project was supported by Ministry of Culture Republic of Croatia, Ministry of Culture Republic of Slovenia, Municipality of Ljubljana

DOCUMENTS:
technical requirements
lighting plan
press photos

LINKS:
Dječje kazalište Branka Mihaljevića Osijek

PRESS REVIEWS:

“This is the world of imagination, feelings, thoughts and creativity, which also gives us the opportunity to increase the sensitivity of our youngest. It teaches them to learn to associate with their grandparents, who are starting to forget.” Narcisa Vekić, Glas Slavonije (Croatia), November 5, 2018

“Excellent music and enjoyable tunes only added to the attention of children. If we add to this the use of different sounds that dramatically support the scenes, the impression is complete. “Alen Biskupović, www.kazaliste.hr (Croatia). November 5, 2018

“… top-quality performance of  Ivica Lučić, who transforms into a helpless old man before our eyes, regresses to his youth and gets lost into his own world.” Kritikaz (Croatia), June 5, 2019

“A must-see performance.” Delo (Slovenia), 23. 9. 2019

ABOUT THE SHOW:

In the theater for young audiences, elderly people often appear as the treasures of rich memories and life experiences. We talk to them when we need their wisdom and the experiences they have gained throughout their lives. We want to hear their stories from the past. But the real-life often turns this romantic image of an oldness from children’s fairy tales upside down.

Dementia is a chronic brain disease that is reflected in the progressive disorders in memory, thought, speech, expression and judgment. In our modern world, it is becoming more and more common, and almost everyone knows someone – a neighbor or a relative – who has been affected by it. It also impacts children who observe changes in the lives of their beloved grandfathers and grandmothers.

In Forget me not we follow the relationship of the Grandfather with his granddaughter, Lučka (a name meaning light in Slovenian). The Grandfather is becoming increasingly forgetful, he sees things that are not there and behaves strangely. He can not explain to anyone what is happening to him. While the Grandfather’s behavior increasingly worries Lučka’s mom, to Lučka it seems interesting and she gets immersed in the world of strange ideas and mind-flashes. As his aging and illness are progressing, Grandfather is returning to his childhood. At the same time, Lučka is growing up beside him. At some point, their paths are crossed and connected in a shared experience of the play.

In a poetic and visually exciting way, with the use of  masks, puppets, shadows and stage props, the performance presents  the psychological world of elderly people with dementia. Young and adult audiences are confronted with their different experience of the world and may better understand and accept changes in their relations with people suffering from dementia.

PAST INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCES AND FESTIVALS:

  • Award of Croatian Actors 2019 – nomination for the best performance in the category of children’s performances (Ivica Lučić)
  • Revue of puppet theaters, Rijeka (Croatia), November 7th and 8th
  • “Egg” festival, Koprivnica (Croatia), October 13th 2019
  • 27th SLUK festival, Osijek (Croatia), May 29th 2019
  • 10. Lutkarsko bienale, Bugonjo (BiH), September 10th 2019 – ‘best performance’ children’s jury award
  • 10. Bienale ULU, Maribor (Slovenia), September 14th 2019