Wednesday, 6th May 19,30, Croatian House of Culture on Sušak
The Mladinsko Theatre, Ljubljana, Slovenia

(www.mladinsko.com)

INCUBATOR

Direction: Oliver Frljić
Cast: Lina Akif, Daša Dobršek, Klemen Kovačić, Draga Potočnjak, Matej Recer, Blaž Šef, Vito Weis

Photo Matej Povše

An incubator, an indispensable tool for saving prematurely born babies, symbolizes dedication to valuing every human life, even one that is not yet biologically self-sustaining. By precisely regulating temperature, humidity and oxygen and reducing external stimuli, incubators create conditions like those in the womb and contribute to survival and healthy development of premature babies.

This theatrical research connects the symbolism of the incubator with the brutal reality of the war in Gaza. Scenes showing incubators without electricity in Al-Shifa hospital and newborns huddled together to keep warm, raise questions about the degrees of (in)humanity.

Press excerpts:
The choreography of violence reminds us of the social role of theatre. Frljić knows that children are the first and the last point of humanity and inhumanity. The play avoids excessive sentimentality and turns instead to satire, grotesque, and sometimes absurdity, which more radically questions ideological positions. The structure consists of scenes that are not narratively linear, but together form a coherent interpretative whole, typical of Frljić’s projects.
Petra Vidali, Večer

In its theatrical language, the performance successfully avoids excessive pathos and the sentimentality of Western observers toward war; instead, it turns to satire, the grotesque, and at moments even the absurd. Because of its immediacy in performance, this approach more radically questions its own ideological positions, avoiding the Western models associated with feelings of guilt, helplessness, and moral fatigue.
Benjamin Zajc, Delo

The scenes are not narratively connected in a linear way, yet together they form a coherent interpretative whole. Such a structure is distinctive for Frljić’s projects. Incubator is based, as is typical for the Croatian director, on rapid transitions between humour, lighter scenes and brutality, which is why the performance does not primarily appeal to emotions, but rather creates distance.
Karolina Bugajak, SEEstage