Past and present
THE SLOVENE NATIONAL THEATRE NOVA GORICA
The Slovene National Theatre Nova Gorica is the successor of the Primorsko dramsko gledališče, which was founded in 1969. Between 1972 and 1991, the theatre organized the Gorica Meeting of Small Stages festival (later the Alpe Adria Theatre Meeting), which importantly influenced the development of the theatre and its affirmation in Slovenia and internationally.
In 1994, a new theatre building with a modern technical equipment and a hall seating 371 was constructed. A small stage hall with 107 seats was added in 2011.
In 2004, the theatre was declared an institution of national importance, fully financed by the state, and changed its name to Slovensko narodno gledališče Nova Gorica (Slovene National Theatre Nova Gorica).
The position of Nova Gorica, a town on the juncture of the Slavic and the Romance cultures, has significantly influenced the repertoire and artistic orientation of the theatre. The repertoire consists of contemporary and classic plays; it is marked by the local, Mediterranean colour, and by openness to new research and experimentation. The high artistic level of production has been proven by a number of awards and participation at Slovenian and international festivals and tours abroad. In 2001, the theatre became a member of the European Theatre Convention (ETC).
HISTORY
Theatre creativity in Nova Gorica started in 1955, when the semi-professional Gorica (City) Theatre was established. In October 1955, a group of mostly amateur actors staged Bratko Kreft’s The Counts of Celje in the hall of the Okrajni ljudski odbor, the local administrative council. This was the first theatre première of the semi-professional Gorica City Theatre that was established “with a clear goal to grow into a fully professional itinerant theatre for the entire Goriška region”.
In November 1957, the Gorica Theatre baptised its first “home” by performing A. T. Linhart’s This Happy Day or Matiček is Getting Married – the hall in the renovated premises on Soška cesta in Solkan, which it continued to use until 1994.
The year 1969 is considered one of the most important watershed moments in the theatre history of Nova Gorica, because it was the year when the theatre became fully professional and was renamed Primorsko dramsko gledališče (PDG). Between 1972 and 1991, the theatre organised the Gorica Meeting of Small Stages festival (later the Alpe Adria Theatre Meeting), which importantly influenced the development of the theatre and its affirmation in Slovenia and internationally.
As a repertoire theatre with a permanent ensemble, the PDG, despite a modest hall and very limited stage possibilities, achieved a high artistic level. In May 1994, it finally moved to its new premises, a theatre house conceived by the architect Vojteh Ravnikar. In the new theatre with modern stage technology and a 371-seat hall, the first performance was Dominik Smole’s The Baptism at the Savica.
In 2004, the theatre was declared an institution of national importance and is now fully subsidised by the state. At this time, it changed its name to Slovensko narodno gledališče Nova Gorica (Slovene National Theatre Nova Gorica).
Every season the theatre has prepared six or more premières. In 2011, the theatre acquired a new small hall with excellent technical equipment, which allows for smaller and chamber performances. The number of new premières has since increased to eight or more.
ORIENTATION
The position of Nova Gorica, a town on the juncture of the Slavic and the Romance cultures, has significantly influenced the importance and the orientation of the theatre. The repertoire consists of the baptismal performances of new Slovenian plays, Slovenian first stagings of plays by foreign authors, new readings of Slovenian and world classics, research within musical theatre, authorial projects, hit performances for children and young adults, and dance co-productions. The permanent ensemble has 22 actors who are often accompanied by guest actors. The flexibility of the ensemble and the selection of directors allow for contemporary approaches and research.
Participation at various festivals, numerous tours in Slovenia and abroad, and a string of awards to the actors and other creators of the performances prove the high level of the production of the theatre in Nova Gorica.
The Slovene National Theatre Nova Gorica (SNG Nova Gorica) joined the European Theatre Convention (ETC) in 2001, and this international theatre association organized a biennial theatre festival. In 2004 SNG Nova Gorica organized this festival, entitled Theatres of Europe: Mirror of Displaced Populations, together with the international theatre festival MEJ NI FEST (Theatre Without Borders).
DIRECTORS
Jože Babič (1968 – 1974)
Sergij Pelhan (1975 – 1986)
Tomica Dumančić (1986 – 1994)
Janez Starina (1994 – 1997)
Sergij Pelhan (1997 – 2007)
Mojmir Konič (2007 – 2009)
Jožko Čuk (2009 – 2014)
Neda R. Bric, v. d. (2014 – 2016)
Maja Jerman Bratec (2016 –2021)
Mirjam Drnovšček (2021–)
ARTISTIC DIRECTORS
Janez Povše (1975 – 1979)
Dušan Mlakar, Janez Povše, Emil Aberšek, Branko Kraljević (1979 – 1980)
Marjan Bevk (1980 – 1982)
Dušan Mlakar, Srečko Fišer, Bine Matoh (1982 – 1983)
Mario Uršič (1983 – 1985)
Alja Predan (1985 – 1986)
Goran Schmidt (1986)
Janez Starina v. d. (1986)
Zvone Šedlbauer (1987 – 1988)
Janez Starina v. d. (1989)
Janez Starina, Srečko Fišer (1989 – 1990)
Marko Sosič (1990 – 1994)
Katja Pegan (1994 – 1998)
Primož Bebler (1998 – 2009)
Srečko Fišer, v. d. (2009)
Ira Ratej (2009 – 2012)
Martina Mrhar (2012 – 2016)
Marko Bratuš (2016 –)