OLD MOUNTAIN
THEATRE FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH KRAGUJEVAC
Concept:Jelena Stojanović Patrnogić
Director: Emilija Mrdaković
Set design: Claudia Lamantea
Puppet design and fabrication: Tiina Suhonen
Scenic fabrication: Tiina Suhonen, Claudia Lamantea, Sean Morrissey
Original music: Lazar Novkov
ABOUT THE SHOW
Old Mountain, aka Mountain Balkan, is an unrevealed heaven and a natural resource of great
importance. It abounds with enchanting placesthatseem to be the juncture of all the most beautiful thingsin nature: crystal clear water, peculiar rocksshaped by water flowing unceasingly down their
sides, lush vegetation, exuberant rivers, grassy pastures, and marsh vegetation. There are lots of nature reserve areas and natural monuments within the park itself. Its countless, hidden waterfalls add to its
enchantment. It is a place of unprecedented beauty—an oasis ofsilence and nature,so close yetso far
from everything. The man has an innate, emotional need to be connected with nature. Here, within the
embrace of the Old Mountain, thisindescribable sense of belonging and coherence with nature is
actually created. The old mountain is, in fact, a symbol that emphasizesthe necessity of respect for what
Mother Nature gave usselflessly.
AUTHOR PICK
CRIME AND PUNISHMENT
Emilija Mrdaković (Bulgaria)
EDUCATION:
Graduated from NATFA National Academy of Theater and Film, Sofia, Bulgaria, at the Department of Puppetry, specialty - Drama artist for puppet theater, in the class of prof. Nikolina Georgieva (1990)
Specialized in Directing for puppet theater (1996)
NATFA Master’s degree (2004)
WORK EXPERIENCE:
From 2014 to 2019, General Director of the Youth Theatre, Novi Sad
Since the 1990/1991 season, a permanent member of the "Toša Jovanović" theater in Zrenjanin.
Since 1991, permanent member of the Youth Theatre, Novi Sad as a director
Over 35 years of experience in puppet theater for children and adults, engaged in acting, directing, dramaturgy and pedagogical work.
Course leader "Theatre of the object" - New Bulgarian University 2024.
Leader of the puppetry seminar "Material Theater" - Youth Theater, Croatia, Zagreb, 2002.
Leader of the puppetry seminar "Object and Subject" - Youth Theatre, Croatia, Zagreb, 2003.
Head of Infant puppet camp "Theatre of the object or dramatization of pictures" - Novi Sad, 2003.
Leader of the puppetry seminar "Puppetry in preparing children for school" – Zagreb Puppet Theater, Croatia, 2004
Leader of the puppetry seminar "Cold and warm objects" - Zagreb Puppet Theatre, Croatia, 2005
Associate of the Academy of Arts in Belgrade, teaching puppetry to students of the drama department
Associate of the Academy of Arts in Novi Sad, teaching puppetry to students of the drama department in Serbian and Hungarian
Directed over 40 plays in Serbia, Bulgaria, Russia.
Jury member, 8th International Festival of Puppet Theaters for children in East Sarajevo in 2007
Member of the jury at the International Puppet Theatre Festival - PIF, Zagreb, Croatia 2018
Selector at the Municipal Review of Children's Drama Creativity
Leader of the accredited seminar "Drama Education" for primary and secondary school teachers
ADDITIONAL EDUCATION
"Comedy dell'arte" - Istvan Nagy (Hungary, 1988)
"Marionette and space" - Albrecht Roeser (Germany, 1987)
"Designing the Stage Space" - Maja Petrova (Bulgaria, 1995)
Preschool projects in Open Clubs (Belgrade, Serbia, 1998)
"Theatre of the object" - Kruna Tarle (Zagreb, Croatia, 2002)
AWARDS
2022 - Award for the overall contribution to puppetry in Serbia
Over 70 awards at national and international festivals.
Education
1990
NATFA National Academy of Theater and Film
Graduated - NATFA National Academy of Theater and Film, Sofia, Bulgaria, at the department of puppetry, specialty - Dramatic artist for puppet theater, in the class of prof. Nikolina Georgieva
1996
Specialized in directing for puppet theater
Specialized in directing for puppet theater
2004
Master at NATFA
Educational - qualification degree "Master" at NATFA
Additional Education
Comedy dell'arte" - Istvan Nagy (Hungary, 1988)
"Marionette and space" - Albrecht Roeser (Germany, 1987)
"Designing the Stage Space" - Maja Petrova (Bulgaria, 1995)
Preschool projects in Open Clubs (Belgrade, 1998)
"Theatre of the object" - Kruna Tarle (Croatia, Zagreb, 2002)